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News - 2009 European Endurance Championship Open - Assisi, Italy
Abdullah finishes second in Assisi contest - Gulfnews.com
September 26, 2009, 22:53
Abu Dhabi: Reigning world champion Maria Alvarez Ponton of Spain won the gold medal while the UAE's Shaikh Abdullah Bin Faisal Al Qasimi took the silver in the FEI Open Meydan City European Endurance Championship held yesterday in Assisi, Italy.
Riding Nobby, the Dubai-based Maria finished the 160km ride in 8hrs:10mins: 58secs while Shaikh Abdullah, who won a silver medal in the World Junior Championships held in Hungary recently, finished second on Castlebar Sobia in 8:21:33.
Mubarak Khalifa Bin Shafya on Koum Des Jamets finished eighth while Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, (Spenda Crest Kamouflage) was unlucky to be eliminated in the final stage, according to provitional results.
Earlier, the UAE's hopes of a team medal suffered a setback when Mohammad Ahmad Ali Al Subose on Kaysand Farrazah was eliminated just before the final phase while another UAE team rider Sultan Bin Sulayem on Maddiran made an exit when his horse was found lame after stage three.
Another UAE rider Ahmad Salem Ali Sultan Al Subose on Kumait was eliminated after the second phase. Yesterday's ride was run in six phases. Team results were yet to be announced.
The results: 1. Maria Alvarez Ponton (Spain, Nobby) 8:10:58; 2. Shaikh Abdullah Bin Faisal Al Qas imi (UAE, Castlebar Sobia) 8:21:33; and 3. Jaumotte Rachel (Belguim, Rukban Dikruhu MMN) 8:22:33
Riders set for endurance test - Gulf-daily-news.com
Saturday, September 26, 2009
SHAIKH Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa expressed confidence of doing well in today's European Endurance Horse Ride Championship at Misura Village in Assisi, Italy.
The Bahrain Royal Endurance Team captain is accompanied by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president and Al Khaldiya Stables leader Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa and four other riders.
Shaikh Nasser will be riding Kheopsy Du Pilat on Shaikh Khalid Khandela Des Vialette in this 160km competition which will be flagged off at 6am (Bahrain time).
The other Bahraini riders are Ghazi Al Doseri, who is expected to ride Khyber, Ahmed Abdulla Al Hazza (Ganda Koy), Jaffer Mirza (Mexico) and Abdulrahman Al Sa'ad (Zirkonia).
The six Bahraini riders will compete against some of the top riders from Europe and the GCC.
Countries in the fray include Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, UK, Hungary, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UAE, the US and Uruguay,
The Bahrain team attended the colorful opening ceremony on Thursday and completed the veterinary proceedures yesterday.
More than 100 horses were taken yesterday to the village for registration. Horses also underwent the metabolic check which was followed by the test of trot at 12noon.
An international veterinary symposium focusing proximal metacarpus pathologies in endurance horses was also held yesterday.
Several important persons like Crevier Denoix, Rachel Murray and Barbara Riccio highlighted the last developments in veterinary medicine.
Shaikh Majid to lead UAE Endurance team - Gulfnews.com
September 25, 2009
Assisi: Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, will lead the UAE equestrian team at the European Open Endurance Race.
The race will kick off this morning (Saturday) at 7:00 a.m. UAE time over a distance of 160 kilometers, over 6 stages.
116 horse riders representing 26 countries from 4 continents will participate in the race.
Shaikh Majid will ride the horse Spanda Christ Camouflage, while Shaikh Abdullah Bin Faisal Al Qasimi will ride the horse Castle Brazoria.
Huge Entry for Meydan City FEI European Open Endurance Championship - FEI
25/09/2009
The countdown is on for a spectacular weekend of endurance competition around the historic city of Assisi in Italy. A huge field is expected to line up with a confirmed entry of 106 riders from 25 nations competing over the 160km circuit.
As well as European riders, the competitors will include representatives from the USA, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Malaysia.
The last FEI European Championships took place at Barroca D’Alva in Portugal with 88 riders from 20 different countries attending the event.
FAMOUS FACES
Leading contenders for the individual championship will include: reigning world champion and bronze medallist in Portugal, Maria Alvarez (ESP) with Nobby and reigning European champion, Jean Philippe Frances of France with Hanaba du Bois; two former world champions, Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (UAE) and 1998 world champion Valerie Kanavy of the USA, one of the most charismatic figures on the circuit, will be among the strongest contenders. In the team contest, the host nation will be among the firm favourites with France, Belgium, Spain and Portugal among other hopefuls, with the open European contest being a top target for the teams from the UAE and Bahrain, which took team silver two years ago.
