UAE: Fatima rides to endurance cup glory

By M. Satya Narayan, Chief Sports Reporter
Published: 00:06 November 27, 2011
Gulfnews.com
Emirati woman on Siloah Hamza beats strong field to script national day race history



Abu Dhabi: The National Day celebrations came early for Emirati woman rider Fatima Jasem Saeed Al Merri, who made history when she became the first lady rider to win the prestigious National Day Cup 120km endurance ride at the Emirates International Endurance Village here yesterday.

Fatima rode brilliantly on 9-year-old Anglo-Arab chestnut gelding Siloah Hamza to a superb win from among 170-strong starters who included two-time world champion Maria Alvarez Ponmton and recently-crowned European Open champion Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri.

Fatima along with Mohammad Saeed Mohammad Al Faresi on Kheops De Lozelle completed a one-two finish for the Seeh Al Salam Endurance Stables.

Fatima and Siloah Hamza were placed 44th after the first stage of 33km and then the Dubai College student moved up to 21st after the next loop of 27km. It was in the third loop that Fatima forged into the leading pack and then faced some stiff completion from Maria on Portos. Fatima moved to fourth place after the third loop of 24km and with Maria making an exit in the next stage after her horse went lame, Fatima took the lead in the penultimate stage of 20km.

Good condition

While compatriot Mohammad Al Faresi moved from fifth to second in the final 16km, Fatima and Siloah Hamza maintained their lead and won in 4hours 20minutes 52seconds.

"This is my horse's first win but I have won a ladies ride last year," said Fatima after winning a car for her effort.

"It was a very tough ride with so many taking part. The third loop was tough but after that I realised my horse was in good condition and I managed to win."

Sultan Ahmad Al Beloushi on Marlicia Walter saw his bid to win this event for the second year end early when his horse went lame in the second loop of the five-loop ride. Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri, who won the European Open ride earlier in the year, finished fifth on Lourizon Frost in the 120km ride.

RESULTS

Top 5 results in yesterday's 120km National Day Cup Endurance ride:

1. Fatima Jasem Saeed Al Merri (Siloah Hamza) 4 hours 20 minutes 52 seconds;

2. Mohammad Saeed Al Faresi (Kheops De Lozelle) 4:27:27;

3. Saeed Sultan Shames Al Maamari (IFO El Pablito) 4:30:33;

4. Ahmad Ali Al Sabri (Castlebar Cable) 4:31:09;

5. Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri (Lourizon Frost) 4:34:43.

Who Won the Mongol Derby and How!?

Horsehero.com - Full Article

by Katy Willings

15 November 2011

(Editor’s note: If you are not familiar with the Mongol Derby, read Katy’s article, the 'Spirit of the Derby' first.)

In August 2011, the third edition of the Mongol Derby, the world’s longest and toughest horse race, thundered through 1000km of pristine Mongolia, catapulting (at times literally) another 23 riders into the Adventurists Hall of Fame, and with any luck, the Guinness World Record books. Organiser Katy Willings gives the inside track on this thrillng race....

Immediately after the race, I spent several weeks analysing the reams of data which came back from the Steppe, leaden with horse sweat and the faint whiff of goats, in order to bring you a less whimsical, and more informative blow-by-blow account of what happened this year, where the race was won and lost, and where it hung in the balance.

The beauty about the event is that no one individual has the full story. So much of the good and bad is privately enjoyed and endured, but nevertheless a coherent story emerges form the paperwork! I’ll mix key statistics with brief explanations, points of note and any lessons learned, and invite questions from the floor (in the Comments area below).

Race overview:
The Mongol Derby was won by South African dairy farmer and endurance rider Craig Egberink by 2 minutes (a nose over 1000kms, surely?) from Inner Mongolian contender Sanbayier, first of a cluster of three Chinese riders who were a formidable team throughout. The field spread out over the first two days but though injuries and subsequent drop-outs, the survivors were more clustered than they might have been. All bar two riders fell off, most at least once...

Read more here:
http://www.horsehero.com/editorial/?feat=73811

UAE: Final Entries for JYR World Endurance Championship

November 26 2011

The final list of entries have been posted for the FEI World Endurance Championship Junior-Young Rider 120 km race to be held on December 10th, 2011, in the UAE.

61 riders from 29 countries will participate in the race that will be held at Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi.

For the complete list of entries, see
http://www.endurance.net/international/UAE/2011WECYRJ/DefiniteEntries.pdf

Greener Pastures: High Winds Jedi - May 1983-October 2011

Arabianhorseworld.com

by Genie Stewart-Spears

Larry and Valerie Kanavy, of Fort Valley, Virginia, are mourning the loss of their 1998 World Champion endurance horse, 28-year-old High Winds Jedi (Tut El Sakkara x RAF Silver Sonnet) who died on October 29. Valerie Kanavy had just returned from earning the individual Bronze Medal at the Pan American Endurance Championship to find her beloved World Champion gelding breathing his final breaths.

