Mongolia: World’s longest horse race comes to nail biting finish

www.theadventurists.com Photo
Asiancorrespondent.co - Full Article

By Jo Lane Aug 23, 2011

The 1,000 kilometre long Mongol Derby of 2011 was won by just two minutes after a 10 day ride across the vast Mongolian steppe on semi-wild horses.

South African rider Craig Egberink claimed the victory even after losing all his kit and equipment just 48 hours into the event.

His victory over Chinese rider Sanbayier (a Mongolian name by all accounts) came just two kilometres before the finish line.

Craig Egberink, eventual winner of the Mongol Derby 2011 on the course. Image from www.theadventurists.com

From travel4press.co.uk:

At the penultimate horse station with just one stage and approximately 40 kilometres to go, four riders set out on the morning of Saturday 13th August to fight it out for the finish line.

Craig Egberink and the three riders from China, David Ha, Bayinmuenke and Sanbayier rode together until they were 12 kilometres from the finish. At that point Sanbayier “decided to make a race of it” according to Craig and when they were just 2 kilometres out there was still nothing separating them until a final tactical decision decided the outcome of the Derby.

As they approached the end a final hill lay between the two leader and victory. “He had some advice to go up the hill and I shot up over it and just beat him to the finish line” explains Craig.

After seven days, 8 riders withdrawing, extreme conditions and around 1000 kilometres of racing across the Mongolian wilderness, Craig won by just two minutes...

Read more here:
http://asiancorrespondent.com/63122/worlds-longest-horse-race-comes-to-nail-biting-finish/

France: Shaikh Nasser leads Royal Endurance Horse racing team to second place in French Championship

BNA.BH

Paris, Aug 21 (BNA) Bahrain’s Royal Endurance Horse racing team continued its achievements at the French Endurance horse racing championship adding yet another win by clinching second place after the UAE team in the 120-km race led by Captain of the team Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The French had to settle for third place in a tightly fought competition between all the top world teams. A total of 40 teams took place in the race and 142 riders from various world countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman.

The team came second place after covering the race in 19:35:57 after a tough challenge against world teams throughout the fifth stage.

On this occasion Shaikh Nasser extended his thanks and appreciation to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for his continued support and follow-up for the Royal Endurance Horse racing team in all participations that resulted in the achievements accomplished.

He also extended his thanks and appreciation to the President of the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance horse racing federation Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa on his efforts in following up the team during its participation in the championship and his keenness towards elevating the moral spirits of the team and riders.

Russia: Kazakhstan horses win CIS cup

Caspionet.kz

Kazakhstan’s national horseback riding team has won the CIS Cup in the city of Spassk-Ryazansky in Russia. The Kazakh team consisted of five horses of the Adai breed which is now being actively revived in the Mangistau region. Teams from Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Russia competed for the commonwealth cup. The Mangistau horses, that took the lead over the Kabarda horses, won the 80-kilometer race. Both jockeys and horse owners were awarded on their native land as well. The region’s governor Krymbek Kusherbayev presented representatives of the Kazakhstan Federation for Equestrian Sports, horse owners, and jockeys of Adai horses who contributed to the development of equestrian sport in the region with certificates and letters of gratitude. In addition, the Kazakhstan Federation for Equestrian Sports awarded owners of 23 horses with official documents, the «passport of competition horses of Kazakhstan». The CIS cup winners became holders of passports by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports. Breeders have been enjoying a growing state support in recent years thanks to which Mangistau is working successfully to revive the Adai breed. Athletes have a lot of competitions ahead of them and they expect to win prizes for a good reason.

Amangeldy Munaitbayev, jockey
«Horses that grew up in the Mangistau region got accustomed to harsh local climatic conditions. They are very strong and capable of great endurance. So they show good results during racing competitions. They performed well in Almaty and in Russia. I wish that the horses of this breed will always achieve good results.»

Omani Rider Qualifies to World Endurance Championship Finals

Omannews.gov.om

Muscat, August 22 (ONA) --- The Omani rider Ali bin Hassan al Farsi riding the horse (Rafaro) managed to qualify to the World Endurance Championship 2012 to be held next year in Britain. Al-Farsi is the third rider from the Royal Cavalry to qualify to the World Endurance Champion Finals 2012 after two other riders Mahmoud bin Marhoon al Fouri and Ahmed bin Salim al Hamdani who also qualified.

