Bahrain: Shaikh Khalid lifts endurance crown

Gulf-daily-news.com

Posted on » Sunday, May 02, 2010


ROYAL Endurance Team rider Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa won the End-of-Season Endurance Ride Championship in the early hours of yesterday at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

The Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) chief completed the gruelling overnight race in five hours 19 minutes and three seconds.

Riding Kintamani Ragindi, Shaikh Khalid overcame a rough start to the 120-kilometre, five stage event but managed to power ahead of the field later on.

He was seventh after the opening 30-km leg, but rose to fourth after the second 30-km sector. He was then in the top three over the next two stages, covering distances of 24 kms and 20 kms, respectively, before making his decisive push over the last 16 kms to clinch first place.

Ahead

Shaikh Khalid led fellow-Royal Team member Ahmed Abdulla Al Hazza to the finish by a mere three seconds. Al Hazza, on Tarabic Carl, was ahead for most of the race, safely holding first place from legs two through four, but lost control over the late stages.

The leading pair were followed by Abdulaziz Khalifa representing Al Asayel Stables, who was on Minit Maid. Khalifa finished the race in 5:20:47, and also overcame a poor start as he found himself 12th after stage one.

Royal Team rider Abdulrahman Mohammed Al Saad came fourth. Riding Mystic Traveller, Al Saad had a total ride time of 5:45:53. Teammate Ratan Singh on Affiniti rounded out the top five in the championship. Singh completed the event in 5:51:25.

Both Al Saad and Singh managed late surges after starting the race outside the top 10.

At the end of the ride, Shaikh Khalid and the rest of the winners were presented their respective trophies by Royal Endurance Team captain and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Shaikh Nasser congratulated Shaikh Hamad on his victory and praised him for putting on a fantastic performance. Shaikh Nasser added that Shaikh Khalid was a very deserving winner.

The championship was organised and run by Breef. It flagged off at 5pm on Friday evening.

A total of 60 riders from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia took part. The ride was originally not announced due to a possible postponement because of the outbreak of a virus that has affected many horses around Bahrain.

But after medical checks and assurances from veterinarians and under the guidance of Shaikh Khalid the event was give the go ahead.

Bahrain: Mirza powers to endurance lead

Gulf-daily-news.com

Posted on » Saturday, May 01, 2010


ROYAL Endurance Team rider Jaffer Mirza powered to the lead last night after the opening stage of the 120-kilometre End-of-Season Endurance Ride Championship, held at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

The event, organised by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef), continued into the early hours of today morning. It featured five stages in all.

Mirza, riding Sumara, pushed ahead to the front after completing the 30km first leg in one hour 18 minutes 17 seconds. Teammates Ahmed Abdulla Al Hazza and Ahmed Adel Al Gaoud followed not far behind him. Al Hazza, on Tarabic Carl, completed the stage in 1:18:34, while Al Gaoud, on Oak Glen Seacrest, finished in 1:18:56.

Abdulrahman Ibrahim Al Hawas of Kingdom Stables Saudi Arabia, riding Freedoms Grace, was fourth in 1:19:12. Royal Team member Ghazi Al Dossary, riding Waterlea Evensong, was fifth in 1:20:57; and Homoud Salman Al Shammari of Kingdom Stables, on Anwar Almammlakah, sixth in 1:21:13.

Right behind the early leaders was Breef president and Royal Team rider Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Shaikh Khalid, on Kintamani Ragindi, completed the opening stage in 1:21:27, and began to close the gap with the top six from then on.

The night ride was being held under the patronage of Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Shaikh Khalid. It flagged off at 5pm yesterday, with over 60 riders in the fray. The second stage also covered 30km, while the third was over 24km, the fourth 20km, and the last over 16km.

Malaysia: New Horse-pital Opens In Terengganu

Bernama.com

April 30, 2010 15:24 PM

SETIU, April 30 (Bernama) -- Staff at a hospital which today begins operations at the Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP) here, are horsing around.

Now, hold your horses. It's not what you think. On the contrary, the hospital's intentions are honourable.

The aim of the RTES/UPM Equine Hospital is to provide basic medical treatment to horses.

The first of its kind in the East Coast, the hospital can cater to up to 300 horses at one go, offering facilities which include X-ray, ultrasound and blood tests.

State Youth and Sports Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Rahin Mohd Said said that for starters, the hospital would treat horses from the Royal Terengganu Equestrian Stable.

"For the time being, the hospital will operate every Friday and Saturday from 9am to 5pm.

"However, operating hours will increase when there is public demand and a mechanism will be devised to determine payment for personal horse owners," he told reporters Friday.

