UAE: Rashid Dalmook wins Shaikh Mohammad Endurance Cup

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Leads clean sweep of the top three places by riders representing the MRM Stables

By Leslie Wilson Jr
Racing & Special Features Writer
Published: 15:10 January 11, 2014

Dubai: Shaikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum rode a tactically superior final leg to capture the prestigious HH Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup CEI 3* and lead a clean sweep of the top three places by the MRM stables on Saturday.
Heading out of the final veterinary gate in sixth position, and just 14 second ahead of teammate Saif Ahmad Al Mazroui, Shaikh Rashid made good progress aboard his mount Aghaab to move into contention midway through the 20km loop before delivering a strong finish to edge out Al Mazroui at the line.

Only three seconds separated the top pair with Shaikh Rashid clocking an impressive 6 hours 22.44 minutes...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/rashid-dalmook-wins-shaikh-mohammad-endurance-cup-1.1276444

Australia: Wagin to host Quilty Cup

Farmweekly.com.au - Full Article

AMANDA RAYNER
12 Jan, 2014

WAGIN is set to host the 2014 Tom Quilty Gold Cup 100 mile endurance ride on October 3, 4 and 5.
The Tom Quilty ride is the premier event on the national endurance ride calendar and the one event that every endurance rider wants to compete in.

Riders leave with pitched excitement at midnight on Friday night, trying to complete the gruelling course before midnight on Saturday.

It is a test for both the horse and rider against the terrain and the elements.

Horses are vetted stringently pre-ride and along the way at various checkpoints and then at the end of the ride.

If all vet criteria is met the horse and rider are deemed 'fit to continue' and ultimately receive the coveted silver buckle for completion.

In 1966 RM Williams organised the first 100 mile (160km) endurance ride in Australia...

Read more here:
http://www.farmweekly.com.au/news/agriculture/rural-lifestyle/general-news/wagin-to-host-quilty-cup/2683846.aspx

FEI Endurance Rules Changes in Effect in 9th Edition, 2014

10 January 2014

A few changes were made to the FEI Endurance Rules, which took effect January 1 2014. The changes are as follows:

801 THE COURSE/*Field of Play:
801.8
The finish must be long and wide enough to enable several horses to finish at speed without interfering with each other , and must provide sufficient run - out to allow Athletes to safely come to a stop after crossing the finishing line in any potential sprint or gallop. It must be situated as close to the Vet Gate as possible.

1. The ‘field of play’ is defined as; the defined course (loops or phases), the defined crewing areas on course or within the vet gate, the vet examination area and the hold area at or within the vet gate. For Championships, there will be restricted access to the field of play as defined in the schedule.

2. The maximum number of grooms allowed within the vet gate will be 5 per horse to take into account availability of space or too ensure that the horse is allowed sufficient space to rest. A ccess to the vet gate and the vet gate examination area may be restricted by the Organiser under advice from the FEI Technical Delegate. Such restrictions must be clearly shown in the FEI approved schedule.

3. All horses must remain at all times clearly under observation of FEI Veterinary Officials, Ground Jury and Stewards.

815.3 Mandatory Rest for Horses:
815.3.1
After competing in a CEI events, a horse must be given a mandatory minimum rest period, as defined, before it is again eligible to participate in a National or FEI competition (Rest Period commences at Midnight on the day that the ride
finishes as denoted by the maximum ride time allowed and finishes at Midnight, the day before published ride start time):
Distance completed
start – 40 km - 5 days (retirement only)
start – 80 km - 12 days
Over 80 – 120 km - 19 days
Over 120 km-140 km - 26 days
Over 140 Km - 33 days


817.4 Teams and Individuals

817.4.1
Teams: If an NF starts three or more combinations all results are available to establish their Team result and are also eligible for individual classification and placing/awards. Only the highest placed three members shall count as the Team for classification and to receive a team medal.
Should any combination whose result was available to count towards Team Classification, subsequently fail an FEI sampling procedure which results in the loss of that individual’s result(s) within the event, the classification of that entire team will become null and void.
Such loss of Team classification will not affect the individual classification of the other members of that team.

825,4 CEI 1 & 2 Star Endurance Events
Where a Foreign FEI Official is required within the terms of Art. 825, such Foreign Official cannot be resident in the same country or time zone in which the event is taking place.

See the complete 2014 9th Edition FEI Endurance Rules here:
Clean version: http://www.horsesport.org/sites/default/files/Endurance_Rules-2014-clean_11Nov2013.pdf
Mark-up version: http://www.horsesport.org/sites/default/files/Endurance_Rules-2014-markup_11Nov2013_0.pdf

Year-End Endurance Videos from Endurance-belgium.com

January 10 2014

Leonard Liesens has created three new slide-show videos reviewing Endurance-belgium's last few endurance riding seasons:
Tribute to the Endurance Horse
Endurance Eldorado - Heaven or Hell
Endurance Riding and Amazones.

Liesens and Caroll Gatelier supplied the photographs that compose the slideshows from events in France, China, Russia, Italy (European Championship at Assissi), Czech Republic (European Championship at Most), Lexington, Kentucky (World Endurance Championship), Euston, UK (Workd Endurance Championship), and Idaho.

UAE: Dubai endurance race draws top horsemen

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

HH Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup includes strong UAE contingent

By Leslie Wilson Jr, Racing & Special Features WriterPublished: 12:31 January 9, 2014

Dubai: Some of the UAE’s best endurance riders will face strong opposition from a high-quality field of international horsemen as they vie for honours in the HH Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup presented by Longines this weekend.

The seventh running of the 160-km CEI 3-star event is one of the highlights of the Dubai Equestrian Club (DEC) endurance calendar and traditionally attracts some of the best endurance riders in the world.

Organised and hosted by the DEC at the purpose-built Dubai International Endurance City course next to the Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, the ride will be flagged off at 7am on Saturday...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/dubai-endurance-race-draws-top-horsemen-1.1275723

Journalist recognised for coverage of endurance scandal

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

By Horsetalk.co.nz on Jan 07, 2014

British journalist Pippa Cuckson has received an award for Outstanding Contribution to Journalism for her reporting of the scandal surrounding endurance in the Middle East.

The award was announced by the International Alliance of Equestrian Journalists...

Read more here:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2014/01/07/journalist-recognised-coverage-endurance-scandal/#.Us16xmRDtLU

Malaysia: Azizatul back at the top

NST.com.my - Full Article

7 January 2014
By ZAINUDDIN MUHAMMAD | nstsport@nst.com.my

MOMENT TO CHERISH: She is set to be named 'World Rider of the Year'

SHE'S done it again! Azizatul Asma Abdullah is the world's highest ranked youth endurance rider again despite slipping to fourth place in the world ranking just over two months ago.

Even better, the 17-year-old Kuala Terengganu born is set to be declared 'World Rider Of The Year', a first for a Malaysian endurance rider.

Back in September, Azizatul made history by becoming the first Malaysian youth to be ranked first in the world but she slid down to fourth after missing a few races to prepare for her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination...

Read more here:
http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/equestrian-azizatul-back-at-the-top-1.456634