Guatemala: The Magdalena Endurance Challenge, 4th Edition

Guatemala-times.com - Full Article

Tuesday, 23 March 2010 12:22 Barbara Schieber

Guatemala will host the 4th Edition of the Magdalena Endurance Challenge on 24th of April 2010. Magdalena is a giant sugar mill in La Gomera, Escuintla. This event is the most challenging endurance event in Guatemala. According to Fernando Paiz, President of Jinetes de Aventura Endurance (Endurance Adventure Riders) and President of the Organizing Committee of this international competition, the race will be very exciting and very tough.

The race will demand a lot of technical expertise from the riders and horses because it will be held at night, to reduce the effect of the extreme heat of the coast area where Magdalena is located. The route of the competition will go through roads and paths of tropical forest, sugar plantation, rivers and irrigation channels.

The President of the Organizing Committee expressed his excitement and satisfaction that Sugar Mill Magdalena is opening their doors for the fourth year in a row to provide their adventurous terrain for one of the most important competitions of the year. Family Leal, the owners of the Sugar mill have been of tremendous help to support the logistics for such a complex event. The event is called: Magdalena Endurance Challenge, in their honour.This event will is a classifying event for the FEI World Endurance Championship held in Kentucky USA, this year.

Read more here:
http://www.guatemala-times.com/sport/guatemala/1472-guatemala-the-magdalena-endurance-challenge-4th-edition.html

Qatar: Al Shaqab Team Wins Double Gold at HH Emir Endurance Cup

(Doha, Qatar – March 21, 2010)

Al Shaqab Endurance Team, member of Qatar Foundation, swept the gold medals in the junior and senior races in this past weekend’s HH Emir Endurance Cup at Qatar Endurance Village in Mesaieed, Qatar.

Three members from Al Shaqab's Endurance Team, member of Qatar Foundation, racing in the HH Emir Endurance Cup, which was held Friday at the Qatar Endurance Village near Sealine. From right to left are team members: Nawab Ali, Atta Mohammed Beer and Mohammed Tahous Saif Al Nuaimi. Atta Mohammed Beer, pictured center, won the Gold medal in the Senior 120km race.

In the 120 km Senior race, Atta Mohammed Beer won the gold medal with a total time of 5:21:32 hours on board In Situ. Mohammed Tahous Saif Al Nuaimi came in only four seconds behind to receive the silver medal in the senior race, riding Hidalgo. Abdulrahman Saad A Al Sulaiteen came in fifth on Love and Love and Nawab Ali finished in sixth on Henham Cactus Jack. Sajid Khan, Mohammed Sanad Al-Nuaimi and Abdulla Mohammed Abdulla Al Amri rounded out the top ten with 8th-10th place respectively.

In the 100km Junior race, Saad Sinan Al Kaabi secured the gold medal for Al Shaqab on Aloha Zelus with a time of 4:00:53 hours. Fourth through eight place were all captured by Al Shaqab riders. Essa Mohammed Al-Sulaitin came in fourth on Idaho Champ, fifth went to Mohammed Ali Mohammed Al Marri on Idaho Roxette and Khalid Sanad finished sixth aboard Parlour Mountain JOF. The race for seventh and eight place was only a four second margin between Ali Mohammed Ali Al Hammadi and Salem Rashid Mohammed Al Marri.

H H, The Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani founded Al Shaqab in 1992 to preserve and further develop the Arabian horse in Qatar. The organization is led by H E Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and encompasses a Breeding and Show division, Riding Academy and Endurance Team. In 2004, Al Shaqab proudly became a member of Qatar Foundation. Al Shaqab’s mission is to promote the highest standards in the breeding and showing of Arabian horses and provide innovative, educational and competitive opportunities in all of the equestrian arts.

