Bahrain claims gold in Team and Individual podiums at the FEI Endurance World Championship 2022

Inside.FEI.org

25 February 2023
Author: Zein Jardaneh

It was a great day all-around for Bahrain at the 18th FEI Endurance World Championship 2022 held in Butheeb (UAE) on Saturday, February 25 2023, as it claimed the top prize in both the individual and team podiums.

HH Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, with the horse Darco La Majorie, added senior world champion – individual and team - to his already successful equestrian record of achievements, only months after he claimed gold at the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses in Vic (ESP) in October. Khalifa, who shouted “We’re number one!” upon learning of his win, becomes a Senior World Champion for the first time in his storied career; he has participated in 19 Championships since 2004 and has successfully qualified in 14 of them. He won his first gold at the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses in Bablona (HUN) in August 2012.

The Organising Committee and the Championship’s host, the United Arab Emirates Equestrian and Racing Federation, pulled out all the stops to set the stage for an outstanding championship in record time, with the well-being of horses and riders at the heart of all their endeavours. The 160 km track, which was run over six loops, is set against a stunning backdrop, and was prepared to the highest standards with world-class permanent infrastructures and facilities at the Butheeb International Endurance Village. Proper hydration and temperature control were optimised with multiple water points throughout the ride for the competitors to rehydrate.

All eyes were on the previous reigning champion, Salem Hamad Saeed Malhoof Al Kitbi from host nation UAE, with the horse Haleh, who came in second at Butheeb but had won gold at the last iteration of the FEI Endurance World Championship, held in Pisa (ITA) in 2021. “Haleh is a good horse, today was a very hard race (…). We are happy with the results,” Al Kitbi said.

In third place was Jaume Punti Dachs of Spain, with the horse Echo Falls, making this his fifth medal in Endurance World Championships. He is tied with Becky Hart (USA) and HH Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (UAE) for the athletes with the most medals in Endurance World Championships.

Reflecting the overall diversity of this year’s championship, the top ten athletes at the individual podium represented eight separate countries: Bahrain (two spots), UAE, Spain (two spots), Australia, Portugal, Lithuania, Oman and Kuwait. Taking the start were 117 combinations, with 36 nations represented, 23 teams, and 13 nations with individual riders, and a remarkably gender balanced field of participants with 60 female and 57 male athletes competing in Butheeb.

For the first time since the FEI Endurance World Championship was held in 1986, Team Bahrain captured gold, ending Team Spain’s reign as champions, following three successive titles since the World Championship in Caen (FRA) in 2014. Team France, which came in second, is moving up the ranks after being bronze medallists at the World Championship in Pisa (ITA) in 2021. Their 13th team medal, Team France holds the record for the most team medals in the history of the championship. With a total of 24 medals claimed at FEI Endurance World Championships, France is also the nation with the most medals overall.

With favoured teams UAE and Spain having horses and riders eliminated throughout the day, most notably Fares Ahmad Saeed Daafoos Amer Al Mansoori and Saeed Salem Atiq Khamis Al Muhairi from the UAE, who were disqualified from the top individual podium spots due to their horses failing the maximum heart rate parameter exam, Portugal ultimately captured Team bronze.

The last double gold at an FEI Endurance World Championship – for both team and individual podiums – was claimed by Spain and third-place winner Jaume Punti Dachs of Spain in Samorin (SVK) in 2016.

The full roster of countries that participated in the 18th FEI Endurance World Championship is: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, and Uruguay.

Full results here

Libya to host international equestrian race for endurance

LibyaObserver.ly

February 25 2023

The Libyan Equestrian Federation is preparing to host an International Endurance race that qualifies for the 2023 World Cup in France.

The race that will take place on February 28, 2023 and will be supervised and monitored by the International Equestrian Federation with the participation of international referees and veterinarians, according to the Olympic Committee.

This race will be with a distance of 100 km and 120 km on the race track in the "Fum Malagha" area in the city of Tarhuna, and is intended for riders from the age of 14 to 21 years, and for horses 8 and above, in accordance with the laws and regulations in force in the International Federation for World Cup candidacy competitions.

This race is the first among four international races that will be held in Libya, according to the programs prepared by the Libyan Equestrian Federation.

