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[RC] theCup: A Welcome from the OC to the Riders - John Teeter

There was a press conference today attended by all of the invited
international riders. Introductions and chances for everyone to be
interviewed by the local press (and EnduranceNet of course:)
happened. I've put up a group of photos of the get together:

http://www.endurance.net/2005PresidentsCup/gallery/

And a few more other things are there as well. It was very nice to see
the riders spotlighted in this way (although, like all endurance
riders, they would have been much more comfortable out on the trail
rather than in the spotlight:)

I've attached below the message presented to them by H.E. Mohammed Al
Sayed, the Chairman of the Emirates International Endurance
Committee. It was presented in English first, then in Arabic. It was
fun during the introductions (in all the various languages!) The
Portugese were translating for the French and the Spaniard - it was
really great fun:)

the speach: -----

On behalf of the Organizing Committee, Emirates International
Endurance Village and our sponsors, Omega, Emirates Call, United
Design, Paris Gallery, Emirates Motor Company, Bovis Lend Lease and
Max Group, I would like to welcome our International Competitors who
represent 11 nations. Some have had little time to relax since winning
their World Championship medals and I thank them for returning to
compete in the Presidents Cup. We are delighted that Gianluca
Laliscia, the captain of the victorious Italian team, has come to
compete in Abu Dhabi. To achieve this standard takes dedication and
hours of training. It is enlightening that the two other Italian
riders, Carlo Di Battista and Ercoli Enrico are you men, just 17, who
one day may be World Champions and ar the youngest international
competitors in the President's Cup.

Last year, Emirates International Endurance Village were the Crown
Jewel sponsors of the most famous endurance ride in the world, the
Western States Trail Ride, known universally as the Tevis Cup. I
welcome here the joint winners, Becky Spencer and Jeremy
Reynolds. While I was there I met someone who in the bounds of the
Tevis is a living Legend, Hal Hall. He is modest about his
achievements, but I will tell you. He has won the Tevis three
times. He has completed it 24 times and was inducted into the American
Endurance Ride Conference Hall of Fame in 2000. He is here to answer
your questions.

On a global scale, UAE riders have won numerous awards and have won
the President's Cup every year. Al Wathba stables have proved
unbeatable for the past three years so we wait and see if they can do
it once more.  They face tough opposition from Al Reef Stables. Their
rider, Abdullah Khamis Ali Saeed, won the inaugural ride in 2000 and
was second in 2003. I know that both Ismail Mohammed and Ali Al
Muhairi have a strong team of riders who aim to win the title for
Dubai.

I wish them all well and thank you, the members of the media, for you
contribution in making the President of the UAE Endurance Cup the most
famous ride in the Middle East - The Crown Jewel of Middle East
Endurance!


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