Abdul Rahin said, through the hospital, horses could receive treatment faster and at a cheaper price as compared to sending them for treatment in Kuala Lumpur.

He added that cases which required surgery would be referred to another hospital to be set up at the Terengganu Equestrian Resort in Kuala Ibai, Kuala Terengganu.

"This other hospital is expected to begin operating in June," he said.

-- BERNAMA

USA: Riders chase ranking points at Texas Bluebonnet Classic

USEF News

US endurance riders on the USEF Endurance Ranking List continued to chase points this weekend at the Texas Bluebonnet Classic CEI held at the LBJ National Grasslands near Decatur, TX. Riders negotiated very muddy conditions that turned a typically fast course into a real test of endurance.

In the 160km distance, Olivia Matthaei from Namibia bested the field with a ride time of 12:09:20 aboard DJB Boomer, owned by Darolyn Butler of Humble, TX. Steve Rojek and his horse Beaujolais were the highest placing US combination, finishing fourth.

Karen Binns Dicamillo and RGS SHA Strike Two finished the 120km distance in 8:48:52, just one second ahead of her daughter Jessica Dicamillo and RGS Crestwind Premier.

In the 80km distance Young Rider Devan Horn (USA) turned in the fastest time for the course finishing in 4:57:09.

Namibia: Equestrian Sport awards its achievers

Namibiasport.com.na

by editor on Tue, 04/27/2010

The Namibia Equestrian Federation (NAMEF) held its first ever awards ceremony on Saturday, 24 April 2010. A total of 47 awards were handed over, of which six were for endurance riding.

"We are very excited that we were successful in starting the annual awards. Our riders, officials and support personnel are doing huge amounts of work and this is evident in the results that the sport is achieving on international stages. We have seen an increase in the quality of our sport and are looking forward to a great 2010 season", said Riaan van Rooyen, President of NAMEF.

The Namibian Equestrian Federation, or NAMEF, is the body in Namibia which is responsible to develop and look after the disciplines that are affiliated to the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). As such it is then also logical that NAMEF is affiliated to the FEI.

The Namibia Endurance Riding Association (NERA) is an associate member of NAMEF. NAMEF is responsible for all nine disciplines that are part of the FEI, however, six of these disciplines are practiced in Namibia, to varying degrees of success. They are show jumping, dressage, endurance riding, equitation, eventing and vaulting.

The following awards were presented:

Certificate awards in appreciation of constructive and long service:
Betty Alfheim
Herman Falk
Dieter Voigts
Detlev Voigts
Gretel Keding

Certificate awards in recognition of active & committed judging for the 2009 season: Jumping - Sabine Reimers
Dressage - Susanne Hoff
Equitation - Reinhard Voigts
Eventing - Betty Alfheim
Certificate award to the Instructor of the Year for the 2009 season:
Kathrin Shaefer-Stiege

Certificate award to the Best Organized Club for 2009:
Auas View Equestrian Club

Certificate award for Best sportsmanship displayed during the year, 2009’:
Annette Künzle

Certificate award for Most positive representation of the Equestrian Sport in Namibia, 2009:

Michelle Künzle

Breeder with the most horses actively participating in Namibian shows:
Cord Cordes - Bodenhausen

Most successful Namibian Bred Horse:
Bodenhausen Zambezi

Most successful rider/horse combination in dressage - children:
Laura Pflippen & Claratal Bardolino

Most successful rider/horse combination in dressage – junior/adults:
Stephanie Rexrodt & Dynamite Dane

Certificate of achievement - Highest graded horse in jumping:
Midgard Gigant (130cm - 9 points)
Bodenhausen Zambezi (130cm - 9 points)
M&A Stud Jessica (130 cm - 9 points)

Certificate of outstanding achievement to Inter-Africa Team members:
Jumping: Gerhard Kotze, Charl Kotze, Ami Matthysen, Alexa Rack
Dressage: Franziska Leinberger, Stephanie Rexrodt, Alexandra Rohl

Most successful rider/horse combination in jumping:
Alexa Rack & Bodenhausen Carla

Highest graded horse in dressage:
Pirate Prince (EM)

Most successful rider/horse combination overall (Show jumping and dressage) (2009):
Michelle Künzle & Bodenhausen Zambezi

The NERA awards were the following:
Best Performing Club - Otjivero Club Gobabis

Highest Namibian Ranking for Heavy Weight Rider 2009 season - Rudolf Oosthuizen

Highest Namibian Ranking for Senior Standard Rider 2009 season - Bredell Wessels

Highest Namibian Ranking for Senior No Weight Rider 2009 season - Casper Sethibang

