Bahrain: Riders set for endurance showdown

Gulf-daily-news.com

Saturday, January 09, 2010


THE second of three rounds in the 2010 Giants Endurance Horseride Challenge takes place today at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

The race, which is being sponsored by Unicorn Investment Bank, gets underway at 7am. It will flag off in the presence of Southern Governor Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The 120-kilometre event has been divided into five stages. The first and second stage will be 30km each, while the final three will be 20km apiece.

Many of Bahrain's top endurance riders will be taking part in the round, including Royal Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Also saddling up for the hosts will be Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, Abdulhaq Qadoori and Yousef Taher.

The Bahrainis will be looking to make an impact in today's ride following a disappointing performance in the first round in Abu Dhabi last month, when they all were forced to pull out in the middle of the race.

Meanwhile, leading riders from the UAE, Spain, Uruguay, India, Oman and Jordan will also be taking part.

Spearheading the Emirati contingent will be UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister and Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

All the participants yesterday made their final preparations for the event, including the final medical checks with the championship's official veterinarians on their horses.

The race will be televised live on Bahrain and Dubai sports channels, while updated results will be available on alfurrsan.com.

Following today's activities, the third and final round will be held in Dubai in the final week of this month. The points accumulated over the three rounds will decide the Challenge's overall champion.

Round one was won by Majed Al Jahouri of the UAE. He was followed by Federico Zubiaurre of Uruguay in second, while Ahmed bin Harmash of the UAE finished third.

India: Marwari Horses Succeed in Endurance

Photos by Michael Huggan

Marwari horses succeed in Endurance at the 2nd International Invitational 81km Endurance Championships, in Dundlod, Rajasthan, India

7th—13th December 2009

Marwari horses, loaned by Rawal Devendra Singh of Nawalgarh, succeeded in taking the Bronze medal with an all ladies Team representing Great Britain & the UK Chapter.

This was an 81km endurance race with 10 teams invited, plus some individuals, and consisted of 4 laps of 20.25km per lap, in one day, against the clock . All competitors were 'vetted' in between laps to check the horses heart rate, hydration, soundness and general well being, to ensure the horse was 'fit to continue' and not in distress. The Indian Army entered 2 teams and took gold and silver followed by the British invitational group in Bronze position. Team members were from Endurance GB: Lesley-Ann Parker, Pip Westwood & Bryony Dickins and were joined by Caroline Moorey who is the Chair of Friends of Marwari/Kathiawari Horse UK and also the UK / India link for the event.

The British were the only ones to get all their horses home, and Lesley-Ann, Caroline and Pip achieved the ultimate of riding all 4 loops together, vetting within 2 minutes each time and crossing the line together shouting 'MARWARI'.

Other countries present were, France and Italy (with Assissi squad members riding), Russia, America, Sri Lanka and Indian civilian teams. Team GB rode the Indigenous Marwari breed of horse, who have unique lyre shaped ears, provided by Rawal Devendra Singh who was delighted that the horses were so successful in such an international arena, he said that "the British team’s success could only help to raise the breed profile, especially for this discipline, in which they seem to excel."

Last year three of the team (Lesley-Ann, Caroline and Bryony) took the gold medal for 50km riding Marwari horses loaned by members of the IHSI (read full report in our first newsletter which is on the website www.friendsofmarwari.org.uk). This year Caroline went out early to choose and prepare the horses many weeks before, and was pleased that, as the picture shows, the horses crossed the line looking as though they could have gone around again. The team had many comments from the vets and officials as to how well they rode the race. A professional equestrian photographer from Britain was invited by Caroline to record the event for the team this year, and he can be contacted via his website: www.michaelhuggan.com .

Team motto was 'to finish is to win' - to gain a medal was a bonus!

More photos HERE

Volunteers Still Needed for 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

HEROES WANTED!
Volunteers Still Needed for 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

DATE: January 6, 2010

Lexington, KY—The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games needs Heroes! Thousands of volunteers are stilled needed to work hundreds of different jobs during the 16 days of the Games, which will be held for the first time in American from September 25-October 10, 2010 at the Kentucky Horse Park.

"We need volunteers who can lend their expertise to help make these Games a success, no matter their professional skill level," said Melissa Gamble, Volunteer Manager for the World Games 2010 Foundation. "You might work as a ticket-taker, an usher, work at a visitor information desk, or help with transportation or event services, but each is a very important part of how these Games work every day."

Volunteer positions for competition-specific duties are currently being selected, but thousands of General Volunteers are still needed. Volunteers can still register their interest at www.alltechfeigames.com/volunteer.

In addition, there is still time to reconfirm your interest as a volunteer if you signed up within the past two years. To reconfirm interest or adjust current contact information e-mail volunteers@feigames2010.org.

