Bahrain: World military endurance ride set

Gulf-daily-news.com

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

BAHRAIN will be hosting the First World Military Endurance Horse Ride Championship this year in December.

First vice-chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa has issued directions for the preparation of the prestigious event.

The first edition will be organised in co-operation with the International Military Council (CISM), with large number of riders from around the world expected to take part.

The organising committee is yet to announce further details regarding the upcoming championship.

Meanwhile, Shaikh Khalid has approved the working committees. This was announced after Shaikh Khalid's meeting with Bahrain Military Sports Association president Col. Dawood Hussain Al Manea.

Shaikh Khalid also chaired the Executive Committee meeting, which was attended by committee deputy chairman Al Mane and tournament director Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa.

CISM vice-president Abdulhakim Al Shino of Bahrain was named head of communication committee, while the technical committee is headed by Dr Khalid Ahmed Hassan.

Shaikh Khalid noted that the military championship, to be organised for the first time at the international level, has received big interest from His Majesty King Hamad, who always shows interest and support for equestrian sports.

Shaikh Khalid praised Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa for his keenness to improve the abilities of the Bahraini riders and encourage them to participate in different endurance competitions.

He also hailed the role played by the Military Sports Association in Bahrain in preparing talented riders for the national military teams which have achieved outstanding results over the past years.

On his part, Al Manea expressed thanks and appreciation to Shaikh Khalid, praising his efforts in supporting and patronising horseracing tournaments, and for issuing his directives to develop plans and programmes to organise such events.

He emphasized that the Bahrain Military Sports Association, through its working committees, and in co-operation with Breef, will do its utmost for the success of the World Championship, which was approved by the CISM.

UAE: Polish rider rules endurance race

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Kart made a quantum leap from 10th place on first day to overall winner after three days

By M. Satya Narayan, Chief Sports Reporter
Published: 00:00 March 11, 2012

Abu Dhabi: Kamila Kart seems to be enjoying her endurance season here in the UAE.
The Polish rider won the gruelling 240km three-day Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Festival endurance ride at the Boutheib Endurance Village in Al Khatem here yesterday.

Riding 11-year-old Novisaad d Aqui, Kart did very well to finish a mere two seconds ahead of Ceinwen Morgan on Kalawind de Sommant with the UAE's Noora Abdullah Ahmad Al Hosani on Fanmar Baza in third place.

Feature ride

Kart's win in the feature ride of the Festival, organised under the patronage of Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President's Representative, is her second after the Polish rider had earlier done well in two Ladies rides.

Kart had won the President's Cup for Ladies over 90km held at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba and had earlier finished sixth in a Ladies Ride held at the same venue.

The three-day 240km ride was run with the riders negotiating 80km each day. At the end of the first day, Kart was in 10th position.

At the end of 160kms and after two days, Sabrina Mendiz was leading with Kart in fourth place.
In yesterday's final 80km leg, Kart initially slipped a place lower to finish the first stage in 5th place,but later gathered pace to top the final stages to stave off the second-placed Morgan.
Another consistent performer this season, Fatima Jasem Saeed Al Marri came up on top once again, this time winning the 120km Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Ladies Cup. Al Marri, who won the prestigious National Day Cup earlier in the current season, pipped Emma Victoria Finnie of Germany with just a second separating the two after five loops covering a distance of 120kms...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/polish-rider-rules-endurance-race-1.992710

Great Britain: Endurance rides get under way ahead of first competition

Thisisdevon.co.uk - Full Article


Friday, March 09, 2012
Western Morning News

The new season of pleasure rides organised by the South West Group of Endurance Great Britain (GB) have now started.

Open to both members and non-members, these rides cover routes from ten miles up to 18 miles over a variety of terrain. For members, they are an opportunity to gauge the fitness of horses and ponies before the first competitive ride of the season. For non-members, they are a chance to experience an endurance ride and to enjoy riding across new and exciting countryside.

There was sunshine and a brisk wind for the first two rides, the first on Dartmoor from a venue at Okehampton and the second in Cornwall, around Cardinham Woods.

