Bahrain: Khalid bin Hamad crowns Al-Khatri as National Day Endurance Champion

BNA.bh - Full Article

20/12/2014
Manama, Dec20(BNA) National Guard Commander Lt. General Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa, Bahrain Royal Endurance Team leader Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Al Khalidiya Stables leader Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, attended the National Day Endurance Race Championship for a distance of 120km and qualifying for a distance of 80km.

Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad presented the prizes to the winners at the end of the race, led by overall number one Fahad Al Khatri.

Riding his horse Siba from Victory Stable of the Royal Team and coached by Ahmed Janahi, Al Khatri claimed the race title after finishing in a total time of 4:58:51 hours with an average speed of 24km/h...

Read more here:
http://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/646572

Kuwait: Equestrian Al-Mutairi wins endurance horse race

KUNA.net.kw - Full Article

22/12/2014 | Kuwait News

KUWAIT, Dec 22 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti equestrian Fahad Al-Mutairi, riding Yejdebaz, won the title of 'Al-Qudra wa Al-Tahammul' (capability and endurance) 100 kilometers horse race, held on Monday as part of the Fifth National Heritage Festival.

The festival kicked off yesterday under auspices of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
Kuwait's Abdullah Al-Mutriga, riding Redam, came in second place followed by Kyrgyz equestrian Abdelhadi Abo-Jemma on his RPG horse while Majed Al-Rashdan, of Kuwait, came in the fourth place on Meotzadeh.

The results of the race will be confirmed after the participating horses undergo anti-doping tests ahead of the prize-giving ceremony...

Read more here:
http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2415615&language=en

Kuwait: Equestrian Al-Azemi wins endurance horse race

KUNA.net.kw - Full Article

KUWAIT, Dec 21 (KUNA) -- Female equestrian Abrar Al-Azemi won the 'Al-Qudra wa Al-Tahammul' (capability and endurance) horse race held on Sunday as part of the Kuwait's Fifth National Heritage Festival.

The festival kicked off earlier today under auspices of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
Shadera Ahmad Al-Hajjaj, of the UAE, and her compatriot Hanan Al-Mutairi came in the second and third places respectively.

Kuwait's Jamila Ahmad and Fare'a Al-Wuggayan ranked fourth and fifth in the race that gathered 46 female equestrians from Kuwait and other GCC member states.

The results of the race will be confirmed the participating horses undergo anti-doping tests ahead of the prize-giving ceremony.

Deputy Chairman of the contest affairs committee of the festival Sheikh Sabah Fahad Al-Nasser Al-Sabah commended performance of the contenders in the three stages of the race.

"The participation of female equestrians from Bahrain, Qatar and UAE alongside Kuwaiti contenders added value to the race," he told reporters...

Read more here:
http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2415415&language=en

UAE: Al Mazroui has eye on big endurance prizes

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Teenager says he is ready after winning Shaikh Saeed Bin Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Challenge

By Leslie Wilson Jr Racing & Special Features WriterPublished: 19:27 December 19, 2014

Dubai: Teenager Saif Ahmad Al Mazroui said he is ready to challenge for the biggest endurance prizes after delivering a masterclass to win the Shaikh Saeed Bin Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Challenge at the Dubai International Endurance City on Friday.

Riding the MRM Stables-trained ten-year-old gelding Nopoli Del Ma, the youngster grabbed the lead in third loop of the CEI** 120km ride and went on to dominate a record field of 240 riders, before recording one of his most impressive wins.

“My goal is to win the top three rides in the UAE,” said Al Mazroui after completing the gruelling course in a time of four hours and 22.39 minutes...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/al-mazroui-has-eye-on-big-endurance-prizes-1.1429355

International sports community pays tribute to FEI Honorary President HRH Princess Haya

FEI.org

19 Dec 2014

International sports personalities have paid homage to HRH Princess Haya, who on 14 December stepped down as the FEI President after eight years in the role. The newly elected FEI President Ingmar De Vos lead the tributes to Princess Haya, who was appointed FEI Honorary President with the unanimous approval of the FEI General Assembly last Sunday.

