Pakistan represented at the endurance horse race

Thenews.com.pk

Murtaza Ali Shah
Monday, September 03, 2012
From Print Edition

LONDON: For the first time in the history of the World Endurance Championship, a Pakistani endurance rider impressed the sports enthusiasts with his command over horses at the Euston Park of the Duke of Grafton.

Anzac Mehmood, 33, originally from Jhelum, represented Pakistan on his own at a match which was attended by 38 countries with 147 horse and rider combinations that took part in 160km race.

The horses are checked by qualified veterinarians and judges before, during and after the ride.

Riders normally have to maintain an average speed of 22 kph and it can take up to 12 hours or more to complete a race.

The race started at 7am and continued for 12 hours. Aznac rode Castlebar Lighting for Pakistan.

The horse for Pakistan was riding well, averaging 20.6kph.

Competing for 160km, it had completed five out of the six loops when at the vet check an issue with the heart rhythm of the horse was found. Consequently it failed to qualify for the final loop.

Anzac told ‘The News’ he was heartbroken that the horse failed to complete the race after initially showing so much promise. But he said his other horse Adara won the race for TeamGB at an average speed of 19.34kph.

“This is first ever in the history of world championship that Pakistan has been represented and I am honoured that I raised Pakistan’s flag. I have won three championships and my horses have finished with either silver or bronze medals.”

He complained that he had no support from Pakistan Equestrian Federation. “I just need their recommendation, I have my own horses but they don’t care. It doesn’t matter where horses come from. What’s important is that Pakistan should be represented but the military officials running the organisation are living in a bubble.”

He said Pakistan can do well in this sport as it has the grounds where horses can be trained. “I am planning to buy a farm in the UK where I will have my own horses for competition for World Championship and European Championships and I am happy to offer any help to raise Pakistan’s profile in this game.”

Oman: Royal Cavalry team get hero’s welcome

Omanobserver.om - Full Article

Sun, 02 September 2012

MUSCAT — Royal Cavalry of the Royal Court Affairs yesterday organised an official reception for their equestrian (endurance) team who achieved third place to bag the bronze medal at the World Endurance Championship held in Britain with the participation of 154 horse riders from 40 countries from around the world.

The victorious team returned home from London yesterday when they were received at Muscat International Airport by Nasr bin Hamoud al Kindi, Secretary General of the Royal Court Affairs, Shaikh Saad bin Mohammed al Saadi, Minister of Sports Affairs, Khalfan bin Saleh al Naabi, Adviser at the Ministry of Sports Affairs, Head of Committee in charge of managing Oman Equestrian Federation and a number of officials of the Royal Court Affairs.

Nasr bin Hamoud al Kindi said in a press statement that this achievement is the result of the generous support of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said to equestrian, as Omani Royal Cavalry has accomplished great successes and achievements during the season crowned with the bronze medal in London, adding that the horse riders, over the past periods when they were competing for the finals, showed great insistence in the 160km distance and they also showed determination and will in accomplishing a great achievement for the Sultanate as there was a competition with a number of countries with wide experience in the field of equestrian, especially in endurance.

The team then left to Al A'diyat town in the Wilayat of Seeb, where a reception was prepared for the team to celebrate the historical achievement of the Royal Cavalry horse riders in the World Endurance Championship.

The team comprised Mahmoud bin Marhoon al Fori riding Red Line, Hisham bin Saleh al Farsi, riding Falco, Abdullah bin Said al Siyabi, riding Punjab and Ahmed bin Salim al Hamdani, riding Ur. Sami bin Said al Balushi, riding Maj and Adel bin Said al Balushi, riding Mondalier participated on the individual competitions. The team were trained by Sinan bin Sulaiman al Abri. — ONA

Donal Fahy - Mongol Derby 2012 Winner

Theadventurists.com

by Mr Tom on: 18 Aug 2012

After seven days and the closest run battle for first place in the history of the Derby we have a winner. Donal Fahy of Ireland takes first place in the World's longest and toughest horse race.

It was a nail biting finish as the lead changed hands many times over the final 2 legs. After a rough night in a shed, Donal and his riding partner for the whole race Richie Killoran (also of Ireland) came into horse station 23 early morning mistakenly thinking they were in the lead only to discover they were in 4th and 5th place. The following two legs saw them both put in an impecable performance and made up 30 minutes to join the race leader Barry Armitage. Barry had been riding with Joe Dawson both from South Africa and had held a comanding lead for the majority of the race; Joe was at this point riding a couple of hours behind Barry for a vet penalty.

Michaela Gradinger (Austria) and Christoffer Adriansson (Sweden) fell behind as Barry, Richie and Donal fought for first place.

As they thundered across the line, Barry and Donal were litterally neck a neck with Richie just 44 seconds behind. As the dust settled on their 1000km ride the horses went straight into the vet check and unfortunately Barry picked up a 2 hour vet penalty. Loosing him the joint first position and shifting Richie into second. Third place was taken just under an hour later by Michaela Gradinger who was followed just a few seconds later by Christoffer Adriansson.

On winning Donal said "I'm feeling great that it's over. It's been a hell of a 7 days. Long days and really tough days, but on the whole it has been incredible. Not only is this the toughest horse race in the world. it's the toughest thing I've ever done. The whole mental side, to keep pushing on and pushing on, but in the same breath it got to be one of the better things I've ever done. Now I can't wait to have a shower and a few beers."

Full placing are being posted below as the riders continue to cross the line...