UAE: Al Beloushi rewrites world record

Image Credit: AHMED KUTTY/Gulf News

Gulfnews.com

M. Satya Narayan,Senior Reporter
March 21, 2010

Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup winner led from first stage of 160km event

Dubai: Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi extended his red-hot form to rewrite another world record while Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, finished a steady second in yesterday's Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup, 160-km FEI-Three star ride at the Dubai International Endurance City.

Al Beloushi, riding 11-year-old grey gelding Jayhal Shazal, led from the very first stage in the six-stage 160km ride to register another victory for the Al Reef Stables. Al Beloushi and Jayhal Shazal completed the ride in five hours 45 minutes and 44 seconds to break the world record held by a horse trained by the rider himself. The horse was ridden by his younger brother Sultan Ahmad Al Beloushi in the President's Cup earlier this year. Sultan on Charlandre El Sharif broke his own world record for a 160km ride by more than seven minutes when he had clocked 6 hours 21 minutes and 12 seconds.

Final loop

Yousuf, who averaged 27.77kmph for the 160km ride, unleashed a terrific speed of 35.53kmph on his horse in the final loop. "This is one of my greatest wins and I am very happy that the world record stays in the family," said Al Beloushi, who has been one of the most consistent riders on the UAE circuit. He also holds the record for 120kms.

Shaikh Hamdan used to ride as a preparation for the World Endurance Games to be held in Kentucky later this year when he kept himself in the leader group for most of the race, finishing the last two stages behind the winner.

Riding Hattam, Shaikh Hamdan completed the ride less than six minutes behind the winner with all three top finishers breaking the world record.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, also took part in yesterday's ride.

Two more rides were held by the Dubai Equestrian Club as the curtains came down on the endurance season here at this venue.

Harmke Margreta Westervest of The Netherlands won the Dubai Crown Prince Cup riding EDL Agbahr. She completed the 120-km distance in 4hrs 04mins and 17 seconds to finish ahead of Emirati pair Abdullah Thani Bin Huzaim and Mansour Ebrahim Al Salman. In the national ride over 100 kms, Abdullah Ahmad Al Shaikh finished on top riding M. Calfio.

Results

The Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup, 160km FEI-Three star ride:

1.Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi (Jayhal Shazal) 5 hrs 45 mins 44 secs;

2. Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Hattam) 5:51.32; 3. Thani Mohammad Al Muhairi (Maquarie Park Sedition) 5:53.24.

Dubai Crown Prince Cup, 120-km FEI Two Star ride:

1. Harmke Margreta Westervest-NED- (EDL Agbahr) 4:04.17; 2. Abdullah Thani Bin Huzaim (Skyros DE Peyrols) 4:07.39; 3. Mansour Ebrahim Al Salman (Redah) 4:09.03

Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum Challenge 101km CEN Ride:

1. Abdullah Ahmad Al Shaikh (M. Calfiao) 3:27.01; 2. Aliya Ali Al Marzouqi (The Rockets) 3:27.03; 3. Hamad Ebrahim Al Marzouqi (Churrasquito) 3:27.46

Spain: Modification in the Stages of Kaliber V Raid Tierras de al-Andalus

www.tierrasdeal-andalus.com

Antes las dudas surgidas a las modificaciones que en el V Raid Kalber Tierras de Al-Andalus se han producido, tratare de aclararlo.

10/04/2010 SEVILLA--EL ROCIO: IGUAL, NO SE MODIFICA NADA
11/04/2010 EL ROCÍO--EL ROCIO: ETAPA MODIFICADA. ETAPA A REALIZAR INTEGRA EN EL ROCIO, DOS FASES CON SALIDA Y LLEGADA AL ROCÍO, 70 KM. SE INTERCALA ESTA ETAPA.
12/04/2010 EL ROCÍO--SANLUCAR DE BARRAMEDA: SE ATRASA UN DÍA PERO ES LA MISMA ETAPA DE 70 KM.
13/04/2010 ARCOS DE LA FRONTERA -RONDA: IGUAL, NO SE MODIFICA NADA
14/04/2010 RONDA--ANTEQUERA: IGUAL, NO SE MODIFICA NADA
15/04/2010 LOJA--GRANADA : IGUAL, NO SE MODIFICA NADA
16/04/2010 DESCANSO
17/04/2010 GRANADA--GUADIX: IGUAL, NO SE MODIFICA NADA
18/04/2110 POZOALCON--CAZORLA: IGUAL, NO SE MODIFICA NADA