“Princess Haya is a visionary who has transformed the FEI into a modern, transparent, agile and highly respected sports organisation over the past eight years,” De Vos said. “Thanks to her energy and commitment, the FEI is a valued member of the Olympic movement.

“The FEI Solidarity programme, based on the hugely successful Olympic Solidarity model to help the development of equestrian sport globally and, in particular the National Federations with the greatest need, is now fully operational. In the last few years the FEI has signed very valuable long-term commercial partners, including the Swiss watchmaker Longines. The contribution made by Princess Haya to equestrian sport is immeasurable.”

Jacques Rogge, Honorary IOC President, summed up Princess Haya’s commitment to the Olympic Movement in a special video message played during the FEI Awards Gala 2014 presented by Longines last weekend: “Your Royal Highness, may I thank and congratulate you on your great leadership at the head of the FEI. As a President and as an Olympian, you put the safety and welfare of riders and horses first, and have extensively supported emerging countries.

“In close collaboration with the IOC, the equestrian events at the Games have contributed very much to the success of the overall Olympic programme. You creatively broke new ground with the Youth Olympic Games.

“I want to thank you very much for the invaluable support you gave to the IOC, both as an IF President and as an IOC member. You have the elegance and wisdom to leave at the peak of your career. I know that your great passion for sport will not fade away and that you will continue your splendid humanitarian work for the United Nations. I wish you a happy life and success in all your endeavours.”

IOC President Thomas Bach echoed his predecessor’s sentiment in a personal letter to Princess Haya sent on the day she stepped down as FEI President. The IOC President, who presented Princess Haya with the Trophy of the International Olympic Committee during last week’s IOC Session in Monaco, offered Princess Haya his “most sincere gratitude, both personally and on behalf of the IOC for your outstanding contribution to the International Equestrian Federation and to the entire Olympic Movement”.

“You have had an exceptional journey within the international equestrian community both as an athlete and as a leader at the FEI. Your role as an IOC member and on the IOC Athletes’ Commission has enabled athletes to have an important voice within the Olympic Movement and we would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your invaluable contribution and numerous achievements during your term as President of the FEI.”

He went on to express his confidence “that the excellent partnership between our organisations will continue over the next editions of the Olympic Games”, before stating that he hoped “very much that our paths will cross again”.

The Olympian
Princess Haya, who represented her native Jordan in Jumping in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, was elected FEI President in 2006 in the first-ever contested election for the FEI Presidency. She became the 13th and third consecutive female FEI President, and the second female FEI President to have competed as an Olympic equestrian athlete.

The Olympic Movement and the place of equestrian sport in it have always been of central importance to Princess Haya. Active on the IOC Athletes as well as Culture and Olympic Education Commissions since 2005, she was elected as an IOC Member in July 2007. She has since been a member of five further IOC Commissions.

Solidarity in sport
In 2010, Princess Haya was re-elected in a landslide victory in the first contested election involving a serving FEI President.

Just months later, she launched FEI Solidarity, the global sport development programme based on the Olympic Solidarity model, which provides opportunities for the next generation of athletes and those working in equestrian communities, and helps National Federations to build their own national structures for developing equestrian sport. The FEI Solidarity programme has so far supported over 65 projects worldwide with funds as well as technical and consultancy services.

The partners
Commercial opportunities gathered pace during Princess Haya’s second term as FEI President.

In December 2012, Longines became the FEI’s first Top Partner following the agreement of a historic, long-term partnership, which also saw the Swiss watchmaker become the Official Timekeeping Partner of the FEI. This followed the relationship already established with fashion designer to Hollywood stars Reem Acra, title sponsor of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Western European League and the overall series Final.

Reinvigorating equestrian sport to ensure it continues to appeal to global media and growing mainstream audiences has also been key, and the most palpable illustration of this has been the transformation of the world’s oldest outdoor team Jumping event, the FEI Nations Cup™, which was first held in 1909.