Royal Cavalry to participate in the Endurance World event

TimesOfOman.com

Wednesday 22/February/2023 by ONA

Muscat: The Royal Cavalry at the Royal Court Affairs (RCA) will participate in the Endurance World Championship scheduled to be held at Bu Theeb village in Abu Dhabi on 25 February 2023.

As many as 143 male and female jockeys representing 37 countries will take part in the championship.

The Royal Cavalry’s team includes the following jockeys; Mahmoud Al Fouri, Hisham Al Farsi, Ahmed Al Hamdani, Saleh Al Balushi and Adil Al Balushi.

The Royal Cavalry achieved the third place and bronze medal in the Endurance World Championship held in the United Kingdom in 2012.

Oman Equestrian Federation to organise endurance competition in Dhofar

TimesOfOman.com - Full Article

Friday 17/February/2023
By: Times News Service

Muscat: With the participation of 20 horses from various wilayats in Dhofar Governorate, a qualifying endurance competition will be held on Saturday, February 18, 2023 on the shore of Khor Al Dahariz.

"Tomorrow, the Oman Equestrian Federation, in cooperation with the Dhofar Equestrian Committee, will organise a qualifying endurance competition for a distance of 40 km on the shore of Khor Al Dahariz, with the participation of 20 horses from the wilayats of Dhofar Governorate, " Oman News Agency (ONA) said...

Read more here:
https://timesofoman.com/article/127079-oman-equestrian-federation-to-organise-endurance-competition-in-dhofar

Butheeb Ready to Welcome Endurance's Biggest Names

FEI.org - Full Article

15 February 2023

We take a closer look at the Abu Dhabi venue...

All eyes in the Endurance world are on the Butheeb International Endurance Village (BIEV) in the United Arab Emirates. We are now just days away from the 2022 FEI Endurance World Championship, with the winner crowned on February 25.

The world-renowned location is a mere hour outside Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. There are 129 horse and rider combinations representing 37 nations entered in the biennial event.

BIEV opened in 2004, and since then, it has hosted over 140 FEI Endurance events and 150 national Endurance events. The venue also introduces many young riders to the sport and serves as a training facility. Horse welfare is central to every event and training session at BIEV, with both the track and the facility reflecting this core value...

Read more here:
https://www.fei.org/stories/sport/endurance/butheeb-ready-welcome-endurances-biggest-names

Saudi Arabia: AlUla welcomes 200 of world’s best endurance riders

GDNOnline.com - Full Article

KSA Business Thu, 16 Feb 202

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), in partnership with the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation (SAEF) and Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) is set to welcome 200 of the world’s best endurance riders for the fourth edition of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup 2023.

The prestigious 120km endurance race is set to take place around the ancient desert city on March 4.

The route for the 2023 edition, one of the marquee sporting events on the AlUla calendar, will showcase the stunning landscapes, natural beauty and ancient history of the destination.

Endurance riders from over 40 countries have signed up to participate, highlighting the truly global nature of the event, said ths statement from RCU.

2022 race winner Federico Ferber of Uruguay will return to defend his crown, while compatriot Andres Rivero will hope to go one better after finishing runner-up last year.

Frenchwoman Margot Chazel, who finished third, will be leading a strong representation of female riders alongside compatriot Camille Coulomb in a field which has attracted the world’s best, it stated...

Read more here:
https://www.gdnonline.com/Details/1184775

Bahrain: King Hamad Endurance Cup prize money increased

GDNOnline.com - Full Article

Thu, 16 Feb 2023

His Majesty King Hamad’s representative for humanitarian work and youth affairs and Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) honorary president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa has directed to raise the value of the prizes of the King Hamad Endurance Cup to BD130, 000.

The event will be organised by Breef at Bahrain International Endurance Village.

Shaikh Nasser thanked His Majesty for his support to the youth and sport sector and also emphasised the backing given to endurance sport which has led to its development in the kingdom.

Shaikh Nasser affirmed that increasing the value of the prizes will serve as an incentive for the participants to strive for distinguished achievements.

BD69,600 will be allocated for the local private stables 120km race...

Read more here:
https://www.gdnonline.com/Details/1184721