Spain: The Kaliber-Andalucia in Seville's April Fair 2011

El Raid Blog - Gabriel Gamiz

Thursday May 5, 2011

This morning, Thursday April Fair of Seville 2011, we had a festive gathering many of the participants of the VI Kaliber-Andalucia.

The Organizing Committee of this great trial of strength Equestrian, which runs through our land of Andalusia, has given us a meal in one of the booths in the exhibition area.

We conducted an all attendees, of course, about the race and horse, being the alma mater of this test José Manuel Soto who has captured all the eyes of the public who was walking near the house, everyone wanted to take some pictures with, as a memento of the visit to the fair in Seville...

More story and photos here:
http://ggjineteraid.blogspot.com/2011/05/el-kaliber-andalucia-en-la-feria-de.html

New Zealand: Double title for Masterton rider

Stepping Out: Gemma Haywood and Roselea Flaunt It go through their paces. Photo / Morocco Arabians
Times-age.co.nz - Full Article

Gary Caffell | 6th May 2011

Masterton's Gemma Haywood was a star performer at the 2011 New Zealand horse riding endurance championships at Kuratau, Taupo, over Easter weekend, winning titles in both the 80km one-star and 120km two-star events.

And she was not the only member of the Haywood family to feature prominently, with her mother Sandra picking up a third placing over 60km and her father Tony and brother Cole being part of their strapping team, along with Kelly Mason and Jordyn Piripi.

Good Friday saw Gemma Haywood competing in the 80km one-star competition on her homebred mare Roselea Flaunt It. They took the honours in a time of 4hr 54min. Haywood said she was "extremely proud" of her charge as she was in her first season of endurance and only completed the novice grading system in December last year.

The 120km two-star event was on Easter Sunday with Gemma Haywood and her homebred gelding Roselea Royal Fire crossing the start line at 2am and completing four phases of 30km each. The course was challenging with the uneven terrain including some hill work and that, along with the darkness, required extreme care to be taken to avoid injury...

Read more here:
http://www.times-age.co.nz/have-your-say/news/double-title-for-masterton-rider/3950662/

New Zealand: Andrea Smith takes out national endurance title

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

May 3, 2011

Andrea Smith and Glenmore Tariq zoomed home to win New Zealand's national CEI 3* Endurance Championship, completing the 160km at Lake Taupo over Easter in 9.34.55.

Riding in perfect conditions the combination travelled at an average speed of 16.7kph and finished unchallenged.

Coming home in second place, and also securing the Grassroots World FEI Qualifying Series win (over a maximum of seven CEI rides) was Taranaki's Sean Trafford and Sayfwood Rolling Stone. They were just under 30 minutes behind Smith, while one of last year's World Equestrian Games competitors, Jenny Chandler on Lace and Fineness, claimed third spot, in 10.04.37. Lace and Fineness was also awarded the Best Conditioned award...

Read more here:
http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2011/05/016.shtml

UAE: First female jockeys to saddle up

Gulfnews.com

First female jockeys to saddle up
Hamdan gives green light for two Emirati riders to compete in The Netherlands

* By M. Satya Narayan, Chief Sports Reporter
* Published: 00:00 May 3, 2011

Abu Dhabi: Fatma Al Merri and Shattra Al Hajjaj will become the first female jockeys from the UAE when they don the silks in an official race to be held in Duindigt, The Netherlands on June 19.

Thanks to instructions from Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, the two endurance riders at his Seih Assalam Stables have been chosen to race in the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival's Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Fegentri Cup race.

"For us this is a big step for our country. Shaikh Hamdan instructed me to support the Shaikh Mansour Festival and encourage Emirati jockeys," said Ali Al Muhairi, Racing Manager for Shaikh Hamdan.

"Both Fatma and Shattra have been very good endurance riders and now they have been training every day to take part in the flat race," he told Gulf News.

"We have two experienced jockeys training them and they have said that both Fatma and Shattra have been improving by the day. We have installed a starting gate and have also made an oval shaped course so that they train to race on the bends," said Al Muhairi, who is among the top endurance riders in the country.

Speaking to Gulf News, Shattra said she was looking forward to the new experience. "I am excited ever since I was named to race in Holland. I have to thank Shaikh Hamdan and Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak for all the support," said Shattra who has quit her job to take up equestrian sport full time.

Excel in flat racing

"I was 54kg when I started but now I am 52 and we have been working very hard. I have been involved in endurance riding for about a year now and have taken part in many events," she said.

Fatma has already won endurance rides and is hoping to excel in flat racing too. "I am very keen to do well. I have gained a lot of experience in the last two years in endurance and now I am really enjoying this exciting new prospect," said the Grade 12 student of Al Rayya School.

"The facilities provided by Shaikh Hamdan for us are very useful and we want to do well for his sake and for the country's sake. It has been very exciting since we started training for the flat races and I want to stay focused," said the Emirati school girl.

The prize money for the Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Fegentri Cup race to be held on June 19 at the Duindigt race course in The Netherlands is €20,000 (Dh108,714).

France: 2011 Uzes

3 May 2011


2011 mai 2nd CEI* 100 Km Qualifier World 7 years Championship
Guillaume Raffalli came first on Oahira la Majorie at 19.88 km/h.
12 qualified for the World 7 years Championship out of 40 starters

Complete results and photos here:
http://www.brigitte-huard.com/02-05-11-Uzes-100km-qualif,838,21,en,f.html



2011 mai 1rst Uzès CEI* open, 90 Km SHF, 20 Km, 40 Km, 60 Km
A chinese delegation was there
Complete results and photos here:
http://www.brigitte-huard.com/01-05-11-Uzes-90km,837,21,fr,f.html


2011 april 30th Uzès CEI** 125 km
Complete results here:
http://www.brigitte-huard.com/30-04-11-Uzes-125km,822,21,fr,f.html

Bahrain: Al Khatri wins endurance ride

Gulf-daily-news.com

May 1, 2011

MOHAMMED Hilal Al Khatri of Al Asayel Stable won the End-of-Season Endurance Ride Championship early yesterday morning at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

Al Khatri, riding Al Andell Muscat, overcame a poor start to clinch the 100-kilometre event in a total ride time of four hours 20 minutes and four seconds.

