Staff changes at FEI Headquarters

Photo caption: Manuel Bandeira de Mello (POR) who has been appointed as the new FEI Endurance Director. Photo Hugues Siegenthaler/FEI


27 Nov 2014
FEI.org

Manuel Bandeira de Mello (POR) has been appointed as FEI Endurance Director to replace Ian Williams, who is due to retire at the end of December. The new Director takes up his post at FEI Headquarters next Monday, 1 December 2014.

Bandeira de Mello was selected following an intensive assessment process led by Odgers Berndtson Switzerland (OBS), a top international recruitment consultancy company in both the private and public sectors. OBS screened 30 applicants for the post prior to the final interview stage.

Manuel Bandeira de Mello, 54, served as Secretary General of the Portuguese Equestrian Federation for 13 years. Since 2001 he has been chef d’équipe for the Portuguese team at numerous FEI championships and was also chef de mission for the Portuguese team at three editions of the FEI World Equestrian Games™: in 2002 in Jerez de la Frontera (ESP), in 2006 in Aachen (GER) where Portugal won team bronze in Endurance, and in 2010 in Lexington, KY (USA). Before joining the FEI he was also Deputy Chair of FEI Regional Group I and Executive Board member of the European Equestrian Federation.

He has strong knowledge of equestrian sport through his work at the Portuguese Equestrian Federation and of Endurance as organiser of the FEI Endurance Open European Championship 2007 at Barroca D’Alva (POR).

Bandeira De Mello competed nationally and internationally in Jumping for 25 years, from 1972 to 1997, and was a member of the Portuguese team at the FEI European Jumping Championships for Juniors 1974 in Lucerne (SUI). He is married and has three children.

“I am very much looking forward to welcoming Manuel to the FEI,” Ingmar De Vos, FEI Secretary General, said. “I have known and worked with him for many years and I am convinced his extensive experience in equestrian sport as an administrator, competitor, and organiser will be important assets for our organisation. We were looking for a candidate with deep understanding of the sport who would be able to take over the Endurance discipline for the long term and clearly we have found that in Manuel.

“Our new colleague will work closely with the outgoing Endurance Director Ian Williams in December and will take over the role fully in the New Year. I wish Manuel every success as the new FEI Endurance Director and am confident he will be a great addition to the team at Headquarters.”

“I am really delighted to join the FEI as Endurance Director,” Manuel Badeira De Mello said. “It is an honour and a privilege to serve equestrian sport at this level. I am looking forward to this exciting new step and to fulfilling this challenging role to the very best of my abilities.”

At the same time as the FEI welcomes its new Endurance Director, it is also saying goodbye to a member of staff following the announcement by Veterinary Director Graeme Cooke that he is leaving FEI Headquarters for personal reasons after more than five years with the organisation.

Cooke’s main goal since joining the FEI in August 2009 has been to improve the international movement of horses and he has been instrumental in not only creating the High-Health High-Performance horse (HHP) concept, but also getting it accepted by the World Organisation for Animal Health, the OIE.

“Graeme was brought in to the FEI with the key objective of opening up borders for competition horses and his tireless lobbying of the OIE has resulted in huge improvements,” FEI President HRH Princess Haya said. “It’s a very difficult balancing act between promoting the free movement of horses while assuring governments that sanitary barriers are still in place.

“As our sport becomes more global, the movement of horses across continents takes on even greater significance, so the work that Graeme has undertaken and what he has achieved are extremely important and we are indebted to him for it. We are of course sad to see him go, but we have to respect his decision and wish him well for the future.”

“The FEI has been my home for the past five years and I’m going to miss it enormously, but I am leaving so that I can spend more time with my ageing parents,” Graeme Cooke said. “I feel we’ve really made a big breakthrough in international horse movements and I’m proud that the FEI has led the way on that. It’s an important chapter in equestrian sport history and I’m happy to have played a role in it.”

Bahrain's Shaikh Nasser: We work for a successful endurance season

BNA.bh

November 25 2014

Manama, Nov. 25. (BNA) -- Under the directives of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee President Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF) continued the registration process of riders and stables who will participate in the Season-Opening Endurance Race.

The event is set to to take place next Saturday at the Bahrain International Endurance Village. It will be over a distance of 120kms, and it will be held with a qualifying race of 80km.