All volunteers will receive an official Ariat uniform and a volunteer credential, which will provide General Admission entry to the grounds of the park for all 16 days of the Games. In addition, meal vouchers will be provided for each volunteer during their shift.

According to current volunteers, the benefits of volunteering extend far beyond the uniform.

"The opportunity to assist with an international sporting event is something that many of us will never again experience," said Carolyn Greene, who volunteered during each of the 2009 Test Event competitions for the Games and is now volunteering full-time at the World Games 2010 Foundation office. "Volunteering is part of who I am and what I do, and I am having a blast here."

Martin Klotz volunteers his time as part of the Games' Speakers Bureau. After participating in a training program with staff members, Klotz carries the story of the Games to community groups throughout the Louisville area.

"After each presentation, I have come away with the feeling that I had created an awareness of the Games in those who had not thought much about them and enhanced the interest in those who had," said Klotz, who has also worked as an usher at the 2009 Test Events. "Of course, I hope I will continue to have the opportunity to help 'spread the word' about this monumental event."

It is not too late to experience the Games as a volunteer. For more information, visit www.alltechfeigames.com/volunteer or call 859-244-2996.

2010 Tevis Cup Ride Application Available

The 2010 Tevis Cup Ride Application for the 55th Annual Tevis Cup, to be held on July 24, 2010, is now available for download from the WSTF website and is featured at the top of the home page: http://www.teviscup.org/home.

There will be a Tevis Cup Ride booth and cocktail party at the AERC Convention in Reno. The Western States Trail Foundation Board and the many volunteers hope to see you there and at the ride in July. It will be the best year yet!

New Zealand: Everything on track for championships

Stuff.co.nz - Full Article

By DAVID DAWKINS - The Marlborough Express - 08/01/2010

Linda Harmon will have no excuses for getting lost at this weekend's South Island Endurance and Competitive Trail Riding Championships in the Chestnut Valley.

It's not just because she is an experienced rider, or that the champs are in her home province, but because she has spent the past week marking out the tracks.

The South Island champs will see riders tackle courses ranging from 160 kilometres in the top endurance event to 32km trail rides.

For Harmon, the task has been finding tracks, which consist of large loops ranging from 20km to 40km, then marking them with whatever she can get her hands on – including a host of old roadside markers sourced from Works Infrastructure.

The reflective surfaces on the road markers will be particularly welcome to riders in the 160km event, which starts at 1am tomorrow. The first two loops will be completed in the dark with the aid of headlamps and glow markers.

The courses will take riders through the hills of the Chestnut Valley, in the Wairau Valley, weaving in and out of forestry along the way.

Harmon said riders could expect some challenges.

More...

Bahrain: Royal team set for Giant endurance

Gulf-daily-news.com

Posted on » Sunday, January 03, 2010


BAHRAIN Royal Endurance team members Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, Yousef Taher and Abdulhaq Qadoori confirmed their participation in the 2010 Giant Endurance Horseride Challenge on Saturday at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

The trio veterans will lead a group of team riders in this ride which is one of three events in the 2010 series being jointly organised by Bahrain and the UAE.

Top riders from other Gulf, Arab and international countries are expected to take part, including UAE's vice president, Prime Minister and Dubai Ruler Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa will lead the Bahraini riders in Saturday's ride. He will be accompanied by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation's president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Shaikh Nasser, who came second in last year's Bahrain round, hailed the international gatherings hosted by the Endurance Village in Bahrain as a chance for the elite of champions to compete and exchange skill.

The Bahrain Olympic Committee president expressed gratitude to Unicorn Investment Bank for sponsoring the prestigious event, especially its chief executive Majid Al Refai, and expressed his wish that the support would continue in future competitions.

He commended the directives and positive ideas of Breef president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, mainly in what pertains to prizes which were allocated in a gradually encouraging manner to add more thrills to the competition.

Shaikh Khalid gave his directives to allot a valuable cash prize for the best rider at each of the five stages and to honour the top three riders at the end of the championship.

Saturday's ride will be open to everyone and all participating riders must weigh at least 75 kilogrammes without riding equipment.

The third and final leg will be held in Dubai on the last week of this month and points accumulated over the three rounds will decide the overall champion.

In the first round of the series, which took place at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi last month, featured a disappointing finish for all the four Bahraini riders.

Bahrain were spearheaded by Royal Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa and Ahmed Janahi who pulled out at different stages of the ride.


Photos of the upcoming ride on January 9, by the Bahrain Media Group, can be seen HERE

Colombia: CEI 3* scheduled for February

Colombia will host it's first 160km FEI event on February 5 and 6th. 40km, 80km, 120km and 16km distances will be offered.