THE ROUTE
A tough, technical route has been designed consisting of six loops based around two vetgates. The first “green” loop of 35km will take riders away from the venue to the west of Assisi towards Bastia. The largely flat route will be appreciated by riders who will be setting out in near darkness at 5am. The second loop starts from the vetgate at Valle Di Assisi and will be probably the most challenging of the day. Appropriately coloured red, this 35km stretch takes in some punishing climbs to Collemancio and could be the deciding factor at the finish line according to Italian team rider Enrico Ercoli, “I believe that we must pay attention to the early laps and manage our horses with great care as those who push here are likely to run out of gas!”
The later stages of the race are flatter and could be fast depending on the surface conditions. The third “yellow” loop drops south to Bevagna before heading back to the vetgate at Valle Di Assisi along the Topino river valley. By this point, riders will have the home straight in their sights. At the end of the fourth “blue” loop of 24km, they will leave Valle Di Assisi for the last time returning to the Misura Village venue in the shadow of the majestic Assisi skyline over the steadily climbing 17.5km fifth orange loop. The final phase covering just 14 km will take finishers out over the first part of the opening loop of the day before swinging north above Bastia and doubling back on itself to the dramatic finish line just below the magnificent Saint Francisco's Basilica, in Assisi.
THE SPONSORS
Sponsors Meydan Group will have a purpose-built exhibition booth at the venue. The group’s key activities include: Meydan Racecourse, which is the first project to be launched in March 2010; Meydan Horizons, Meydan Metropolis and Meydan Godolphin Parks.
Mohammad Al Khayat, Meydan Group's Commercial Director said, "This marks our first foray onto the global Endurance racing stage, and we are confident this partnership will continue to re-affirm the camaraderie that exists between both our countries. The UAE and Italy have a longstanding association bound by our equine history and heritage and it is this connection that further strengthens our mutual support of each other and to the dedication we have given to the sport of Endurance racing"
FACTS AND FIGURES
Total Entries: 106
Total European Entries: 81
Total Nations: 25
Total Teams: 19
Total European Teams: 15
Youngest rider: Joona Micklsson (Finland) aged 17
Oldest rider: Jan Buitenhuis (Netherlands) aged 71
25 September 2009 - Gulf-daily-news.com
SHAIKH Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa led the Bahrain Royal Endurance Team's first training yesterday in Italy as a build-up to their biggest challenge of the year, the European Endurance Horse Ride Championship Open 2009 in Assisi. The Bahraini team captain arrived at the Saint Egidio Airport of Perugia earlier yesterday along with Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa who will also take part in the race.
The two were received on arrival by the management committee president of the championship Gianluca Liscia who welcomed them and wished them success in the race which is set for tomorrow.
Both riders then moved on to Assisi where they practised at the Misura Village. They also inspected the route of the sixth and final stage, which they described as a tough challenge for all participants.
Shaikh Nasser said he was shocked with the conditions of the sixth stage which features a narrow route, especially because a large number of riders are expected to take part.
He added that the route is also full of rocks which may affect the horses' performance in this deciding stage of the competition.
However, the team leader vowed that his team will show their best in tomorrow's event, adding that a special strategy is now due to be planned for the race.
Shaikh Nasser, accompanied by Shaikh Khalid, met the other members of the Bahraini team. They are Yousef Taher, Ghazi Al Doseri, Ahmed Abdulla Al Hazza, Abdulrahman Al Saa'd, Raed Mahmood and Jaffer Mirza.
Top riders from all over the world continued to arrive at the village, including Malaysian Monarch Mizan Zainal Abidin and Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, son of Prime Minister and Vice President of UAE and Governor of Dubai Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Later yesterday, the Bahrain and other teams' delegations attended the opening ceremony of the championships which took place in the square of Assisi.
During the ceremony, there were performances by the 'Nobilissima Parte de Sopra' and of the 'Magnifica Parte de Sotto' bands in Mediaeval settings.
Other countries in the fray includes hosts Italy, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, the UK, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the US and Uruguay.
The Misura Village, a large area of about 10,000 square metres, will be the nerve centre for all the activities dedicated to information, reception, entertainment, shows, exhibitions, and accreditation set up in a field of 30,000 square metres.
24 September 2009
THE SONS OF THE KING OF BARHAIN HAVE JUST ARRIVED, THE KING OF MALAYSIA WILL ARRIVE IN THE AFTERNOON WHILE THE AL MAKTOUM IN THE EVENING
The sons of the King of Bahrain, the Sheiks Nasser Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa and Khaled Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, have landed this morning at the Saint Egidio airport of Perugia. Gianluca Liscia , President of the management committee of the Meydan City FEI Open European Endurance Championships 2009, has received them. The two sons, as soon as they arrived at Misura Village, wanted to ride the horse in order to be prepared to the competition on Saturday. In the meanwhile, the sheik His Highness Mizan Zainal Abidin is arriving now, while for tonight it is foreseen the arrival of the sheik Majid Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, who is the son of Prime Minister and Vice President of United Arab Emirates and Governor of Dubai, His Highness Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum , big supporter of the Assisi Endurance Lifestyle still from the beginning.