10/04/2010 SEVILLE - THE DEW: SAME, NO CHANGE
11/04/2010 THE DEW - THE DEW: STAGE AMENDED. INTEGRA STAGE TO PERFORM IN THE DEW, TWO PHASES WITH THE DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL DEW, 70 KM.
12/04/2010 THE DEW - Sanlucar de Barrameda: BE BACK ONE DAY BUT IT IS THE SAME STAGE OF 70 KM.
13/04/2010 ARCOS DE LA FRONTERA-ROUND: THE SAME, NO CHANGE
14/04/2010 RONDA - ANTEQUERA: SAME, NO CHANGE
15/04/2010 Loja - Granada: SAME, NO CHANGE
16/04/2010 REST DAY
17/04/2010 GRANADA - GUADIX: SAME, NO CHANGE
18/04/2110 POZOALCON - Cazorla: SAME, NO CHANGE

UAE: Riders set for endurance challenges

Gulfnews.com

Staff Reporter
March 18, 2010

Final three rides of season will take place in Dubai from Friday



Dubai: The final three endurance rides under the aegis of the Dubai Equestrian Club are set to take place in just a few days. All will be held at Dubai International Endurance City, the first two of which will take place on Saturday.

The Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Challenge and two Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cups are the races on the cards.

The first ride, the 160km Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup consists of six loops.

The second ride, the 120km Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup consists of five loops with the first inspection taking place on Friday between 3pm and 5pm.

The 100km Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Challenge consists of four loops with the first inspection also taking place on Friday.

Ali Moosa Al Khamiri, General Manager of the Dubai Equestrian Club, said: "This season has been one of our most successful seasons. We have witnessed a drastic increase in the number of participants amongst young riders and horses in this sport.

"We would like to thank Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, for his sponsorship and we are predicting this ride to leave a great impact on equestrian sport lovers due to its importance."

Portugal: 2010 Championships

CEI-Ravasqueira.com

The 2010 Portuguese Championship - CEI*** 160 km Open - Team Trophy will be held 15-18 April, 2010 at Monte da Ravasqueira estate, in the municipality of Arraiolos, Portugal.

In addition a CEI** 120 km and a CEI * 80 km will be held the same weekend.

The Monte da Ravasqueira has been linked to the family Jose De Mello for several generations, and produces some of the best wine that the Alentejo has to offer. The estate has organized and hosted the 1996 First International Friendship Driving Contest, and the 2006 Iberian Driving Cup.

For more information:
http://www.cei-ravasqueira.com/Home.html

Ride coverage page:
http://www.endurance.net/international/Portugal/2010NationalChampionship/

Palm Beach International Equestrian Center to Bid for 2018 WEG

Dressage-news.com - Full Article

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

WELLINGTON, Florida, Mar. 13 - Palm Beach International Equestrian Center that stages the world's largest and longest running horse show announced Saturday that it will bid for the 2018 World Equestrian Games.

The bid for one of the world's largest sporting events that is held every four years will be made by Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP).

ESP owns and operates the 150-acre (60ha) PBIEC show grounds whose centerpiece event is the Winter Equestrian Festival that draws more than 2,000 horses from more than 30 countries during each of its 12 weeks.

Michael Stone, former secretary general of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and current president of ESP, will head up the Palm Beach organizing committee. He has been involved in every WEG since the inaugural event in Stockholm in 1990.

Work on the formal application will begin this year to insure completion well before the deadline of 2013 for the naming of the WEG in 2018.

Read more here:
http://www.dressage-news.com/?p=5447