Malaysia Confirmed to host World Endurance Championship

Malaysia Endurance Blog


Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Malaysia Confirmed to host World Endurance Championship

IT'S confirmed! Malaysia will get to host the 2008 World Endurance Championship after passing the final test set by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) in Lembah Bidong, Setiu, yesterday.

To qualify for the host job, at least 40 per cent of the foreign riders taking part in the Sultan's Cup Terengganu Endurance Challenge at the Terengganu International Endurance Park, had to complete the 160km race.According to event manager Azrin Zuhdi, the foreign riders' completion rate was 67 per cent while the overall completion rate was 71 per cent, well above the international average of 46 per cent.


The race was full of surprises as non-ranking rider Naser Marzouqi of United Arab Emirates (UAE) emerged champion after shrugging off challenges from top ranking riders, including world number one Jack Begaud of France.


Naser crossed the finish line with his 12-year-old mare, Hafiza Du Mas, in 10 hours 31 minutes and 50 seconds, beating Begaud on 11-year-old gelding, Idais Tohiba, by one minute and 23 seconds.


Malaysian rider Faizal Ismail, astride 10-year-old Rayyan, sprang a surprise early on by finishing first in the first two rounds but squandered the lead in the next five rounds to finish 10th.


Third place went to another UAE rider, Khalid Al Shafar, who took 10:39:07s to finish the race with gelding Supreme Dream, a second faster than Brazillian Maria Vitoria Lins on gelding Filoteu Rach.


Yang di Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, riding 13-year-old gelding Harmere Cairo, completed the race in 14:20:26s to finish 23rd.


A total of 41 participants, including 20 riders from Spain, France, Qatar, Argentina, Brazil, the United States, Japan and Belgium, took part in the three-day event.

Posted by Malaysia Endurance at 12:00 PM

UAE: Endurance: Abdullah wins top honours

Gulfnews.com
photo: Abdullah Rashid Mohammad, on EO Fahad, reacts after winning the 100km Boudtheib Endurance Cup for juniors at the Boudtheib Endurance Village in Al Khatem yesterday.

By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter
Published: November 10, 2007, 22:52

Abu Dhabi: Abdullah Rashid Mohammad from Al Wathba Stables won the 100km Boudtheib Endurance Cup with a convincing ride on EO Fahad at the Boudtheib Endurance Village in Al Khatem here.

The 15-year-old finished first in each of the four stages of 30km, 30km, 24km and 16km to finish ahead of Al Reef Stables' Naser Khamis Ali Saeed in the season's first competitive ride.

Both Mohammad and Saeed were involved in a close contest and finished almost 30 minutes ahead of third-placed Butti Mohammad Khalaf Al Merri.

"This is my first win here in the UAE. I have won a junior ride in the UK," said Abdullah, who is trained by Al Wathba's top rider and trainer, Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri.

"Conditions were nice in the early part of the ride, but after that it became a bit hot. But my horse [EO Fahad] was in good form," said the youngster.

Abdullah and EO Fahad completed the ride in a total time of 3 hours 59 minutes and 23 seconds. "There are quite a few rides for juniors this season and I am looking forward to some more top finishes. I will also be taking part in a few open rides," said Rashid, who averaged 25.06 km/h speed through the 100km ride.

Naser Khamis, younger brother of top UAE rider Abdullah Ali Khamis, did give Rashid a solid fight. Khamis on Tris Filou finished just over a minute behind the winner while the rest of the field were left far behind.

A total of 32 youngsters took part in the ride which was accompanied by two Qualifier Rides, one over 44km and the other over 80km.

Endurance squad for Arab Games

Bahrain Gulf Daily News
12 November

BAHRAIN's Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa named members of the national endurance horseride team who will take part in the endurance race of the Arab Games scheduled for November 19 in Al Giza, Egypt.

Shaikh Nasser will lead the seven-member team which also includes Shaikh Salman bin Saqer Al Khalifa, Yousif Taher, Ghazi Al Dossary, Ahmed Abdulla, Manal Fakhrawi and Raed Mahmood.

Shaikh Nasser said the selection was based on the performance and results of the riders in recent championships. The team will head for the Egyptian capital on Thursday to prepare for the race.

The Breef chief stressed on the importance of taking part in such regional competitions, adding that he is keen to take a place on the podium in the upcoming event.

UAE's Naser Marzouki Wins Sultan's Cup

Bernana.Com
SETIU, Nov 11 (Bernama) -- United Arab Emirates' Naser Marzouqi edged France's Jack Begaud to win the Sultan's Cup Terengganu Endurance Race 2007 at the Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP) here Sunday.

Naser astride "Hafiza Du Mas" finished the 160km race in 10 hours 31 minutes and 50 seconds while Begaud was a close 10:33:27 behind.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, who also took part, finished in 23rd place after posting a time of 14:20:26. Tuanku Mizan, the patron of the championship, rode "Harmere Cairo".

Maria Vitoria Liberal Lins of Brazil was third in a time of 10:39:07.

A total of 41 riders from Brazil, Japan, Italy, Belgium, Portugal, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Australia and Malaysia took part in the championship, which is part of the preparations for the World Endurance Race (FEI 2008) to be held at the same venue next year.

Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh flagged off the riders at 4.30pm at the TIEP yesterday. His Majesty is scheduled to present the prizes to the winners at Dewan Besar, Wisma Darul Iman tonight.

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40% Completion Rate Achieved

International riders have achieved the 40% completion rate deamed by the FEI as the final test for the Malaysian endurance committee to host the 2008 FEI World Endurance Championship. The Terengganu International Endurance Park will be the venue for the event, currently scheduled for Novemeber 2008.

In addition to achieving the agreed upon goal, 38 competitors who started the 2007 Sultan's Cup Endurance Challenge will achieve an completion rate well beyond that which is normal at FEI events around the globe.

This achievement, the ability to bring a competitive field to the tropics, has shown the skills of the ride organizers, the international team of FEI officials and veterinarians, the riders and, beyond all -- the horses!!!


Full Endurance.Net Coverage

Official Sultan's Cup Site

Official 2008 FEI World Endurance Championship

Book your tickets now!! The invitation is to come early and stay late!! and bring your horse!

MAS: 6 Riders Vie for Finish

Jack Begaud, Naser Marzouqi, Maria Vitoria Liberal Lins, and Khalid al Shafar have closed within 4 minutes of each other as they prepare for the final 10.1 km of the 160km race. Marzouqi and Lins each brought their pace to 18+km/hr for the 6th leg to close the gap. The cool morning air is helping to encourage the riders to move forward with plenty of horse left.

Daylight will great the riders and horses as the pull this final leg along the sea shore of the South China Sea. American riders John Crandell and Kathy Brunges are following closely on strong horses - but must overcome a 15 minute lead to achieve first to finish.

7 have been eliminated at this point of the race, 4 from the list of invited foreign riders.

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Begaud first to Gate 5 at Sultan's Cup

Jack Begaud, the current #1 FEI endurance rider globally, has just arrived first at Gate 5. He was followed closely into the vet gate by Che Ahmad Yusri Muhamad of MAS - entering Gate 4 as the last rider on that phase of the course.

It is 04:51am and beginning to feeling tiredness of 12+ hours of competition!

jt

Video: http://www.malaysia-wec.com/sc_video.html

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