Karli is the mascot of the World Equestrian Games Aachen 2006

Pleased to meet you: Karli, 2.30 meters tall, always jolly and the official mascot of the World Equestrian Games 2006, he will draw the attention to the World Championships in seven equestrian disciplines in many performances leading up to WEG. One of the first performances was on Saturday evening: he not only gave the starting signal for the outdoor bet on the ZDF show "Wetten, dass....?", he also took care of a great spirit among the hunderds of spectators who were present at the shoot.
"In Karli," according to Klaus Pavel, President of the WEG Organisors, Aachen Laurensberger Rennverein e.V. (ALRV), "we found a great sympathetic character. His happy appearance is contagious."
All information on the World Equestrian Games Aachen 2006 mascot can be found on the internet: www.aachen2006.de. You can see the first pictures of his television performance as well as Karli's history, and Karlis can be bought for Christmas at the shop.
The happy horse's mane and tail have seven colours: "Every colour," explains Michael Mronz, member and spokesman of the OC Aachen 2006, "represents a discipline."
Half a million visitors are expected to attend the title competitions in the seven equestrian disciplines next year. They can not only look forward to first class sport, but also to a sympathetic mascot.

Alwaleed sponsors 1st Saudi lady jockey

Posted: Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Riyadh

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, chairman of Kingdom Holding Company, has sponsored Alia Hayel Aboutaiyh Alhwaete, the first formally competing Saudi lady jockey.

Alhwaete participated in the 120 km World Endurance Championship for the Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge Cup in Seeh Al Silm, near the Dubai International Village, on December 22, 2005.

"We are delighted to support the first Saudi lady jockey as we did the first lady pilot who is breaking new ground for other Saudi women," said Prince Alwaleed.

An employee of Kingdom Holding Company, she was given the full support by Alwaleed to represent Saudi Arabia as a pioneer lady equestrian.

Alwaleed had earlier announced that ladies who shine in their respective fields of interest, should come forward and he will fund their interests.

The goal is to break new ground and launch novel opportunities for women in general. Like Captain Hanadi Hindi, first Saudi lady pilot, also sponsored by Alwaleed, Alhwaete is leading the way for future generations of Saudi women in equestrian sports.

Encouraged by her father, Alhwaete started riding at an early age and competed in many equestrian marathons, but never formally represented Saudi Arabia. -TradeArabia News Service

FEI Press News 59/05- Bahrain WEC

Sunday evening, 18 December, saw the closing ceremony of the 2006 FEI Gulf Energy World Endurance Championship which took place at the Bahrain Royal Equestrian Race track. The ceremony was the culmination of three days of Endurance competition at the highest level.

Thirty countries attended this record breaking event with teams entered from over twenty four Nations. The event was held under the patronage of H.H. Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and was organised by the Bahrain Royal Endurance and Equestrian Federation through its President, H.H. Shaikh Nasser bin Hammad al Khalifa

The Championship began with a lavish opening ceremony held at the world famous Formula 1 Race track in Bahrain. The Championships was declared open by the Crown Prince of Bahrain, H.H. Shaikh Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa who attended the opening ceremony together with other members of the Bahrain Royal Family, Bahrain Equestrian Federation Board Members, FEI Officials and over five hundred riders, support staff, parents and guests.

The trot up took place the following day at the newly built Endurance Village in Bahrain. This purpose built facility was designed especially for these World Championships and the Bahrain Federation is planning to host further Championships in the future. With sixteen lanes for trot up, covered crewing bays, a modern fully equipped Equine Treatment Facility and full catering and rest areas the site is one of the most up to date venues available.

The Championship started on Saturday morning at 5.00am and a short while later the sun rose over the waters of the gulf as the 127 starters followed the 30 km first loop along the waters edge.

The competition continued throughout the morning with the riders and horses returning to the central vet gate. The first horse to cross the finish line did so just after 1.00pm. Fahed Sulaiman (BRN) riding Lormar Lorrien, a 1998 grey mare was passed by the vet panel and declared the provisional individual winner.

Other riders and horses continued to arrive and the final horse to cross the finish line did so just before 5.00pm. A total of 59 starters completed the full course.

Final placings

Individual:
Gold Fahed Sulaiman / Lormar Lorrien (BRN)
Silver HE Sh Abdullah bin Faisal Al Qasimi / Colahlee Park Charlene (UAE)
Bronze HE Sh Ahmed bin Mohd Al Maktoum / Jazyk (UAE)

Teams:
Gold: Australia
Silver: France
Bronze: Brazil

FEI Endurance Committee Chairman, Dr Hallvard Sommerseth, commented; ?Everyone who has had the opportunity to be involved with this Championships either as rider, crew or organiser, can take home some great memories of top level competition and warm and generous hosts who have made us all feel very welcome here in the Kingdom of Bahrain?.

Complete results available soon on the Endurance section of www.horsesport.org

Saudi female rider makes a mark

By Hisham Al Gizouli

23 December 2005


DUBAI ? Alia Alhoaiti, a 25-year-old young Saudi lady, yesterday became the first female rider from her country to take part in international endurance races at the Dubai Endurance City.

Her father, Alhoaiti, who arrived with his daughter from Riyadh last weekend to see her competing for the first time in her life against experienced international riders, was jubilant at her display.

Alia, a graduate of Business Administration from Amman University, came to Dubai under the support and encouragement of the Saudi billionaire and member of the ruling family, Prince Al Waleed bin Talal after receiving the green light from the Saudi Equestrian Federation.

Now Alia is planning to shift part of her operations to the UAE where she can enjoy riding at both endurance and flat races.

