UAE: Riders eye world record at Dubai World Challenge

Photo: Mr. Farid Mohammed Ahmed, Secretary General Dubai World, and Mr. Ali Moosa Al Kamiri, General Manager Dubai Equestrian Club

Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Endurance.Net

The Dubai Equestrian Club is delighted to announce details of the Dubai World Challenge FEI CEI*** 120 km endurance ride to be held at Dubai International Endurance City (DIEC) on Saturday, February 2, 2008.

Total prize money for the ride is AED 550,000 and General Manager of the Dubai Equestrian Club, Mr Ali Moosa Al Khamiri said: “It is wonderful Dubai World is sponsoring what will be a fantastic occasion on Saturday.

“We are in the heart of the endurance season, and standards within the UAE are at an all time high right now.

“We expect some quality entries and due to the increasingly high speeds of these races, leading riders will be hoping to set new world records, which should make for exciting viewing.

“The Dubai Equestrian Club wishes its partners Dubai World, and the competitors and spectators alike an extremely enjoyable and successful day.”

HE Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman, Dubai World said: “Dubai World attaches great importance to this sport because it stems from our national heritage and is a hobby that has been popular with our forefathers for hundreds of years."

“Dubai World has always been known for sponsoring equestrian events, out of its belief of the necessity to preserve all initiatives contributing towards the safekeeping of heritage symbols that are particular to our society and culture.

“It is of vital importance to support the efforts aiming at preserving this traditional sport through organizing endurance races.

“Dubai World will always support social and sports activities in the UAE in general and in Dubai in particular in line with its vision of realizing the integration of all economic, social, cultural and sports sectors.”

The ride comprises of five loops of 31km, 32km, 27km, 18km and 12km, and is the sixth of eight contests to be held at DIEC this 2007-08 season.

Bahrain: Royal victory! - January 27 2008

Gulf-daily-news.com - Full Story

BAHRAIN Royal Endurance team captain Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa raced to victory atop Shar Rushkin yesterday in the Batelco Endurance Horseride Championship at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

Shaikh Nasser, the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president, crossed the line in five hours, 51 minutes and 34 seconds with an average speed of 20.38 kms per hour. The race was held over 120 kms.

The Royal Endurance Team riders dominated the event taking nine of the top 10 positions among more than 50 riders in the fray.

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Great Britain: Double win for Hannah - Jan 25 2008

Hexham-courant.co.uk - Full Story

A TEENAGE endurance rider has won a prestigious riding award for the second year running.

Hannah Shotton (15), of Hexham, was presented with the Four for the North Bedmax Trophy for 2007, a trophy which she also bagged in 2006.

And the talented youngster was also named National Reserve Junior Champion at the National Endurance GB Awards dinner in December.

The Bedmax Trophy contest is open...

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Bahrain: HM Receives BREEF President and Triumphant Team - Jan 22 2008

Bahrain News Agency
Manama, Jan. 22 (BNA) -- His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa received here on Tuesday President of Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF) Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Shaikh Nasser introduced Bahrain team which came first in Europe Endurance Open Championship in which he personally came in the 7th place on the individual level. HM The King welcomed them and praised their honorable achievements in the world contest, recently held in Portugal. He also hailed BREEF President key role and that of his colleagues in paving the way for such success in terms of members rehabilitation and moral and material support which were behind BREEF excellence in regional, Arab and global events. HM The King encouraged the team to exert further efforts in future contests to keep Bahrains reputation shining in all fields. During the meeting which was also attended by the royal court minister, Shaikh Nasser was honored to present the medals to HM The King in recognition of his royal support. Shaikh Nasser also expressed thanks and appreciation to HM The King for his continued support, saying it would further prod BREEF to make more achievements. Shaikh Nasser praised the performance of the Bahraini team, attributing their accomplishment to the teams resolution to succeed and to the strong cooperation and dedication of all members, wishing them further success in the prosperous era of HM The King. MTQ .

European endurance champion loses title for medication offence

Horse & Hound - Full Article

Charlotte White, H&H deputy news editor Horse & Hound
22 January, 2008

Open European endurance champion Mubarak Khalifa bin Shafya has been stripped of his title after his horse Zakah Zahara tested positive for a banned substance at the championships in Portugal last September.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) pairing had been promoted to first place in the Open Qatar Challenge after first rider over the line Sultan Bin Sulayem and Nashmi did not pass the final vetting.

But Zakah Zahara tested positive for a medication offence. French rider Jean Phillipe Frances and Hanana Du Bois have been promoted to first place.

