UAE: Harvey wins Ladies endurance ride

Image Credit: Abdul Rahman/Gulf News

Gulfnews.com
By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
March 13, 2010

Schoolteacher holds on to beat back a spirited challenge by UAE's Afra

Abu Dhabi : British schoolteacher Rachel Harriet Harvey held on to beat back a spirited challenge by the UAE's Afra Khalifa Al Suwaidi to win yesterday's Shaikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge 90-km Ladies Endurance Ride at the Emirates International Endurance Village.

Just one second separated Harvey riding Baddah from Afra on Estaban after the 90kms ride held over four loops of 30kms, 24kms, 20kms and 16kms with Al Yazia Khalifa Al Suwaidi on Al Galahn in third place.

Yesterday's ladies ride at Al Wathba venue was jointly sponsored by Bonyan International Investment Group, Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge Festival 2010 with 65 starting the national event. It was a very close finish and for most part of the 90kms ride.

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/other-sports/harvey-wins-ladies-endurance-ride-1.596160

Whitehaven horses achieve year-end awards for 2009

SC Now.com
By Messenger Staff Reports
Published: March 11, 2010
BISHOPVILLE - The Western Carolinas Arabian Horse Association (WCAHA) recently announced their year-end award winners for 2009, and a number of Whitehaven horses came out on top.

CINDERELLA STORY (Curundu Java x Ann Annazeh), a 10-year-old straight Egyptian Arabian mare owned by trainer Trisha Dingle, was named Champion Endurance Horse. “Daisy” completed a number of limited distance rides with amateur rider Julia Fisher during the competition year, including placing 11th in the 2008 Carolina 30, 12th in the 2008 Endure For the Cure 35 and 4th in the 2009 Gallop on the Greenway. Daisy also placed 4th with young rider Anna Caroline Chinnes in the 2009 Turkey Creek Trot. She is currently in Georgia at a dressage farm starting her new career as a beginner dressage horse for kids.

Another of Dingle’s horses, ROYAL PAIN WP (Legal Tennder x Patronna), excelled in the show arena. With Dingle riding, “Payne” was named Reserve Champion Purebred Sport Horse Under Saddle as well as Reserve Champion Hunter Pleasure. This talented young horse won impressive ribbons in a limited number of shows last season. Payne is proudly sponsored by farrier Mike Stine of Equine Dynamics.

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Two-day Rashid endurance festival kicks off today

Gulf News

Abu Dhabi: Two cars and prize money totalling Dh700,000 will be up for grabs in the two-day Shaikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge Festival starting today at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Adnan Sultan Saif Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club said, "The first day will see some of the top women riders compete in a 90-kilometre national ride while on the second day an FEI Two-star ride over 120 kilometres will see all the top riders in the open category compete."

The ladies' ride will be over four loops of 30 kilometres, 24 kilometres, 20 kilometres and 16 kilometres while the FEI Open Ride will be run over 32 kilometres, 28 kilometres, 24 kilometres, 20 kilometres and 16 kilometres.

Support

Ali Al Muhairi, Racing Manager of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, who also addressed the press conference said: "This is an annual event and Shaikh Hamdan has always been a strong supporter of endurance races all over the UAE."

Talal Al Hashemi, of Abu Dhabi Sports Council said, "We have seen a lot of events in the UAE for ladies and this is another event which will give an opportunity to all sections of the community."

Fatima Hussain, a representative of Bonyan International Investment Group and Lara Sawaya, Managing Director of Tasweeq also attended the press conference.

Sawaya said the Challenge ride for ladies is jointly sponsored by Bonyan International Investment Group, Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Shaikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge Festival while the open ride is sponsored by Shaikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge Festival 2010.



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Australia: Local endurance riders do well in State and National awards

Cowraguardian.com.au - Full Article

12 Mar, 2010

Lachlan Endurance Riders Club, based at Woodstock fared very well in the 2009 NSW Endurance Riders Association point scores and distance competitions.

Mark Lindsay of Cowra took out the two prestigious awards of NSW Heavyweight Rider of the Year as well as the Heavyweight Distance Rider of the Year with 1200kms successfully completed during 2009.