24 September 2009 - Bahrain News Agency
ROME, SEPT. 24, (BNA) ROYAL ENDURANCE TEAM CAPTAIN SHAIKH NASSER BIN HAMAD AL KHALIFA LED UPON ARRIVAL IN PERUGIA CITY, ITALY, THE TEAM'S FIRST TRAINING IN THE SIXTH AND LAST PHASE FROM THE ENDURANCE VILLAGE IN ASSISI IN ORDER TO GET INFORMED ABOUT IT AND THE TYPE OF LAND ON WHICH THE TEAM WILL COMPETE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
KHALIDIYA STABLES CAPTAIN AND PRESIDENT OF BAHRAIN ROYAL EQUESTRIAN AND ENDURANCE FEDERATION (BREEF) SHAIKH KHALID BIN HAMAD AL KHALIFA TOOK PART IN THE TRAINING ALONGSIDE RIDERS GHAZI AL DUSSARI, AHMED ABDULLAH, ABDULRAHMAN SA'AD, JAFAR MIRZA, RAED MAHMOUD AND THE TEAM'S TECHNICAL COACH.
THE TRAINING TOOK PLACE SHORTLY AFTER SHAIKH NASSER'S ARRIVAL IN PERUGIA CITY DESPITE EXHAUSTION FROM THE FLIGHT. "THE GROUND WAS A SHOCK AND A SURPRISE TO US AS WE DID NOT EXPECT THE LAST PHASE TO BE AS DIFFICULT AS THAT," SHAIKH NASSER SAID AFTER THE TRAINING. "MOREOVER, THE RIDERS HAVE TO TAKE THE SAME WAY ON THEIR RETURN WHICH WILL NOT HELP THEM AMID PARTICIPATION OF MANY STATES," HE ADDED. "THE TRACK IS FULL OF ROCKS WHICH WILL AFFECT HORSES," HE NOTED POINTING OUT THAT THE CHAMPIONSHIP NEEDS NOW A SPECIAL PLAN TO REACH THE END SUCCESSFULLY. HE ALSO REVEALED THAT THE BEST OF MORE THAN ONE PLAN WAS NEEDED DURING THE RACE BY CLOSELY FOLLOWING UP ON THE RIDERS OF OTHER STATES IN ORDER TO MOUNT THE PODIUM.
SHAIKH NASSER MET WITH THE RIDERS AND UNDERLINED THAT NOTHING WAS IMPOSSIBLE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND THAT PARTICIPATION IN SUCH COMPETITIONS NEEDS HIGH MORALE GIVEN THE GOOD INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION THE BAHRAINI TEAM ENJOYS ESPECIALLY AFTER WINNING THE SILVER MEDAL IN THE LAST EUROPEAN RACE AND THE BRONZE MEDAL IN THE WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP HELD IN MALAYSIA."ALL OBSTACLES WILL NOT PREVENT US FROM ACHIEVING OUR GOAL AS THE BAHRAINI TEAM HAVE REACHED ITALY WITH DEFINITE OBJECTIVES AND WE MUST JOIN HANDS AND WORK WITH HIGH MORALE TO UPHOLD THE IMAGE OF BAHRAIN'S ENDURANCE SPORT ON SUCH OCCASIONS," HE SAID.
HE ALSO EXPRESSED GREAT CONFIDENCE IN THE RIDERS TO FULFILL THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP ON WHICH THEY RELY AND FOR WHICH THEY GOT PREPARED. ON HIS PART, SHAIKH KHALID SAID AFTER THE FIRST TRAINING THAT THE DIFFICULTIES WOULD NOT STOP THEM FROM ACHIEVING THEIR GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS AFTER A LONG PREPARATION FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP CAPTAINED BY SHAIKH NASSER. "THE RIDERS ARE WELL-EXPERIENCED AND WE ATTACH GREAT HOPES ON THEM TO REPEAT PORTUGAL'S ACHIEVEMENT TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THE TEAM GRABBED SECOND PLACE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF SHAIKH NASSER," HE STRESSED.
"THE TEAM'S TRAINING LED BY SHAIKH NASSER WAS SERIOUS AND POSITIVE AND ALL OBSTACLES WILL BE OVERCOME THANKS TO THE RIDERS' DETERMINATION," ROYAL ENDURANCE TEAM DIRECTOR DR KHALID AHMED HASSAN SAID. "THE TEAM IS FULLY PREPARED FOR THE COMPETITION AFTER HARD AND LONG WORK SINCE THE END OF THE PORTUGUESE AND MALAYSIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS," HE STRESSED. "ALL RIDERS ARE HIGHLY OPTIMISTIC TO CARRY ON WITH THE CHAIN OF ACHIEVEMENTS," HE ADDED.