Highest Namibian Ranking for Junior Young Rider 2009 Season - Kabous Rossouw

Highest Namibian Ranking for Child Rider 2009 season - Sune Wessels

Most successful eventing horses - Delmanga Hahzan

Malaysia: Equestrian race attracts 130 riders from various nations

Thestar.com.my - Full Article

By PERCY D' CRUZ
malacca@thestar.com.my

MALACCA: Endurance riding is becoming increasingly popular not just elsewhere in the world but also in Malaysia, and this was evident when some 130 riders took part in the recent Malacca Grand Invitational Endurance Ride (MGIER) 2010.

It is an athletic event that combines the skill of rider and endurance of horse over a distance of up to 160km.

Held for the third year, the three-day event was organised by the Malacca Government and sanctioned by the Federation Equestrian International (FEI) and Malaysian Endurance Riding Society.

Besides riders from Australia, Chile, France, Germany, Indonesia, New Zealand and Singapore, riders from a host of Malaysia-based riding and equestrian clubs and academies were also in the fray.

A notable absentee was the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, who had graced two previous rides. He finished third in the 80km event last year.

Event technical director Hamdan Mohd said Tuanku Mizan could not compete for a third consecutive year as he had a knee injury and was receiving treatment.

For the uninitiated, endurance riding is an equestrian event with a course over rugged terrain that include hills, rivers and wooded areas.

Besides making the best time under a pre-determined maximum time, the welfare of the horse is also an important determining factor.

MGIER 2010 started from Stadium Hang Jebat and took riders through the surrounding area.

TMKN Endurance Team of Kelan­tan took top honours in the 120km event with riders Mohd Azizie Ismail, Dr Hj Nik Isahak Wan Abdullah and Rosdan Mohd Nor leading the way in an overall time of 17 hours, 19 minutes and 33 seconds.

More at http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/4/26/southneast/6110946&sec=southneast

Florac is back!

hyppoblog - http://hyppoblog.blogscheval.net/archive/2010/04/26/florac-is-back.html

(translation from French to English by google translate)

Done. The association will organize Equestrian Endurance Lozere, in Florac, the European Championship 2011. A deserved win, after a year of administrative campaign, Crucis organizers candidates for this type of event big size ... First, get the needed support from local institutions. Then, meet the requirements of the French Equestrian Federation (FFE). Finally, seduce the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI). Year, then flies. Until last March, where Ian Williams (Technical EIF), Nicky Kennedy (FFE responsible internationally) and Jean-Louis Leclerc (national coach) came up to judge the relevance of a historic nomination . For Florac is history - the cradle of endurance which is now entering adulthood. This is THE race. Hard. The cold, the mountain, the stone. Inevitable. The atmosphere, the glory, pleasure. Race mythical, heroic, anti-arithmetic. The distance does not count it in kilometers, but not, each of which approximates the arrival of the Grail. Perhaps even more than a race, a symbol. He, for Ian Williams, a return to "qualities of yesteryear" endurance. In other words, those of Jean-Louis Leclerc, the return to "a race of riders rather than a race horse." Back to basics, then. Such a discipline that combines sports, adventure and geography. But this version of the endurance is it soluble in the future, focused on racing flat, fast and sand? In terms of message, the choice of Florac is significant. Europe remains the stronghold of endurance. It is she who sets the rules. Not the emerging discipline - Dubai, Qatar, UAE. Yet Tartas has won this year at 26Km / h to 24 Huelgoat ... But the problem here is not who is right, but rather to note this: every race draws its riders, who themselves are responding to different motivations - the passion, money, image classification, habit, aligot. Each race has its place on the international circuit. As against this choice of Florac, which remains a great news and demonstrates the qualities of a permanent organization, shows an evolution. The European Championship seems to forge an identity, a DNA code. A European identity inevitably and naturally, attached to a tradition, values, to a method. But the European personality, strong and engaging, should not come to oppose the more contemporary, a worldwide circuit otherwise covered. In each culture, and to each his nature - the desert does not pass through a pine forest. The World Championship, then, must not resemble the European deadline. Riders to choose one or the other or both. Without hierarchy. Without trial. Unconstrained. And federations can do nothing except respond to the situation, open like never before ... In the meantime, go tomorrow night to celebrate the event Florac through a ritual historically and genetically European French: drink a cup together champagne.

hyppoblog - http://hyppoblog.blogscheval.net/archive/2010/04/26/florac-is-back.html