France: Bahrain and Uae Take Young Endurance Horse Titles

FEI.org

22 August 2011
by Louise Parkes

Horse and rider combinations from Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates claimed the titles at the FEI World Endurance Championships for Young Horses which took place at Compiegne in France last Friday. Over testing courses, and in intense heat, it was Bahrain's Salman Isa Al Radhi and Persepolia Larzac who returned the quickest time in the 8 Year Old division, while the UAE's Shames Sd Sn Al Marri produced a strong ride with Qatar La Majorie to win the 7 Year Old competition.

Endurance riding only developed into a competitive sport in the 1950s and arrived in Europe during the following decade. In 1982 it became an FEI-approved discipline, and gradually the number of events increased. In 1998 the World Championships were staged in the United Arab Emirates, with competitors from 47 Federations taking part, and this proved the catalyst for an explosion of growth in participation over the following years.

This year's FEI World Championships for Young Endurance Horses attracted competitors from 20 countries - Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Great Britian, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Portugal, Qatar, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay.

8 Year Olds
Of the 27 starters in the 8 Year Old Championship, a total of 14 were representing France, but the host nation had to settle for silver medal position when Bahrain's Al Radhi completed the 160 km course with an average speed of 19.442 kmh. Al Radhi, who only joined the Royal Endurance Team of Bahrain in 2011, was delighted with the performance of his mare Persepolia Larzac. "From the third loop I could feel her speed. I rode her in a 160km race in Germany this year and came fifth, but this is my first time in Compiegne" he explained.

Sandrine Lance and Movisko du Lauragais finished second for France with an average speed of 19.298 kmh, but felt she could have done better. "I now realise I could have gone faster" she said afterwards. "I was much too careful. When I saw the winner going faster I should have kept up with him but I didn't, and I left it too late to put things right. But I've had this horse since he was five so I'm pleased with my ride and my horse" she added.

Spain's Monica Comas Molist and Princesse de Campagne finished third when clocking an average speed of 19.269 kmh. "Princesse is a lovely mare, bred in France" said Molist. "Last year she was second in the 7 Year Old Championships. We only did a 90km ride earlier this year in preparation for coming here. My ambition is to be on the World Cup team for Spain, but it's been a dream to win in Compiegne!" she added.

7 Year Olds
There was an even larger field of 42 runners in contention for the 7 Year Old medals. This course ran over a 120 km track, and 14 of the starters were from France. But it was the sole representative from the United Arab Emirates who produced the winning performance, Shames Sd Sn Al Marri racing home with an average speed of 21.201 kmh from his horse, Qatar La Majorie.

"I've been riding in Endurance competition for five years, but this is my first win and my biggest win!" said the rider. "It's my first season in Europe. The course was difficult because of the hills, but I'm very happy. My ambition is to be always on the podium!" he added.

Once again a French rider came in second, Philipp Tomas crossing the line with Quotien Persky having recorded an average speed of 20.922. In modern Endurance competition, the emphasis is on the horse finishing in good condition rather than the one that finishes first, and it can take years for a partnership to develop to top level. Endurance requires extensive preparation, and key to success is the support crew who help ensure the health and well-being of both horse and rider during competition. Tomas carefully managed some concerns he had about his horse early in the race. "I was worried to begin with because he was not drinking that much, but after the third loop he was much better so I was happier. My policy is always to stay in touch with the leader and make my challenge on the last loop, but this time I just wasn't fast enough" he explained.

Qatar's Faleh Nasser Al Bughaneim came home third with an average speed of 20.919 from Querotz de Benech. "I've competed here five times now, and for sure it's a great place. I won the 7 year Old Championship here in 2009, but this is the first time to be here with this horse. I think I will be on the Qatar team for the Open European Championship next month", the rider commented.

Ian Williams, the FEI'S Director of Non-Olympic Sports, attended the event and said, "it was very competitive, with a tough battle for the medals. As always, the Compiegne organisers have done a tremendous job, and the good completion rate is testimony to both the skill of the competitors and the quality of the horses".

Results:
7 Year Old Championship: GOLD - Qatar La Majorie (Shames Sd Sn Al Marri) UAE; SILVER - Quotien Persky (Philippe Tomas) FRA; BRONZE - Querotz de Benech (Faleh Nasser Al Bughaneim) QAT.
8 Year Old Championship: GOLD - Persepolia Larzac (Salman Isa Al Radhi) BRN; SILVER - Movisko du Lauragais (Sandrine Lance) FRA; BRONZE - Princesse de Campagne (Monica Comas Molist) ESP.

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.