Jedi competed in many top AERC and FEI endurance competitions between the years of 1994-2000. Of his 58 starts in AERC competitions, he won 20 and earned 10 Best Condition awards. Valerie said her most thrilling ride of a lifetime was when she and Jedi won the 1998 World Championship in Dubai. This ride is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest international equine event ever held.

“It was tremendously satisfying because it had the largest representation of competitors that was or ever has been from throughout the world,” she said. “There were 50-some countries and nearly 180 starters. To be able to compete with such caliber and numbers of competitors was a real thrill.”

Kanavy acquired Jedi when he was 14 years old, after he had had a short career as a racehorse, been schooled in dressage, and then raced in endurance. About Jedi, who once appeared on “The Today Show with Katie Couric,” Kanavy says, “His earlier training in dressage taught him balance and flexibility. As a result he was so responsive, so push-button easy to ride...."

Read more here:
http://www.arabianhorseworld.com/live/library/2011/11/waterhole/index.html

AHA Youth of the Year headed to the UAE for World Championship

Arabianhorses.org

November 22 2011

Aurora, CO (November 22, 2011) – Kelsey Kimbler, the AHA 2010 Youth of the Year, heads to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates next month to help represent the United States in the Young Rider World Endurance Championship.

"The opportunity to represent my country and the great sport of endurance riding is incredible," says Kimbler. "It has been my dream to get to compete in this championship."

Riders, ages 14-21, met certain qualifications with their horses for a chance to be part of team USA. Kimbler, a 2011 high school graduate, is ranked second in the country among those who applied for the team.

In addition to being a full-time biology major at Northern State University in her hometown of Aberdeen, S.D., Kimbler has an impressive list of accomplishments, most recently being selected as both the United States Equestrian Federation's (USEF) 2010 Junior Equestrian of the Year and Youth Sportsman Charter Overall winner. At the 2010 North American Young Rider Endurance Championship Kimbler was a team silver medalist. Kimbler earned an individual gold medal and team bronze at the 2009 Championship. In 2006 and 2008 Kimbler was honored with the American Endurance Ride Conference Junior National 100 mile award, by completing more 100 mile rides than any other junior in North America.

Australia: Riding royalty at Red Range

Static.Lifeislocal.com.au - Full Article

BEN LONERGAN
24 Nov, 2011 03:25 PM
The Red Range Sports Ground was graced with the presence of one of the biggest stars the sport of endurance riding has to offer on the weekend.

Four time Australian champion and 10 time national rider of the year, Margaret “Meg” Wade was in town for the Red Range Federation Equestrian Internationale (FEI) annual event.

Meg was undoubtedly one of the top endurance riders in Australia and throughout the world before a tragic accident cut short her competitive career two years ago.

While riding in an event in Tumbarumba during Easter in 2009, Meg fell from her horse only 10km from the finish line and as a result suffered traumatic brain injuries.

She was placed in an induced coma for three weeks and lost around three months worth of her memory.

Meg was kept in hospital for almost a year, so her condition could be monitored as well as to start her rehabilitation.

For the next year, she had to travel from her home just south of the NSW border to Albury two nights a week for rehabilitation.

But her persistence and commitment to rehabilitation eventually paid off and she had her first post accident horse ride in November 2010...

Read more here:
http://www.gleninnesexaminer.com.au/news/local/sport/equestrian/riding-royalty-at-red-range/2369734.aspx

Abu Dhabi: 200 ready for National Day cup endurance horseride

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

* By M. Satya Narayan, Chief Sports Reporter
* Published: 16:00 November 25, 2011

Around 200 riders have confirmed their entries for Saturday's prestigious National Day Cup endurance ride to be held at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba

Abu Dhabi Around 200 riders have confirmed their entries for Saturday's prestigious National Day Cup endurance ride to be held at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.

The National Day Cup, which has a 15-year history, is a CEI two-star event and will be run over 120km, with almost all the top riders in the UAE to be joined by some international riders.

The defending champion is Sultan Ahmad Al Beloushi, who won last year on Marlicia Walter. The Al Reef Stables rider also went on to win the HH President's Cup ride over 160km and is expected to be among the favourites today, along with the likes of Yousef Ahmad Al Beloushi.

This year's European Open champion, Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri from Al Wathba Stables, will also be in with a good chance.

Significance

Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, said: "With the UAE marking its 40th year, the event holds a lot of significance to the riders and officials.

"A total prize fund of Dh300,000 and a car for the winner of the ride will be on offer. We expect the number of starters to exceed 200 but a final figure will be known after the pre-ride veterinary check."

First of a series of equestrian events

Lara Sawaya of Tasweeq said: "This is just the first of a series of equestrian events to mark the UAE National Day. The National Day Cup will be followed by another prestigious ride for ladies and we will give details of that event soon.

Today's ride was due to start at 6.30am and will be run in five different loops of 33km, 27km, 24km, 20km and 16km.

Ali Al Mulla, Chairman of Areej Al Ameerat, who are one of the sponsors, said: "For us it is a source of great pride to be involved in this prestigious ride. We have seen this ride develop into one of the most popular events on the UAE endurance calendar and being a sport involved with the UAE's past, we are delighted to support it."