Mark was also 5th nationally in both categories.

His pure bred Arabian gelding, Kintamani Silver Motif was 7th in NSW for points and 5th in the NSW Distance Horse of the year; and together he and Motif were 4th in the One Horse/One Rider.

He also campaigned another horse throughout the year, Kintamani Charisma and together, was 10th in the same category.

Read more here:
http://www.cowraguardian.com.au/news/local/sport/general/local-endurance-riders-do-well-in-state-and-national-awards/1774671.aspx

New Zealand: Horse of the Year show kicks off next week

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

March 11, 2010

In just under a week's time the first of thousands of hooves will step foot in the main arena at the 2010 Kelt Capital Horse of the Year Show and Kevin Hansen will be a happy man.

For the show director, his key crew and a team of more than 450 volunteers, that moment means a tireless year of work and planning will have all come to fruition.

This year's show in Hastings is no different. It will be another huge effort, but one with significant highlights.

Heroes from yesteryear will be honoured with the inaugural Hall of Fame gala dinner on Thursday night, where the first five inductees will be announced - just who they are is a closely guarded secret.

The Aussies are coming to do battle with the Kiwis for the inaugural Nations Cup competition, a young rider team is heading across the ditch to try and defend the Trans Tasman Trophy, there is a trial to find New Zealand's Youth Olympic representative, the nation's best Pony Club showjumping team will be found, and of course, the best will line up to win the Bell Tea Olympic Cup as showjumper of the year.

"So many highlights and so hard to choose just one," says Hansen.

He'll have nearly 2600 combinations competing in 17 disciplines in 28 arenas over six days from Tuesday (March 16) through to Sunday when the Olympic Cup is decided.

Reigning champ Peter McMahon (Australia) will not be here to defend the crown, but there are plenty with their hands up and out, ready to hoist the historic cup on high and pocket their share of the $200,000 prize purse.

Olympic course builder Leopoldo Palacios (Venezuela) is back to design the best showjumping courses to challenge the riders and entrance those watching.

Eventing is starring alongside showjumping and dressage this year as one of the top three disciplines and a top-class field has been attracted to the three star division. John Nicholson, brother of Olympian Andrew, will design the cross-country course - something riders and spectators alike look forward to.

Dressage has some incredibly exciting combinations entered in the upper echelon of the discipline.

Endurance will take its record numbers of competitors through some stunning Hawke's Bay wine country.

Read more here:
http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2010/03/069.shtml

Germany: German Endurance Championships in June

Bestendurance.com

The CERA Challenge German Endurance Championships for Juniors and Seniors will be held 24-27 June, 2010, in Dillingen, Germany.

The championships will be organized by Best Endurance - Belinda Hitzler and Stephan Schelldorf.

The route will be easy and mostly flat with excellent the trackside. Perfect to qualify horses gently. The routes will lead the riders through the picturesque Danube Valley, bordering on mild hills through magnificent forests, back through the level to Dillingen.

Our goal is that all operators would be faced with excellent opportunities to be able to show endurance racing at the highest level.

The excellent infrastructure, with nice hotels, camping and restaurants makes it easy for guests and riders easy to feel at ease. (More information on Dillingen and hotels, they see www.dillingen-donau.de).

For more information on the ride, see Best Endurance or contact Belinda Hitzler at belinda@bestendurance.com or Stephan Schelldorf at stephan@bestendurance.com .

Great Britain: Endurance stars set out on Kentucky fund-raising routes

Yorkshirepost.co.uk - Full Article

08 March 2010
By Jill Armstrong

ENDURANCE riders and anybody wanting to try it out, have a new series of rides to look forward to this season.

The rides are being organised by Endurance GB to help raise funds to support the British team at this year's World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

Around 23 Kentucky Rides will be taking place at different venues between now and August. These non-competitive rides will cover a range of distances to suit all levels of experience, from 10 miles to routes of 25 miles.

They are open to non-members and will be an opportunity to ride over some lovely countryside, often over land not normally open to the public. Riders can take part either for pleasure or to prepare for the competition season ahead.

"We have a really talented pool of riders and hope to be sending a strong team to Kentucky," said Jo Claridge, EGB chairman.

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