In this context, Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad stressed that the new endurance racing season will be an exciting one, which will see a high level of competition due to the strong preparations from the riders, horses and stables. He praised the early preparations of BREEF headed by its president Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa and stressed that this race is considered as one of the most important in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad noted that this race will be a very suitable opportunity for the riders to recognize their level of readiness for the new season. He also pointed out that the Royal Endurance Team is ready to reap the victories and titles of this year's season based on their strong preparations and determination to achieve more succcess.

Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad said that apart from winning trophies, his team will seek to achieve new records in the races, praising the outstanding efforts done by members of the team in order to prepare the horses and riders for the season.

On his part, Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa pointed out that this season will be an exceptional and special one. It will witness plenty of excitement and enthusiasm in the races between the riders and stables, especially with everyone beginning their preparations early for this season.

He stressed that BREEF began early preparations across all their committees for the upcoming season-opener, where he hopes to witness outstanding achievements by the participating stables and riders.

He added that this season's races will be different from the previous years', and he pointed out to the strength of the competition by all the stables.

W H Q

Bahrain: Endurance ride preparations on

Gulf-daily-news.com - Full Article

November 25, 2014

Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Chairman, Bahrain Olympic Committee President and Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) Honorary President Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa urged Breef to finalise all administrative and organisational preparations for the season-opening Endurance ride.

The event will cover a total distance of 120 kilometres and it will be held next Saturday at Bahrain International Endurance Village.

A qualifying race over a distance of 80km will also take place...

Read more here:
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=390729

Scotland: Bonnie Galloway on horseback

Gallowaygazette.co.uk - Full Article

November 24 2014

Dumfries Branch of Scottish Endurance Riding Club

This Autumn has given us such lovely weather to enjoy riding in great outdoors.

Hopefully the wee saga to follow will inspire many more riders to do just that.

Recently, the Dumfries Branch of Scottish Endurance Riding Club organised a wonderful outing in Cally and Disdow woods thanks to all locals who gave permissions. On having a pony party we need parking for our mounts transport and Cally Palace Hotel came up trumps we had good hard standing and the branch congratulate all who left the parking lot immaculate. Thank you all so much.

We enjoyed the company of riders from Biggar area Lothians Branch Glasgow Branch and great support from Cumbria some Dumfries members who reside there and some EGB members so pleased you could all join us as 23 in total came along...

Read more here:
http://www.gallowaygazette.co.uk/sport/local-sport/bonnie-galloway-on-horseback-1-3614312

New Zealand: Introducing the latest ESNZ Team Member

NZEquestrian.org.nz

PUBLISHED 21 NOVEMBER 2014

ESNZ is pleased to introduce to you our latest member of staff to join the Membership Services Team. Some of you may have already spoken with Tina on the phone as she has been with us since the 13th of October though is now ready to be introduced officially.


Tina writes:

After spending over 12 years in the dentistry industry, I embarked on a complete career change when joining Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ) in October.

I have had long association with horses in a variety of roles, stretching back to when I was a child before settling on CTR and endurance as my horse sports of choice after being introduced to it in 2002.

I joined Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ) in October and have quickly immersed myself into the busy hub of the National Office. I cover the dual roles of helping back up the Finance Director as well as being part of the Member Services team which more than keeps me busy. I am enjoying the new challenge this job brings.

I’ve always had a love of horses and started riding when I was 12, on any horse I could find as my parents thought it was a passing fancy and that I would soon grow out of the phase or get bored.

I left home in my mid-teens to start my working life in dairy farming during which time I purchased my first horse, in the process becoming a keen hunter in the Waikato at a local club.

In my 20s, I had a change of direction and worked in racing stables in Woodville and later at Trentham as a track rider when I returned home to Upper Hutt.

At this time I met my partner at the local pub where I worked and got another horse.

Late in 2002, I was introduced to CTR and did this for a few years, placing second in the 2005 North Island champs. Soon after this a friend and I tried our first 40km endurance ride and from that time have been hooked on the sport.

Tina Plastow

Great Britain: Endurance achievements

Westbriton.co.uk - Full Article

By West Briton | Posted: November 20, 2014

A STUDENT from The Roseland Community College has successfully competed in horse endurance events across the country.

In August Emilia Douglass in Year 9 competed at Barbury, with the County Endurance Team along with former members of the Great Britain team.

The South West team came second with Emilia and her horse Tiger Lilly being placed the highest in their class (32km novice).

In October Emilia competed for Newquay Riding Club at the National Red Dragon team event at the Royal Welsh Showground...