The Okehampton ride had a new venue this year, from the car park at Meldon Quarry, used with permission of the Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council. Some 30-plus horses and riders enjoyed a challenging route across north Dartmoor.

From the venue, the horses and riders headed up tracks on to the moor at Langstone Hill before riding down to Meldon reservoir and crossing the dam. The route then took them along the West Devon Way to Sourton Tors and the long canter up the grassy slope to the top of the ridge. From here the route carried on across Coombe Down, below Great Nodden, and on to the turning point at Nodden Gate.

On the way back, there was an alterative fast loop up towards Okehampton Camp, for those horses and riders who still had some energy left after the steep canter up Langstone Hill...

Read more here:
http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Endurance-rides-way-ahead-competition/story-15456268-detail/story.html

Great Britain: Try Before you Buy Scheme Continues in 2012

Endurancegb.co.uk

12th March 2012

Non-members of EGB are welcome at all non-competitive rides, but Try Before You Buy provides a great opportunity to try this challenging sport in a competitive ride.

Following on from huge success last year, the Try Before You Buy scheme will continue this season. Try Before You Buy is aimed at people wishing to experience competitive Endurance riding, and offers free registration for horse and rider to enable them to compete in two competitive novice rides up to 40km before becoming a full member of EGB. The list of rides to choose from is extensive, with 23 regional EGB groups and a busy EGB calendar offering over 100 rides, from February to October, covering all levels.

Endurance GB’s chairman, Jo Claridge said “try before you buy was so popular last year we have decided to continue it for 2012. The number of people wanting to take up Endurance riding is increasing all the time making it one of the fastest growing equestrian disciplines. Many people who took part in try before you buy in 2011 have now taken out full membership for this season”.

Endurance gives competitors the chance to ride through new and exciting countryside and rides frequently take part in areas where general hacking is not permitted. There is good camaraderie between riders and competitors have great fun taking part. For those who do decide to join EGB having participated in Try Before You Buy, there is an excellent coaching, training and support system for all the levels of competition for members. Welfare of the horses is paramount and there will always be someone experienced on hand at a ride to answer any queries.

Non-members of EGB are welcome at all non-competitive rides, but Try Before You Buy provides a great opportunity to try this challenging sport in a competitive ride. Participating riders will pay just the competitive ride entry fee for the ride which is £37. The registration fees for horses and riders, which are usually £97, will be free to allow participation in two rides under the scheme. Rosettes will be awarded for completion, but there will be no eligibility for trophy points or progression towards novice qualifications.

Riders may only participate in the scheme for one season, anyone who took part in 2011 will not be eligible to do so again in 2012.

For more information see http://www.endurancegb.co.uk/html/item.asp?ItemId=2699

Australia: 2012 Tom Quilty in Tasmania

AERA.ASN.AU

In June 2012, the Tom Quilty National Equine Endurance Championship will be held in St Helens, Tasmania. As you would be aware, the Championship will consist of a 160km competitive horse ride held over 24 hours. The Tom Quilty has been running for over 45 years, and is steeped in history and tradition. The Tom Quilty National Championship changes state each year and in 2012, it is Tasmania’s turn to host Australia’s premier endurance ride.

Based on previous Tom Quilty events held elsewhere in Australia, we anticipate at least 500 interstate and international visitors to St Helens, in addition to around 400 Tasmanians who attend the event. International visitors from the UAE, Japan, Malaysia and the USA are regular participants in the Tom Quilty Championship and to gain a Tom Quilty completion buckle is one of the most highly regarded awards within the international, as well as national, endurance community.

In addition to the Tom Quilty Championship, the event will have a Trade Stall section for attendees to browse and make purchases. Given that the large amount of riders, crew and officials will stay for the majority of the week of 4th – 11th of June 2012, this will provide a substantial market for sales and promotion. Every competitor will receive a copy of the Tasmanian Tom Quilty program, a glossy colour magazine with the details of each State’s Endurance Championship, plus an outline of the program of events for the three main days of competition. You may like to prepare a page to be inserted into the program.

