Monk and Nash Headed to President's Cup

January 31 2012

Chris Martin's Monk, with rider Lindsay Graham, and Doug Swingley, owner and rider of National Security (Nash), are the two US riders who have been invited to participate in the 160-km President's Cup Endurance ride in Abu Dhabi on February 11. Monk has been preparing in California with Martin and Graham, and Nash has been training in Utah at the Global Endurance Training Center with Christoph Schork.

The horses will fly out of Los Angeles on February 6th.

UAE: Foreign riders create history in President's Cup endurance races

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Donnais, Kart and Singh outpace UAE challengers to win titles

By M. Satya Narayan, Chief Sports Reporter
Published:January 30, 2012


Abu Dhabi: For the first time in the UAE's domestic endurance history, three foreign riders finished on top in the President's Cup for Junior Riders, the President's Cup for Ladies and the President's Cup for horses privately owned.

The Bouthieb Endurance Village in Al Khatem saw over six endurance races over the last three days including Qualifier rides.

Achille Donnais of France on Queops des Aubepines finished ahead of the UAE's Khalifa Ganem Al Merri on Ridasa Brinda with just 26 seconds separating the two riders in the President's Cup for Juniors and Young Riders which was a Two-Star ride over 120 km.

Donnais and Queops des Aubepines completed the five stage race over 120 km in a ride time of 4hrs 32 mins and 44 seconds with the UAE rider in second place and Fatima Jasem Al Merri, the National Day Cup winner in third place on Razoeback Wildfire in 4:39.20. A total of 47 riders took part in this ride And five UAE riders finished behind the French rider...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/other-sports/foreign-riders-create-history-in-president-s-cup-endurance-races-1.973053

UAE: Junior riders to prove their mettle in a strong field

Image Credit: Ahmed Kutty/Gulf News Gulfnews.com - Full Article

President's Cup to begin with mass start run in five stages

By M. Satya Narayan, Chief Sports ReporterPublished: 00:00 January 28, 2012

Abu Dhabi: A strong field of junior and young riders will take part in today's President's Cup 120km Two Star Ride for Juniors and Young Riders at the Boutheib Endurance Village in Al Khatem.
The 120km ride will be run in five stages of 30km, 30km, 24kms, 20kms and 16 kms, with the junior riders getting off to a mass start early this morning.

Ahmad Ali Al Sabri won the President's Cup Two Star Ride for Juniors and Young Riders last year on Pony Express Hipolyte.

Meanwhile, the Boutheib Endurance Village also staged a couple of qualifier rides and an 80km One Star ride yesterday...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/junior-riders-to-prove-their-mettle-in-a-strong-field-1.972229

British rider to race in President's Cup

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

January 24, 2012

A sole British endurance rider has been invited to start in the FEI three-star 160km President's Cup ride across the Abu Dhabi desert next month.

Dorset veterinarian Catriona Moon, who has twice been part of the senior British Endurance team, will start in the race on February 11 on her 13-year-old mare Leila.

The President's Cup is one of the toughest endurance rides worldwide. The 160km course is across the desert and will include crossing steep sand dunes. The combination, which finished strongly in the 2011 FEI European Endurance Championships in Florac, France, have been training hard for the competition.

"It is likely the temperature in Abu Dhabi will be in the high 20s," Moon said. "Leila has been wearing lots of rugs and is training with two exercise sheets to try and get her used to being warm which isn't easy in the British winter."

The pair will fly out to Abu Dhabi on February 7 with their crew, Catriona's mother, Jackie Moon, and Zofia Lisowski.

Endurance GB's Emma Miller said: "We are delighted Catriona has been invited to take part in the Presidents Cup, she really deserves this chance and we wish her and Leila the best of luck."

Endurance GB will be following Catriona and Leila's progress on its Facebook page, at www.facebook.com/EnduranceGB.

UAE: Al Beloushi, Al Hammadi win

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Harsh conditions fail to deter duo from coming ahead of pack to victory
By M. Satya Narayan, Chief Sports ReporterPublished: 00:00 January 22, 2012


Abu Dhabi: Munder Ahmad Al Beloushi of Al Reef Stables and Hassan Abdullah Yousuf Al Hammadi of Al Wathba Stables won the Emirates Challenge and the Giants Endurance Challenge (Round 1) 120-km rides, respectively, at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba yesterday.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, attended the ride.

It was a great win for Al Beloushi on the 16-year-old gelding Sharahd Talik in extremely challenging conditions while for elder brother Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi, it was another success as trainer. Sharahd Talik last won under Sultan Ahmad Al Beloushi in December 2008 in Dubai and repeated that feat again yesterday here at the Al Wathba venue with strong winds and dusty conditions making it very difficult for the riders...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/al-beloushi-al-hammadi-win-1.969092

UAE: Dubai schoolgirl proves her mettle in the end

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Fatima wards off two foreign riders in a neck-and-neck battle

By M. Satya Narayan, Chief Sports ReporterPublished: 00:00 January 21, 2012


Abu Dhabi: Dubai schoolgirl Fatima Jasem Al Merri once again displayed her skills as she managed to finish ahead of two foreign riders to win the Shaikha Fatima Bint Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Ladies Endurance Cup at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba yesterday.

Al Merri, who won the National Day Cup at the same venue earlier in the season, won a close battle riding her eight-year-old gelding Hurst Radnor, with just 36 seconds separating the top three riders after the 90km race.

Al Merri, who also made the UAE proud by becoming one of the first two woman jockeys to take part in a flat race in the Netherlands last year, took the lead in the second stage of the four-stage race but was given a close fight in the final loop by New Zealand's Lauren Michelle Hiscock on Tora Conrad and French rider Geraldine Jacquet on Kaysand Farrazah.

Before going on to the final loop, Al Merri was ahead of Jacquet, while Hiscock moved up from her fourth place to finish just behind the winner...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/dubai-schoolgirl-proves-her-mettle-in-the-end-1.968780

UAE: Fatima Bint Mansour Endurance Challenge for Women riders to kick off tomorrow

WAM.ae

2012-01-19 16:07:06
WAM Abu Dhabi,Jan 19th, 2012 (WAM) -- Under the patronage of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Presidential Affairs HH Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Sheikha Fatima Bint Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Challenge for Women riders will kick off tomorrow at the UAE World Endurance tracks in Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi.

A total of 70 riders from various stables in the country as well as from GCC, Arab and other countries from around the world will participate in the 90-km race to be held under the guidance of Sheikh Mansour, who is also the chairman of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.

The event sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage(ADACH), the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Emirates Airlines is supported by a number of companies and national institutions in the UAE.

Half a million Dirhams has been announced in prizes for the winners.

WAM/AB