?At present, I?m very busy with my job in the Kingdom Holding Company back home, but after bringing some of my horses here, it will be easy for me to enjoy riding during my holidays,? she said.

Regarding the nature of her relations with friends and colleagues in the Kingdom, Alia said everything was very normal.

?They truly appreciate what they describe as a courageous move,? she said. ?We have every right in Saudi Arabia to do what we like so long as it does not contradict our faith and culture.

?I?m a working woman who has completed her higher education abroad without any difficulties or restrictions. We are an open society and you may come and see yourself,? she added.

Speaking about her experience at Seih Assalam, Alia said it was great. ?My horse, Falah Ohood, did a very good job despite being disqualified after Gate Three on Metabolic. I think something happened to him because he was trotting keenly and I didn?t expect any early elimination,? she said.

But her father and trainer Najeeb Al Barjisi accepted the matter, saying that the horse has just arrived from Saudi Arabia and needed more time to acclimatise.

?It was an encouraging start and things will get even better in the upcoming commitments,? Al Barjisi said.

Meanwhile, Alia told her trainer about her intentions to learn riding in flat races. ?My weight is only 54 kilos and have no intentions to put on more weight,? she said with a smile.

Al Barjisi shook his head in agreement pointing out that her length and weight will help a lot.

Alia, a descendant of one of the biggest tribes in Saudi Arabia with a great love and admiration for horse riding since childhood, has come to Dubai with great ambitions to prove her mettle on the international riding scene.

Young Britons sixth in World Championships

Carol Phillips

21 December, 2005

The Endurance GB young rider team finished sixth out of more than 24 countries at the FEI World Endurance Championships in Bahrain
Endurance GB is celebrating the successful return of its young rider squad from the FEI World Endurance Championships in Bahrain.

Four of the six-strong British squad ? Zara Moon, Abigail Lockett, Alice Beet and Gemma Parkin ? successfully completed the 120km race ride. British individual rider Zara Moon was the highest placed British rider in 26th place.

Fahed Sulaiman riding Lormar Lorrien for Bahrain took the individual gold medal, ahead of Sheikh Abdullah bin Faisal Al Qasimi and Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohd Al Maktoum for the United Arab Emirates.

The team gold medal went to Australia, with France in second and Brazil, third. The British team finished sixth.

FEI Endurance Committee Chairman, Dr Hallvard Sommerseth, said: "Everyone who has been involved with this championships either as rider, crew or organiser, can take home some great memories of top level competition and warm and generous hosts who have made us all feel very welcome here in the Kingdom of Bahrain."

Meanwhile, the FEI's head of endurance has confirmed that the turmoil surrounding the late cancellation of Britain's hosting of the 2005 Open European Endurance Championships has not affected a future bid.

?The FEI will always welcome applications from all nations [including Britain] for future championships,? said Ian Williams. ?What may have gone before will not affect any future bid which may be received.?

YoungRiders: Bahrain?s Fahed is world champ

SAKHIR, Bahrain: Fahed Sulaiman gave Bahrain a belated National Day gift by winning the FEI World Endurance Championships for Juniors and Young Riders in convincing fashion here yesterday.

In the team competition, Australia were first with France and Brazil finishing second and third respectively.

Fahed finished the gruelling 120km race in 5hrs38min.07secs , ahead of the powerful UAE duo of Sheikh Abdullah bin Faisal al-Qassimi and Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Maktoum who claimed the second and third spots at the Endurance Village on the outskirts of Manama.
Sheikh Abdullah, riding Colahlee Park Charlene, timed 5:38.51, while the third placed Sheikh Ahmed clocked 5:53.51 on Jazyk, a chestnut gelding.
Fahed, riding Lomar Lorrein, a seven-year-old grey mare, was placed third at the end of the first and second vet gate, but improved to second at the third and made up enough time to finish first after the fourth and fifth stages to emerge champion.

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Bahraini Equestrian Makes it at World Endurance Championship

date: 17 12, 2005


Manama, Dec. 17, (BNA) HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, watched Bahrain Equestrian, Fahd Sulaiman snatching the World Junior Endurance Championship for the first time in the event's history.
The world-class victory made by the Bharaini equestrian coincided with Bahrain's celebrations of the National Day and HM's accession to the throne. Fahd, Sulaiman, one of the Endurance junior champions outdid 140 male and female equestrians from all over the globe at the 120- kilometer race held on Saturday. The Champion, Fad Sulaiman was congratulated for the achievement by HM the King who has been keen to watch Bahraini equestrians since the kick off the race at 5.00 p.m. which was signaled by GOYS President, Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, the Head of the Organizing Committee. Fahd, aged 14, who rode Lumir Loryan for Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa, is regarded one of the outstanding endurance equestrians in the Kingdom of Bahrain. While congratulating equestrian Fahd, HM the King valued the achievement, tipping it "historic" as the Bahraini equestrian secured the first position after 5 hours 38.o7 minutes, followed by Shaikh Faisal Al Qasimi from the UAE in the second place and in the third place Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Rashid Al Maktoum from the UAE, followed consecutively by Belgium's and Australia's equestrians. The victory was billed by Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa a historic moment for the Kingdom of Bahrain, hailing HM the King's encouragement of the Endurance sport. Shaikh Nasser secured the 7th place in the race but Shaikh Khalid left the competition during the second stage due to the injury of his horse. As to Shaikha Najla'a bint Salman bin Saqr, she came fifth recording 6.07.25 hours. at the level of teams, Australia came first, France second, Brazil third and Bahrain fourth.