The Tasmanian Tom Quilty Committee have a media plan in place and will be publishing regular articles and media releases in the Examiner and other local newspapers leading up to the Tom Quilty 2012. We can also promote your business through this medium if you would like. We have been allocated six large advertisements in the state-wide newspaper, the Examiner, specifically in the Horse Directory, and we will also be preparing a feature closer to the event. This could be excellent coverage for your business if you would like to promote your organisation.

If you would like further information on how you can be involved, please contact me on gburford@freshfreight.com.au or on mobile 0439961090. We hope to hear from you soon.

Regards,

Greg Burford
Treasurer
Tasmanian Tom Quilty 2012 Committee

Bahrain: Shaikh Nasser Endurance Horse race a success

BNA.BH

3/3/2012

Manama, March 3 (BNA) The Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee and Head of the Royal Endurance team Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and President of Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF) Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa today honored the winners of the Shaikh Nasser 100 Kilometers Endurance Race.

The race which started at the early hours of the morning witnessed the participation a great number of local stables despite the strong wind gusts and rising sands.

On this occasion Shaikh Nasser praised the winners' advanced level, hailing their tremendous effort to finish the race despite bad weather.

He also praised BREEF's efforts in organizing the race, asserting that Shaikh Khalid's directives are well appreciated and reflect the federation's keen interest to develop its races. He also wished all the federation's staff further success.

For his part, Shaikh Khalid expressed happiness of the race's success despite the cancellation of its last stage due to bad weather.

He congratulated Shaikh Nasser on the success of the race and the high competence showed by the riders.
He also congratulated the winners of the race and hailed their efforts, wishing them further success in future races.

h.s.

Bahrain: Endurance ride preparations on

Gulf-daily-news.com

Friday, March 02, 2012

THE Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) has stepped up preparations for the Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa Adults Endurance Horse Ride, to be held tomorrow.

Set to take place at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir, the event will be over 100km and offers valuable awards, including three Toyota 4x4 cars that will be given away to the top three riders.

A veterinary examination is scheduled for today from 3pm to 5pm at the village. The veterinary commission is being headed by Dr Abbas Al Haiki of Bahrain.

It includes foreign veterinary delegate Mohammed Al Hammad of Saudi Arabia, Tunisia's Yassine Motemri, Roula Shabhan of the UAE, Ridhab Zeki of Iraq, Khalid Al Ruzaiqi of Oman, Mohammed Al Daen of Saudi Arabia and Dounia Motemri of Tunisia.

Other veterinarians are Bahrain's Ebrahim Yousif, Sabah Al Kabie, Abu Obaidah Yacooq and Abdulrahman Abu Shook.

The federation also named the officials for the ground jury. Dhafi Al Merri of Qatar was appointed president of ground jury, which also includes Bahrain's Ghalib Al Alawi, Abdulsamad Al Bosta, Mahdi Al Kalati, Fahad Al Rumaihi and Ali Ghuloom.

Mohammed Dadulla is the foreign technical delegate, Jordan's Haider Al Zu'bi was named chief steward while Abdulla Al Rumaihi is the event steward.

The race will feature four stages. The first will be over 30km, while the second will also cover 30km. The third stage will be over 20km, while the fourth and final stage also covers 20km.

Tomorrow's event will be held under the patronage of Breef president and first vice-chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Shaikh Khalid said that races in Bahrain differ from those of other countries due to the large number of stables and horses, which underlines the kingdom's great interest in this sport. He highlighted the efforts of the board of directors of the federation in developing endurance competitions.

Meanwhile, Royal Endurance Team will head into this event as the top favourites.

The team, captained by Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, comprise some of the kingdom's most prominent riders. They include Abdulrahman Al Zayed, Raed Mahmood and Abdulrahman Al Saad, who all expressed keenness to put forward their best performance and win the competition.

On his part, Al Ruwaie Stable captain Khalid Al Ruwaie said his team is well-prepared for tomorrow's ride, which promises to be one of the most interesting rides in the season.

Al Ruwaie also said that his team includes the youngest participant in the championship, 14-year-old Rashid Khalid Al Ruwaie, who is making his debut in endurance ride championships.