The series was given a new, more global format in 2013 thanks to a €16 million four-year sponsorship package from the Saudi Equestrian Fund, and renamed the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping. The series, which enters its third season in 2015, has been a resounding success, with 40 nations expected to take part next year.

Securing increased broadcast coverage of equestrian sport has always been high on Princess Haya’s agenda, and just two weeks ago the FEI agreed an eight-figure broadcast distribution renewal with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and IMG until 2022 that will generate markedly increased coverage of the world’s most prestigious equestrian events.

A further important multi-year broadcast deal was also recently signed with Sky Mexico. The new six-year agreement not only secures the long term on-screen presence of equestrian sport across Mexico and the emerging Central American and Caribbean regions, but also substantially increases coverage of the FEI’s Olympic and non-Olympic disciplines in these territories.

The FEI has developed a strong partnership with the leading broadcaster CNN in order to launch the series of programmes and news features called CNN Equestrian on World Sport.

Future-proofing
Future-proofing the FEI as equestrian sport grows rapidly around the world has also been a major focal point for Princess Haya.

The FEI Clean Sport programme, established in 2010 to safeguard the integrity of equestrian and guarantee a level playing field, got its best endorsement at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games where all human and equine samples tested negative. With rigorous testing alongside a comprehensive education programme, FEI Clean Sport will ensure that current and future generations of athletes and their support teams are fully aware of their commitments to protect their own health, the health of horses and fair play in the sport.

Huge efforts by the FEI veterinary team working with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities on the improvement of international movement of sport horses resulted in a major breakthrough this May with the acceptance of the High Health High Performance horse concept.

The creation of the International Horse Sports Confederation, the first formal vehicle for co-operation between the world’s leading governing bodies for equestrian sport, is also designed to ensure that all organisations working within horse sport share best practice.

Equestrian family
Princess Haya has focused on building the FEI Family by bringing together the FEI’s 133 National Federations, underlining the importance of strong governance, transparency and integrity.

She introduced the FEI Athlete Representative position for the FEI’s Technical Committees, and this year for the first time in the FEI’s 93-year history the athletes themselves had the opportunity to vote for their Athlete Representatives.

German Jumping legend Ludger Beerbaum, who has won four Olympic, four world and 11 European medals, and has led the FEI World Individual Jumping Riders Rankings, now known as the Longines Rankings, said in a moving video message addressed to Princess Haya: “On behalf of the riders I would really like to thank you very, very much for what you have done in the past years for our sport and in just two terms. We would have loved to have a third one, and we thank you so much for all you’ve done and all the best for the future.”

In 2012, the first FEI Sports Forum took place, encouraging National Federations and FEI stakeholders from around the world to take part in wide-ranging debates on the progression of equestrian sport. This is now an annual event, with the next edition taking place 27-28 April 2015.

Betty Wates, President of the Equestrian Federation of Jamaica, sent a heartfelt message to Princess Haya. “My wonderful friend,” she wrote “You have done a great job. The Caribbean and developing countries have been able to grow through the FEI Solidarity program, which is your brain child. You have made yourself accessible to all of us and have made the FEI a real family.”

FEI Headquarters
Princess Haya has also donated state-of-the-art headquarters to the FEI in the Olympic Capital Lausanne (SUI), home to the International Olympic Committee as well as many international sports organisations. The building, named after her late father HM King Hussein I, has allowed the FEI to expand its team of professionals and improve services to the global equestrian community.

“Following in Princess Haya’s footsteps is an honour but also a great challenge,” newly elected FEI President Ingmar De Vos concluded. “She has shown us the road to success and I am committed to advancing our sport and our organisation with faith in the future, with honesty, integrity, and most importantly in unity. The FEI Family owes Princess Haya an enormous debt of gratitude and I see it as my duty to preserve her legacy.”



Notes to Editors:
On 14 December 2014, Princess Haya stepped down as the FEI President after two terms in office. On the same day, she was appointed Honorary FEI President with the unanimous approval of the FEI General Assembly. She joins three other Honorary Presidents – HRH The Infanta Doña Pilar de Borbón (ESP), HRH The Princess Royal (GBR), and HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh (GBR).

