Great Britain: Teenager becomes youngest endurance champion

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Caroline Bankes
26 January, 2015

A 15-year-old girl has become the youngest rider to win Endurance GB’s (EGB) supreme champion trophy.

Hannah Maskell, from Buckinghamshire, won the trophy in her first competitive season — where riders race against each other over distances of no less than 80km.

The trophy is awarded to the horse and rider combination gaining the most points in all types of competitions run by EGB over the 2014 season, which runs from March until October.

Hannah’s successful season started with a win at her first 80km race in Brandon, Norfolk, on 27 April last year. She remained unbeaten in her next four races.

Last June, Hannah also won the young rider national title at Cirencester Park...

Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/youngest-rider-in-history-becomes-endurance-gb-champion-472195#TCDrYxrCDfi7wiR8.99

Qatar: Adventure lovers invited for Desert Caravan Challenge

Thepeninsularaqatar.com

January 23, 2015 - 4:18:33 am

DOHA: Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) is inviting adventure lovers to participate in the second edition of Desert Caravan Challenge aimed to revive the Arab tradition of camel riding.

QTA will arrange two camel caravans for a 12km endurance ride in Zekreet, west of Qatar for the challenge organised in partnership with Qatar Museums.

It is working to develop the tourism product by adding new creative elements every year. The caravan will be held in a different region each year. Last year’s challenge was held in Al Zubarah Fort.

Diversification of tourism products helps advance the National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030 which aims to develop a mature and sustainable tourism sector.

“Our strategy seeks to build a modern and sustainable tourism sector capable of attracting tourists from all over the world,” said Hassan Al Ibrahim, Chief Tourism Development Officer, QTA.

“The event contributes to the realisation of this vision as it diversifies offerings and sheds light on Qatar as a world tourism destination with deep cultural roots. It also promotes prehistoric landmarks and showcases the beauty of the Qatari desert and nature.”

Al Ibrahim said he expects enthusiastic response from the public, noting that QTA built on the success of last year’s challenge which attracted hundreds.

Open to Qatari citizens and residents above 18, the caravan will be held on February 6-7. It will from outside the antiquated mosque in Zekreet (House of the Imam) and pass through the scenic desert sand to Zekreet Fort.

The caravan will stop for breaks near Richard Serra sculptures in Ras Brouq and the ruins of Zekreet village.

QTA will select 15 candidates for the first day and as many for the second day. The journey takes between four and five hours and ends at the same location.

During the journey, the participants experience Qatari hospitality in tents in the middle of the desert.

The event is free but the ride will be a gruelling test of endurance that only adults in good physical condition should consider registering.

It open to male and female participants, including those who have little or no camel-riding experience, as qualified trainers will accompany the participants.

Aspiring adventurers can register on www.qatartourism.gov.qa/dcc

The Peninsula

New Zealand: Champion endures to take out title with Barack Obama

NZHerald.co.nz - Full article

By Equestrian
8:08 AM Thursday Jan 22, 2015

LOCAL rider Jenny Champion came up trumps in the main event when the Wairarapa Endurance and CTR Club hosted the North Island endurance horse riding championships at Whareama.

It was a testing time for horse and rider with temperatures over the two days soaring into the 30s but they handled it well with no major mishaps being recorded. The high standard of vetting between loops was obviously a big help in that respect.

In what was a busy programme which attracted more than 100 entries, the Domhealth CEI three-star 160km championship took centre stage.

It started at 1am on Saturday morning and, after the completion of three loops, four combinations had made a significant break on the rest of the field - Masterton's Jenny Champion on Barack Obama...

Read more here:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wairarapa-times-age/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503412&objectid=11390120

Bahrain: Preparations on for Shaikh Khalid Endurance

Gulf-daily-news.com - Full Article

January 22, 2015

THE Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) continued preparations for the Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa Endurance Race Championship, which takes place on Saturday at the Bahrain International Endurance village.

Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa stressed the need for outstanding preparations for the event in all aspects...

Read more here:
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=394431

GCC Women's Games: Oman aim for all-round success as hosts

Timesofoman.com - Full Article

BYA. SESHAGIRI RAO | JANUARY 21, 2015

Muscat: The Sultanate is aiming for both on field and off field success as the hosts of the forthcoming GCC Women's Games.

The fourth edition of the Gulf region's women's sports extravaganza is scheduled to be organised here in Muscat from March 8 to 18.

The Ministry of Sports Affairs and Oman Women's Sports Committee officials on Wednesday declared their readiness to host a successful event during the launch ceremony of Games logo and website.

During an impressive ceremony organised at the Diplomatic Club, the official Games logo — depicting the colours of all the participating nations, their culture and the sports — was unveiled by Dr Muna Fahad Mahmood Al Said in the presence of Minister of Sports Affairs Sheikh Saad Al Saadi, Undersecretary Rashad Al Hinai, Oman Women's Sports Committee Chairperson Sayyida Sana Al Busaidi and the women sports bodies' representatives of the participating nations.

Speaking on the occasion, Undersecretary Rashad Al Hiani said: "We are ready for the Games. Come March, we will be welcoming all the athletes and officials from the participating nations."

"We are happy to bring together the sportswomen from our friendly Gulf countries. We want to host a very great and successful Games," he added.

Two new sports

Meanwhile, Oman Women's Sports Committee Director Saada Salim Al Ismaili said they are aiming for host a memorable Games while hoping for all-round success.