Al-Farsi's qualification to the World Endurance Championship Finals came after his success in French Kompian Endurance Championship for (125) km.

135 of the world's best riders have taken part in the race from Britain, Spain, France, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, South Africa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and the Sultanate.

The race was held on five rounds. The first round is (32) km, the second is (27) km, the third is (25) km, the fourth is (21) km and the final fifth round is (20) km.

France: Salman Al Sabri wins CEI** Sponsors Trophy at Compiegne

August 21 2011

Salman Ali Al Sabri of the UAE, riding Ojai Dents de Lion won the 130 km CEI** Sponsors Trophy at Compiegne on Sunday August 21 in a time of 5:49.47, besting second place France's Jean Philippe Frances by 1 second. France rode Ouedfik La Majorie. The top two averaged 21.3 km/h over the 130 kilometers. Third place went to the UAE's Saeed Al Marri, riding Oiseau du Breuil in a time of 5:55.24

141 started and 57 finished the race.

Stories, photos, and results of the World Endurance Festival at Compiegne can be seen here:
http://www.endurance.net/international/France/2011Compiegne/

France: Shaikh Nasser for 120km ride

Gulf-daily-news.com

August 21 2011

SHAIKH Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa will today lead Bahrain's Royal Endurance Team in a 120-kilometre international ride taking place in Compiegne, France.

The gruelling event is scheduled to get underway at 8am, Bahrain time. It is the main race of the World Festival of Endurance, currently taking place in the northern French city with participants from all over the world.

The race will be the penultimate stop of the Royal Team in their ongoing European training camp, as they are currently gearing up for the forthcoming European Endurance Championship, also to be held in France in September.

Shaikh Nasser - who is the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman, Bahrain Olympic Committee president and Royal Team captain - will be joined in today's race by some of the kingdom's top riders, including Ghazi Al Dossary, Raed Mahmood, Abdulrahman Saad and Jaffar Mirza.

Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first deputy chairman and Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa arrived in Compiegne yesterday but will not be competing in any races. His presence is a huge boost to the team, and he aims to show his full support to the Bahraini squad.

Some other Royal Team members will be competing in a 160km event, also to be held today. Among them are Ahmed Janahi and Mohammed Abdulsamad.

Each of the Bahraini riders took their horses yesterday to the mandatory pre-event veterinary examinations, conducted by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).

Hoping

Today, they will all be hoping to follow up on the success of Royal Endurance Team member Salman Isa, who won another 160km ride held on Friday for horses aged eight years old or younger. It also took place at Compiegne, as part of the ongoing festival.

Isa is also an Al Khalidiyah Stables rider. He clinched the six-stage race with a total time of eight hours 15 minutes 38 seconds, overcoming a quality field. France's Sandrine Lance was the runner-up, while Spain's Monica Comas came third.

Isa was yesterday presented his trophy and gold medal for winning his race. Isa received congratulatory calls and cables sent from His Majesty the King, Shaikh Nasser as well as Shaikh Khalid.

Meanwhile, Shaikh Nasser vowed to continue working towards His Majesty the King's goals of further promoting Bahrain through the sport, and to raise the kingdom's flag in various international competitions.

Also yesterday, Shaikh Khalid sent a cable of congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad, marking the outstanding achievement of the Royal Team Compiegne.

Shaikh Khalid described Isa's win on Friday as the result of the tremendous support of His Majesty the King to the equestrian sport. Shaikh Khalid also lauded the backing of Shaikh Nasser.

Bahrain: Shaikh Nasser Congratulates Salman Isa On Winning the World Endurance Championship

BNA.BH

19/8/2011

Manama-August 19 (BNA) Royal Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa congratulated Salman Isa who won the World Endurance Championship for eight-year old horses. He finished first in the 160-km-race which was held in Compian, France. This is the first time Salman Isa takes part in European endurance championships.
He won the six-stage race, after fierce competition with EU and GCC riders. French Sandrine Lance and Spanish Monica Komas finished second and third respectively.
Salman Isa extended sincere thanks and appreciation to Royal Endurance team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa for keenly following up his participation in the World Endurance race for eight-year old horses in France.
AHN