Endurance ace Carmine Villani a high achiever in and out of the saddle

ArabNews.com - Full Article

January 29 2022

World No.1 will represent Great Britain at the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup 2022 at AlUla

Endurance horse racing champion Carmine Villani has led a rich and colorful life that has seen him shine in business and sport.

Today, the world No.1 will represent Great Britain at the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup 2022 (Fursan Cup) at AlUla.

Villani was a talented athlete as a young man — first in Italy and then the US — excelling as a middle-distance runner. After graduating from the University of Texas in Austin, he went on to become heavily involved in sports car racing.

However, an affinity with horses has always been in his blood. When he was young, Villani was taught to ride by his grandfather. In Carmine’s words, he “learned the tricks and bareback riding from him...”

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2014296/sport

Saudi Arabia: Endurance stars ready to tackle AlUla challenge in Fursan Cup

ArabNews.com - Full Article

January 28 2022

ALULA: Stars from the sport of endurance have landed in Saudi Arabia in preparation for the Fursan Cup 2022 on Jan. 29.

More than 200 riders from more than 30 countries will contest the 120 km ride, which will be staged in the historic AlUla region on Saturday, Jan. 29.

Among those competing in the across-the-desert landscape is Carmine Villani, the World No.1 in the FEI rankings in 2020.

Villani, who represents Great Britain, said: “AlUla for me is really like riding in the Grand Canyon — one of the most beautiful places in the world with sand and cliffs. It’s magical.”

The event is a thorough test of skill and stamina for riders and horses alike. With four loops, the ride takes eight hours on average to complete...

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2013821/sport

Saudi Arabia: All you need to know about the 120-km endurance ride Fursan Cup at AlUla

ArabianBusiness.com - Full Article

28 January 2022
by Staff Writer

Now in its third edition, The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup 2022 – or Fursan Cup 2022 – takes place on Saturday 29 January 2022. A two-star classification competition is recognised by the FEI and organised in cooperation with the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation. The Fursan Cup covers a distance of 120 km, with four loops of the track that can take eight hours to complete.

The ride sets the benchmark for the sport and is considered one of the most prestigious events on the circuit. It’s also part of the Winter at Tantora Festival that celebrates music and arts in the Kingdom over six-weeks of festivities. Among them are other high-end events and star-studded concerts, as well as adventure and heritage experiences...

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https://www.arabianbusiness.com/galleries/galleries-photos/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-120-km-endurance-ride-fursan-cup-at-alula

FEI Suspends UAE Endurance Rider

Inside.FEI.org

FEI Tribunal issues Final Decision in equine anti-doping case

25 January 2022
Author: FEI

The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decision in an equine anti-doping case involving a Banned Substance and a Controlled Medication Substance.

The horse Calai (FEI ID 105RF80/UAE), ridden by Hassan Bin Ali (FEI ID 10017909/UAE), tested positive for the Banned Substance Arsenic and the Controlled Medication Substance Salicylic Acid, including the metabolite 2-hydroxyethyl salicylate, following samples taken at the CEI2*120 – Bou Thib (UAE) on 12 January 2021.

The athlete did not provide any explanation as to how the Prohibited Substances entered the horse’s system.

In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal imposed a two-year suspension on the athlete. The Provisional Suspension of the athlete, which came into effect on 3 March 2021, is credited against the period of ineligibility imposed in the decision, meaning the athlete will be ineligible until 2 March 2023. The athlete was also fined CHF 7,500 and asked to pay costs of CHF 2,000. The results obtained at the event have been disqualified.

The parties can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the decision

The full Decision is available here.

UAE: Jahoori shines as Al Wathba Stables dominates Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Festival

GulfToday.ae - Full Article

19 January 2022

Abdullah Al Jahoori won the main open race for a distance of 120 km to help Al Wathba Stables retained the title

as the third edition of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Festival concluded at the Emirates International Endurance Village, with the participation of 236 jockeys took part in the compeitition held held in honour and appreciation of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, with the support and directives of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

Jahoori riding ‘CHA Eclipse’ completed the race in 4:09:31 hours, with an average speed of 28.85 km/h...

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https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2022/01/19/jahoori-shines-as-al-wathba-stables-dominates-sheikh-mohammed-bin-zayed-al-nahyan-endurance-festival

Saudi Arabia: Former champ Laliscia: ‘AlUla has potential to become endurance capital of the Middle East’

Arabnews.com - Full Article

January 18 2022

• Laliscia new general sports director for The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup 2022
• Contest will see over 200 riders from more than 30 different countries battle for prize of $4.2 million

ALULA: Former Endurance World Champion Gianluca Laliscia believes that AlUla has the potential to become one of the leading destinations for his sport, and wants to use this month’s 2022 Fursan Cup to take another important step on that journey.

“As soon as I set foot in AlUla, I could see the huge potential,” said Laliscia, who won the FEI Endurance World Championship in 2005, and since retiring from competition. has gone on to found and successfully run a number of businesses within the endurance world, including his current position as CEO and chairman of sistemaeventi.it, and founder of Italia Endurance Stables & Academy.

As the new general sports director for The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup 2022, he is uniquely positioned to give an expert view on AlUla...

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2007036/sport

UAE: Laila shines in Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Festival

GulfToday.ae - Full Article

January 14 2022

The rider Laila Abdel Aziz Al Reda reaped the fruits of her efforts to hand Al Wathba Stables the title of the third edition of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Festival for Women, which began on Friday morning for a distance of 100 km, on the sands of the fields of the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba, with the participation of (145) riders. She was aboard Ayo Raghad.

The festival is being held with the support and directives of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and includes three races, the first ride is for women, the second for private stables, and its activities will be held on Saturday, and the third main event will be held on Sunday.

The champion covered the total distance in a time of 3:19:34 hours, with an average speed of 29.57 km/h, Sheikha Mariam Bint Omar Al Qasimi finished second, riding "Cheetac de Cormier", for the Stables (MRM)...

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https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2022/01/14/laila-shines-in-sheikh-mohammed-bin-zayed-al-nahyan-endurance-festival