"Obviously we want the Games to be very successful. And I think we have already began the process of achieving that goal today, with this impressive ceremony to launch the logo and the Games website," she said.

"All of us have been working hard. And we will continue with the same enthusiasm to make the Games a grand success."

"The GCC Women's Games are a great opportunity for us to showcase our organisational abilities as well as the talent of our Omani sportswomen. And more importantly it is a great opportunity to bring all these women athletes together and also know more about our cultures," she added.

Stating that the fourth edition of the Games will be bigger and more challenging, she said: "Compared to the previous editions, this is going to be a bigger challenge as there will be more sports. This time the Games will comprise a total of ten games, including two new desciplines which are tennis and handball."

"We will be hosting more than seven hundred athletes, accompanies technical and administrative officials from all GCC nations with the exception of Saudi Arabia. In addition there will be VIPs and other delegates and the number may go beyond thousand. So obviously it is going to be a big challenge and we will surely be ready for it," she added.

Aiming to improve
The sports include athletics, bowling, basketball, handball, tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, shooting, endurance horse racing and wheelchair athletics...

Read more here:
http://www.timesofoman.com/News/46131/Article-GCC-Womens-Games-Oman-aim-for-all-round-success-as-hosts

Bahrain: Nasser bin Hamad: We look forward to exciting Khalid bin Hamad Endurance Race Cup

BNA.bh

20 January 2015

Manama, Jan.20(BNA): 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 stressed the need of outstanding preparations for the Khalid bin Hamad Endurance Race Championship, which will be held next Saturday as part of the endurance season calendar.

Shaikh Nasser stressed that BREEF will work hard for the success of the Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa race, as an appreciation and recognition to the significant role played by Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad in supporting the constantly developing endurance sport in Bahrain.

Shaikh Nasser noted that endurance sport in Bahrain has reached a period of evolution and development thanks to intensive care by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

He pointed out that the participation of various riders in this race will enhance the strength of the event, explaining that all the riders have distinguished experience in addition to the high levels seen in the first race. He stressed that riders from the local stables will enrich the competition through good training.

Shaikh Nasser wished all the best to all riders and stables in their participation and in their bid to achieve positive and outstanding results and advanced positions.

Supreme Council for Youth and Sports First Deputy Chairman and Bahrain Athletics Association President Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa welcomed the participation of the local stables and riders in this race, which is considered as one of the special and distinctive events that is expected to witness excitement and a high level of competition until the race's last moments.
Shaikh Khalid called the organising committees at BREEF to pay attention and prepare well for this exciting race, as he expected it to be strong, distinctive and difficult because of rapid in length, especially riders are keen to achieve best positions and results.

Under the directives of BREEF President Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa, BREEF have set the final steps as part of their final preparations to organise the Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Endurance Race Championship.

BREEF has formed committees for this important event based on the directives of Shaikh Nasser in order to achieve complete success in the championship, which contributed significantly to the upgrading of all equestrian sport in Bahrain.

Sabrina Zeender appointed FEI Secretary General

FEI.org

16 Jan 2015

Sabrina Zeender, 49, has been appointed FEI Secretary General following a proposal to the FEI Bureau from FEI President Ingmar De Vos which received unanimous support. Zeender, who first joined the FEI in 1991, has been interim Secretary General since De Vos’ election to the FEI Presidency on 14 December 2014.

Sabrina Zeender holds a bachelor’s degree in Science in Communications and History from Boston University and a diploma in Sociology, Politics and Management of Sport Science from the Universities of Lausanne, Leicester, and Montpellier.

Zeender, who has been with the FEI since 1991, has served as FEI Director, Governance and Executive Affairs since 2011. She has previously held the positions of Human Resources, Finance & Administration coordinator; Sports administrator; and Manager of the Secretary General’s office. She left the organisation briefly in 1995 to work in her family’s business in the USA, returning to the FEI in 1998.

Prior to working for the FEI, Sabrina Zeender was with Telecom Japan TV Productions in New York (USA) and the Fédération Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA) in Lausanne (SUI).

“I would like to warmly congratulate Sabrina on her appointment as FEI Secretary General,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos commented. “She is the first woman to hold this key management position in the FEI and the fact that we have been able to fill such an important position in-house clearly demonstrates that the FEI has grown into a professional organisation with a highly qualified team.

“Sabrina’s deep understanding of the FEI rules and regulations, of which she has a long experience, and her knowledge of equestrian sport will be invaluable in her new role and I would like to thank the FEI Bureau for their full support for this appointment. I proposed Sabrina on the basis of her qualifications but also for her unfailing work ethic, reliability, dedication, and team spirit. The spontaneous and warm applause from the National Federations following the announcement at the General Assembly in Baku that Sabrina would take over the post on an interim basis shows the high regard in which she is held. I am confident that Sabrina will do an outstanding job as the new FEI Secretary General.”

“I am honoured and humbled by this appointment and I would like to thank the FEI President and Bureau members for their trust,” the new FEI Secretary General Sabrina Zeender said. “I have been with the FEI for a long time and have seen it grow and develop. I am very aware of the potential this great organisation has and am thrilled to play a part in its future. The FEI Family feels like a true family to me and I undertake this new challenge with joy and enthusiasm.”

Sabrina Zeender is a Swiss national of Salvadorian, American, and Austrian descent. She is fluent in English, French, and Spanish and has two sons aged 18 and 21.