There is no suggestion that Zakah Zahara was doped to gain an advantage.

An International Equestrian Federation spokesman said: "In these fast track cases as long as the rider pays a fine plus costs there is no further sanction, other than their withdrawal from the competition.

"Competition horses should not be taking any medication and this rule is in place to stop horses competing while ill or recovering from illness. In this case there was still some medicine in the horse's system."

Mubarak Khalifa Al Shafya is the manager and trainer of the Al Asaafa Endurance Stables, owned by Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice-president and prime minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai

Abu Dhabi: Fine show in Al Nahyan ladies Challenge - Jan 19 2008

Zawya.com - Full story

Saturday, Jan 19, 2008

Gulf News

Abu Dhabi: Afra Khalifa Al Suwaidi, on Jen A Dale Zamarah, came up with a consistent performance to win the Hydra Properties-sponsored 100km first round of the Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Challenge ladies' endurance event at the Al Asayel Endurance Village here on Friday.

Afra, riding the 13-year-old chestnut Jen A Dale Zamarah from Al Reef Stables, recorded a steady average speed of just over 25 kmph throughout the 4-loop ride to top the 31-strong field with a timing of 3 hrs 64 mins 36 secs.

Aliya Ali Mohammad Yousuf Al Marzouqi on Wadhnan finished second while Bayan Abdullah Abbas Ahmad on Reesville Saban completed a sweep for UAE women riders.

Behind them were two British riders, Kayleigh Smith and Sue Sidebottom and the top five gained valuable First Round points and will be taking a shot at the overall title after two more rounds.

Impressive response

Yesterday's ride, sponsored by Hydra Properties, saw a total of 31 lady riders from many countries taking part at this venue in Sweihan, Abu Dhabi.

Shaikh Mohammad Bin Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan gave away the prizes to the winners. "We thank our father for his support which has made it possible for the lady riders to compete and enhance their abilities," said Shaikh Mohammad.

Shaikha Aliyazia Bint Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, the winner of last year's challenge, said the support of Hydra Properties was a big boost for the competition.

"When we have strong sponsors it will help more stables to take part and enhance the quality of competitions," she said.

"I could not take part in the opening round as I was tied up with the organising of the event.

"This year, it was a bigger event. I will be taking part in the second round," said Shaikha Aliyazia.

"We now have stabling facilities for 40 horses which will allow the competitors to come here the night before and base their horses ahead of the ride," she said.

'Conducive for riding'

"Apart from this, the recent rain has settled the terrain and the loops were in very good condition and conducive for riding," Shaikha Aliyazia added.

"We are also working towards inviting lady riders from other GCC countries," she said.

Friday's 100-km ride was run in four loops of 30kms, 30kms, 24kms and 16kms.

© Gulf News 2008. All rights reserved.

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Abu Dhabi: Hassan clinches Book Fair-Sorouh Cup - Jan 19 2007

Gulfnews.com - Full story

By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter
Published: January 19, 2008

Abu Dhabi: Hassan Bin Ali, on Blackheath Kira, finished ahead of Shaikh Mayed Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, on Omani Iman, to win the 120-km Abu Dhabi International Book Fair-Sorouh Cup endurance championship held at the Emirates International Endurance Village here on Saturday.

In a ride which saw a fast pace being set early by the two Beloushis, Omair and Yousuf, Hassan and Shaikh Mayed did well to finish just three minutes of each other in the five-loop 120-km event sponsored by Sorouh and Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.

Both Hassan and Shaikh Mayed were on the same horses in the National Day Cup ride, held at this very venue. Shaikh Mayed was third and Hassan Bin Ali was fifth in that ride held on December 15. While Omair Hussain Abdullah Al Beloushi retired his horse after the first stage, Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi's Estaban failed the vet check in the second stage.

Convincing winner

That left Hassan as the leader and he finished first in each of the four remaining loops to emerge a convincing winner. They recorded an average speed of just under 26km/h to complete the 120-km ride in 4 hours 37 minutes and 04 seconds. It was Hassan's second win this season. "It was a fast race and a tough one. The climate was good so it was helpful," said the winner.

Shaikh Mayed, who was seventh after the first stage, gradually moved up. Omani Iman has been a good partner for the Asian Games gold medallist as he won the Pan Arab Games individual gold in Cairo on the same horse.

Spanish star Jaume Punti Dachs, better known as Juma in the UAE, came in third. The silver medallist at last year's European Open Championship, Juma and his horse Don Sala finished third.

Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and Industry, and Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum attended yesterday's ride.

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