Read more: http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Endurance-achievements/story-24570045-detail/story.html#ixzz3JibYinPx

UAE: Dubai Desert Triathlon

November 20 2014

The second Dubai Desert Triathlon will take place December 5 in the Dubai Desert, UAE. Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Makoum, the event will cover 3 disciplines of running (5 km on a desert trail), cycling (50 km on a cycling course), and endurance horse riding (40 km on a looped track). The start will be at 6 AM with the trail runners.

Nearly 400 athletes were part of history in the making as they competed in the first ever Dubai Desert Triathlon at Dubai International Endurance City on April 19 2014. The world first event brought together the triathlon disciplines of cycling and running with the traditional Emirati heritage sport of endurance horse riding.

The event, a partnership between Dubai Sports Council and Meydan, was a huge success, with the hundreds of participants and hundreds more support crews and spectators thoroughly enjoying the experience.

Participants could enter as an individual triathlete completing all three disciplines, or as a team of 2 or 3 to complete the 5km desert trail run, the 25 km cycle and the 40km endurance ride, and prizes were awarded to winners in the individual, teams, cycling and running sections.

The overall men’s triathlon was won by HH Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamed Al Khalifa of Bahrain ahead of teammate Mikel Calahorra, with Diego Bellon Santos in third.

HH Sheikh Nasser was full of praise for the event, saying “Today was perfect, the organization was very nice and I am very happy to have been part of this first ever desert triathlon. I am very happy with my times, I did what I expected to do, it’s been a beautiful day. I hope this event gets bigger every year.”

His teammate Mikel Calahorra was equally impressed, saying “Today was amazing, I only started horse riding a few months ago, When we saw this event was going to be on, His Highness Sheikh Nasser said to me ‘I am learning your sport (of triathlon), now it’s time for you to learn mine’ (horse riding) so I started riding. It’s a great mix of cultures here today and it’s been a great day”.
Third place getter Santos was thrilled to be competing in such great company, saying “It’s a pleasure to share the track with these guys, I have to fit my training around work, so to compete with great athletes like these two is great”

The overall women’s triathlon was won by Maha Khalid. She was delighted with her result saying “I enjoyed today a lot, I am a professional endurance horse rider so had to train hard on the cycling and running, but today was very good. It’s nice to bring all these cultures together, I’ll definitely be back next year”.

Second place in the women’s overall went to Ines Pintenat, with Sheelagh Pirzada in third. First place in the junior triathlon went to Atiq Hassan Ali.

Prizes were also awarded to senior and junior teams, with Al Bararri -4 taking out the junior competition and Etihad Stables 1 taking out the senior.

In the run leg the fastest female was Moroccan Champion Latifa Essarokh, ahead of Hamda Saif Alshamsi, while in the junior male section Sancho Barcia took the honours. In the senior male section Albert Robb recorded a blistering time of 14.10 for the sandy 5km desert trail. The women’s bike leg was won by Lisa Hancox, the junior male by Talal Al Balooshi and the senior male by Soufiane Haddi, just .03 of a second ahead of Ahmed Yousef Al Mansouri.

But it wasn’t just the winners who enjoyed the day, with participants excited to be part of such an innovative event. One competitor, Geoff Mitchell, said “It was brilliant to be part of this, it’s the first truly integrated multicultural event I’ve seen. It’s great to combine the Emirati culture with a triathlon and it’s so good to see so many Emiratis competing in all three disciplines. It’s a great leveler and we all love being out there competing together. Hopefully this event will carry on for many more years to come”.
Dr Ahmed Saad Al Sharif, Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council, was delighted with the event. “We are so pleased with how successful today has been, to see such a diverse range of people competing together and enjoying participating is wonderful. We are proud to have made history today and we look forward to seeing this event become one of the hallmark events on Dubai’s sporting calendar”.

The CEO of official charity partner of the event, the Al Jalila Foundation, Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Alolama, said “Through unique events like the Dubai Desert Triathlon, the UAE continues to innovate and maintain a leading position in the global sporting community. Al Jalila Foundation was founded to contribute to the well-being of the UAE, and so we are proud to be involved with an event that not only promotes interest in fitness, but embraces endurance horse riding, a proud component of Emirati heritage.

“We are delighted to be the official charity partner of this successful event and extend our sincere appreciation to Dubai Sports Council for giving us the opportunity to raise awareness about Al Jalila Foundation. We look forward to working together on more sporting events in the future”.

For more information see
http://dubaideserttriathlon.com/