For more information on HRH Princess Haya please visit www.princesshaya.net.

Belgium’s Ingmar De Vos elected as FEI President

FEI.org

14 Dec 2014

Ingmar De Vos (BEL) was today elected as President of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) by an overwhelming majority in the first round of voting, earning 98 votes out of a possible 131.

De Vos, 51, Secretary General of the FEI since May 2011, was elected to take charge of the world governing body of equestrian sport during this morning’s session of the FEI General Assembly in Baku (AZE).

The result was announced by HRH Princess Haya, the outgoing President, with the simple words, “I am pleased to announce we have a new FEI President, Ingmar De Vos”. Her words were met with prolonged applause from close to 350 delegates representing 91 National Federations, stakeholders, sponsors and international media.

“I’m really very honoured and overwhelmed by this enormous support,” a clearly emotional De Vos said, “and I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your confidence. Baku will be in my memory forever.

“Elections are always difficult, as it splits a little bit the family, but I guarantee that I will be the president of all of you, I will serve all the members of our community and I will work very hard to keep this unity.”

He went on to thank his great friend and mentor Jacky Buchmann, who has recently been re-elected as President of the Belgian Equestrian Federation. And finally, with great emotion, he thanked outgoing President Princess Haya.

“Words cannot explain what she has done for our organisation. She has shown leadership, she has guided us through difficult waters, she has innovated us, she has modernised us. She has left us with a great legacy and I believe, together with many of you, that it is our responsibility to preserve the legacy and go on with the roadmap she has shown us. Words are not enough to thank her. Over the years we have become good friends, and I am thankful and grateful for your support. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Congratulations from IOC President

Shortly after his election, De Vos received a letter of congratulations from IOC President Thomas Bach. “Please accept my congratulations on your election as President of the International Equestrian Federation. The IOC enjoys a long-standing relationship with FEI, its elected members and administration. We are sure that FEI will continue its growth under your leadership. Your previous experience in different positions of the Equestrian sports will be invaluable for you in this new office. On behalf of the IOC and the entire Olympic Movement, I wish you every success in the new role you are undertaking.”


De Vos takes over the reins as FEI President at the conclusion of today’s FEI General Assembly for a four-year term, and is eligible for re-election for up to three consecutive terms. He has stated that he will resign as Secretary General as soon as he takes over the Presidency this afternoon and will appoint an interim Secretary General to take over the role until a permanent replacement is found.

The other candidates standing for election were Pierre Durand (FRA), Pierre Genecand (SUI), John McEwen (GBR), and Ulf Helgstrand (DEN). Helgstrand withdrew his candidacy before the vote, and a sixth candidate, Javier Revuelta del Peral (ESP) withdrew from the election process in November.


Notes to Editors

FEI General Assembly 2014 – how the votes were cast:

Ingmar De Vos (BEL) 98
Pierre Durand (FRA) 21
Pierre Genecand (SUI) 6
John McEwen (GBR) 6

A total of 131 voting boxes were distributed to National Federation delegates, with 131 valid ballots cast. A total of 91 National Federations present for the vote and there were 40 proxies.

Ingmar De Vos (BEL)

Ingmar De Vos (51) holds degrees in political science, business administration and international and European law, and started his career as an advisor to the Belgian Senate. He joined the Belgian Equestrian Federation as managing director in 1990, and held the additional role of Secretary General from 1997 to 2011.

During his time at the Belgian National Federation, De Vos was chef de mission for the Belgian Equestrian Team at all FEI World Equestrian Games™ from 1990 to 2010 and at several Olympic Games. He was also Secretary General of the European Equestrian Federation from 2010, the year the organisation was formed, until 2011, when he joined the FEI.

2015 Junior/Young Rider Championships in Chile

Chile Enduro

Chile will hold the 2015 Junior/Young Rider Championships on October 23, over the same course of the 2011 Pan Ams.
For upcoming information, see http://50.6.74.33/home/?p=5138