The race was organised by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef), and it was held under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first vice-chairman and Breef president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Shaikh Khalid was in attendance during the event's final moments and he later presented the top three finishers their respective trophies.

The ride's complete distance was divided into four stages, with the first two legs covering 30 kilometres apiece, followed by a 25-km third leg and a 15-km final stage.

Al Khatri had a relatively slow start to his campaign as he found himself in 14th position after the opening leg. But he battled his way into the top six after the second stage and was in contention in fifth after the third, from where he raced to the front for a strong finish during which he registered an average pace of 23.07kph.

Al Khatri built a comfortable two-minute gap ahead of his closest rival in the end. Nezar Hassan Mohammed of Hawar Stable, riding Tirroan, finished as the runner-up with a total ride time of 4:22:43.

Mohammed had a consistent showing in the event, never moving out of the top since the start.

Saud Fawzi Al Doseri of Al Shawamek Stable, saddled on Dum Dum, came in third place with a total ride time of 4:26:42. Al Doseri was the leader after the penultimate stage, but he could not hold on to his lead at the end.

Khalifa Saad Sharida Mubarak of Al Asayel riding GE Lady finished fourth in 4:28:50; teammate Bader Ateeq Edham on Al Jared was fifth in 4:29:29; while Abdulla Yusuf Al Qasimi of Al Magawir Stable and riding Jellaby Kafour came sixth in 4:29:44.

The championship's early leader, Raed Mahmood of Al Shawamek, could not claim a place among the event's top finishers. After taking the lead at the end of the first two stages, Mahmood dropped to fourth after stage three and was not classified in the final rankings.

New Zealand: New Endurance Champions are Crowned

NZEquestrian.org.nz

28/04/2011 3:45:45 p.m.

Andrea Smith riding Glenmore Tariq completed a thoroughly deserved victory on Good Friday at Endurance’s Nationals, at Kuratau, Lake Taupo, in the CEI 3* 160km ride, finishing in an impressive time of 9.34.55 and uncontested in the final stages.

For Smith and her homebred horse the victory was doubly sweet as they had come so far at the same venue earlier in the season, at the North Island champs, only to be given out lame in the final hurdle, that particular time they crossed the line in second.

This time round however there were no concerns for Smith; riding in perfect conditions they shaved over an hour off their previous time, finishing at an average speed of 16.7kph and looking in fine form the whole way.

Coming home in second place in his hundred mile race, and also securing the Grassroots World FEI Qualifying Series win (over a maximum of seven CEI rides) was Taranaki’s Sean Trafford and Sayfwood Rolling Stone, just under 30 minutes behind Smith, while one of last year’s WEG competitors, Jenny Chandler onboard Lace and Fineness claimed third spot, a respectable time of 10.04.37. Lace and Fineness was also awarded the Best Conditioned award the following day.

Also contested at these Nationals, and for the first time in several years, was the CEI JY 3* 160km ride, for riders under 21 years of age. For the past few years these riders have had to compete against adults, and some still chose to do so, but the FEI now allow them their own class. These young riders had a successful day with a 75% completion rate and first buckles for most. 16 year old Emma Mason from Wellington, riding Taralea Sheer Illusion was the top in this class, coming home also uncontested in a time of 11.25.24, almost one hour ahead of Georgia Smith and Aurora Australis. Third place was Tessa Deuss and Aspen Hills Santa Ana. All three horses a tribute to these young riders who worked so hard to bring them to this level. Best Conditioned Horse was awarded to Taralea Sheer Illusion.

Having a successful weekend also was Gemma Haywood from Wairarapa. Riding Roselea Royal Fire on Easter Sunday, the pair took home the CEI 2* 120km title from some close contesters, their total time of 7.57.05 enough to secure the win. In Second place was Marie Wakeling on Tokopuhe Kid, just over 2 minutes behind Haywood, and third, and later Best Conditioned, was awarded to Jessica Scheffer riding Sheba, their time of 8.03.27.

There was also a young rider 2* 120km class and this was won by Leanne Ireland and Alshar Blue Levi, riding sensibly in a time of 8.46.57, ahead of Emma Armstrong and Blue Thunder Shimar and Stacey Jones, Makahiwi Pretoria.

Winner of the CEN 120km ride was Australian Errol Watt, riding Raewyn Carter’s Maioro Tahi, their time 9.59.07

There were two CEI 1* classes; the 80km on Good Friday and the 100km on Saturday. Gemma Haywood rounded out her weekend by winning the CEI 1* 80km ride, on Roselea Flaunt It, while South Islander Charlotte Wadsworth, and Avaasha NZL, claimed the Young Rider class of this distance.

The CEI 1* 100km ride featured an exciting gallop finish – Wellington rider Sandy McCuan and Mizraim Silver Gym just getting the nod over Natalie Bickerton and Makahiwi Gazelle. Amanda Walton and Lotus Blue Moon finished first in the Young Rider section, their time 6.43.05, and the CEN 100km Junior event was won by Brigitte Smith and Craig Royston Melba.

Also on Sunday were the CEN 60km events, won respectively by Eileen Hart and Montana Rein in the Senior and Charlotte Berrett and Aspen Hills Balalaika.

Full results can be found on http://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/Resource.aspx?ID=11818