Read more here:
http://www.theadventurists.com/the-jibber/donal-fahy-mongol-derby-2012-winner

Oman: Royal Cavalry to Organize Reception for Endurance Team

Omannews.gov.om

Muscat, Aug 29 (ONA)--- The Royal Cavalry at the Royal Court Affairs (RCA) will organize next Saturday an official reception for the Endurance Team, who achieved the third place and obtained the Bronze medal at the World Endurance Championship (WEC) held in Britain with participation of (154) horse riders representing (40) countries across the world.

The team will come from the British capital, London after a trip to the French capital, Paris. The team will be received at Muscat International Airport by Nasr bin Hamoud al-Kindi, RCA Secretary General, Sheikh Sa'ad bin Mohammed al-Mardhouf al-Sa'adi, Sport Affairs Minister, Eng. Khalfan bin Saleh al-Na'ebi, Adviser at the Sport Affairs Ministry and Head of the Committee tasked with management of Oman Equestrian Federation and a number of RCA officials.

Then, the team will head to Madinat Al Adiyat in the Wilayat of A'Seeb where a reception to be organized due to the historic achievement made by horse riders of the Royal Cavalry at the World Endurance Championship.

The team was represented by Mahmoud bin Marhoon al-Fouri, Hisham bin Saleh al-Farsi, Abdullah bin Said al-Seyabi and Ahmed bin Salim al-Hamadani.

At the individual level, participants at the championship were Sami bin Said al-Balushi and Adel bin Said al-Balushi. Sinan bin Sulaiman al-Abri supervised the team's training.

Namibia: 2012 Endurance Races in full swing

Informante.we.na

WRITTEN BY FLORIS STEENKAMP
WEDNESDAY, 29 AUGUST 2012 20:06

The 2012 Walvis Bay Endurance Race, among the elite events on Namibia’s annual equestrian sport calendar, saw a record 191 Namibian and South African riders and endurance horses in action.

The event that started yesterday ends later today (Thursday). Its international status is reflected in the fact that as many as 60% of the participants are South African. Had it not been for a major horse event in the UK in recent days, the event would also have been supported by riders and horse breeders from overseas.

Although the endurance races are only taking place over two days, the preparations of the venue already started more than a month ago, explained organiser Zelda von Schauroth on Tuesday. After securing a piece of land adjacent to the Namib Riding Stables from the Municipality of Walvis Bay in June this year, significant earthmoving works and the establishment of pens and proper parking areas had to be built from scratch. “It was just a raw desert”, explained von Schauroth. “For the organising committee and small army of volunteers it was a month of sacrifice as many still had to meet work obligations and frequent shuttling between Windhoek and the coast to fit in work schedules.” An empty, sandy plot of land was transformed into the Endurance Village and boasts 180 pens for the horses and a tented complex from where the event is managed, where riders and the somewhat 1000 assistants and their families can rest and enjoy food and drinks. Three stalls selling equestrian sports equipment and accessories were also brought into being as well as some vendor stalls...

Read more here:
http://www.informante.web.na/

Australia's Shahzada: Alice makes giant strides for little ponies

Cherry Cummins will compete in a 400km ride through Yengo National Park on her horse Alice. MARTIN LANGE Manly-daily.whereilive.com.au - Full Article

24 AUG 12 @ 04:06PM BY ANDREW PRIESTLEY

CHERRY Cummins will set off for a 400km horse ride on Monday, potentially clinching a record for the smallest-ever steed to finish.

The 21-year-old Clontarf resident will compete over five days in the Shahzada, a marathon endurance riding event held in Yengo National Park, west of Wyong.

She will be riding Winter Hill Alice, a 12-year-old arabian pony measuring 13.2 hands, or 138cm tall.

Alice will be the smallest ever horse to complete the Shazada in the event's 32-year history if she finishes the ride...

Read more here:
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/alice-makes-giant-strides-for-little-ponies/

Great Britain: South West inter regional team win again at Barbury

Thisiscornwall.co.uk - Full Article

August 24 2012

The South West Endurance team triumphed again – for the second year running – at the Inter Regional competition held at the Ridgeway Barbury Castle Challenge two-day endurance meeting last weekend.

There were six teams competing and the South West won with 46 points, the Eastern Region team were second with 61 and the team from the Heart of England were third with 71.

Most of the 14 strong team of horses and riders travelled up to Wiltshire on Friday loaded down with full wet weather gear, rugs and tents only to find that Wiltshire was having a heat wave. So bad was the congestion on the A30 and the M5 that a journey that usually takes around four hours took up to eight. Fortunately all the horses stood the journey well, including several who had never been away from home overnight or been corralled on a hillside with dozens of other horses before.

Barbury Castle is one of the largest endurance rides on the Endurance GB calendar and there were a total of 28 classes, including a 126km 2* FEI ER and two FEI 1* 80km ERs. The Inter Regional competition, with six teams competing, took place over the two days, with competitors entered in a mix of classes ranging from a 100km ER to a 32km novice.

The ride mainly follows bridleways over chalky downland and across fields belonging to the estate. It includes the hillfort of Barbury Castle itself and goes around the point-to-point course. It's a ride that is made for cantering and competitors usually take full advantage. There are seven different loops that are combined to make up the different distances and this year there were around 200 competitors either staying at the venue or coming each day to compete. The weather was so hot on the Saturday that the veterinary team decided to lower the maximum heart rate at which horses were allowed to continue from 64 bpm to 60 bpm in the FEI 126km 2* ER, in the interest of horse welfare. The humidity was also extremely high at almost 90% which took its toll on those horses which had been ridden fast...

Read more here:
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/South-West-inter-regional-team-win-Barbury/story-16761208-detail/story.html