THE ROYAL ENDURANCE TEAM ATTENDED THE SPLENDID OPENING CEREMONY HELD IN THE CENTRE OF THE HISTORIC CITY, ASSISI, WHERE THEY COULD CAPTURE THE ATTENTION OF SATELLITE CHANNELS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS WITH THEIR ARAB CLOTHES.
MALAYSIAN KING ZAINAL ABIDIN WILL TAKE PART IN THE RACE AS A RIDER AFTER HIS PARTICIPATION IN THE WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP IN MALAYSIA LAST NOVEMBER. HE IS KEEN ON COMPLETING THE RACE WITHOUT BEING VERY MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT FIRST PLACES.
SHAIKH NASSER WILL LEAD A TEAM OF MAIN RIDERS SHAIKH KHALID, GHAZI AL DUSSARI, AHMED ABDULLAH, JAFAR MIRZA AND ABDULRAHMAN AL SA'AD WHILE RAED MAHMOUD AND YOUSEF TAHER WILL BE SUBSTITUTE RIDERS, IT WAS REVEALED AFTER THE FIRST TRAINING. VETERINARY CHECK-UPS OF THE HORSES WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW MORNING AT THE ENDURANCE VILLAGE AND ALL PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN UP IN THIS REGARD.
Meydan City FEI Open European Endurance Champioships 2009, i primi arrivi
24 September 2009Continuano ad arrivare le autorita ed i primi cavalieri illustri al Misura Village di Assisi.
L'appuntamento clou del giorno e senz'altro Cerimonia di Apertura con la sfilata di tutte le squadre presenti alla competizione continentale. La cerimonia, riservata alle autorita ed alla stampa, sara seguita dal Convivio augurale Medievale.
Meydan City FEI Open European Endurance Champioships 2009, the first arrivals
Authorities continue to arrive and the early riders explain to the Village Measure of Assisi. The appointment highlights of the day is certainly opening ceremony with a parade of all teams present at the continental competition.The ceremony, reserved for the authorities and the press, will be followed by the inaugural Medieval Banquet.
Gulf-daily-news.com
Thursday, September 24, 2009
ROYAL Endurance Horse ride team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa will arrive in Italy today to lead the Bahraini squad at the European Championship 2009.
Shaikh Nasser, the Bahrain Olympic Committee president, will be accompanied by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president and captain of Al Khaldiya Stables Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Shaikh Nasser will be riding Kheopsy Du Pilat while Shaikh Khalid will compete on Khandela Des Vialette in this prestigious competition which will be flagged off on Saturday at 6am (Bahrain time).
The two lead some of the finest Bahraini riders in this event which has attracted entries from 26 countries.
Other Bahraini riders are Yousef Taher, Ghazi Al Doseri, Ahmed Abdulla Al Hazza, Abdulrahman Al Saa'd, Raed Mahmood and Jaffer Mirza.
A maximum of six riders from each country are allowed to take part. Besides Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Khalid, the final line-up for the Bahraini team includes Al Saad who will be riding Zirkonia, Al Hazza will take part on Ganda Koy, Mirza on Mexico and Al Doseri on Khyber.
Countries in the fray include Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, UK, Hungary, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UAE, the US and Uruguay,
The race will be sponsored by Dubai Racing Club and will be held over 160kms divided into six stages. An opening ceremony will be held today at the Assisi's municipal square. The championship will be shown live on Bahrain Sports Channel following directives from Shaikh Nasser.
After today's opening ceremony, the horses will be subjected to veterinary examination at the endurance village.
The weight of each horse taking part should not exceed 75 kgs while maximum pulse rate at the veterinary gate after each stage should be 64 beats per minute within 20 minutes.
An International Veterinary Symposium is also set for today at the conference room of the Grand Hotel Assisi.
Italy: The thought of the Knights "post inspection" of Assisi
he day after the aforementioned visit to Assisi by the blue team that will defend the Italian colors next Saturday at MEYDAN CITY OPEN FEI European Endurance Championships 2009, an employee of Sportendurance collected from sextet, some considerations about the hot racetrack.Parola ad Enrico Ercoli : Word to Henry Hercules
"The course is quite technical, which I did not bother to some. The ring is without doubt the most challenging depending on where the gradients are very interesting. We hope that the weather improved to dirt funds traits are likely to become, otherwise, very muddy. I do not think the second loop will be selected that will decide the race, indeed, I believe that we must pay attention to the early laps, managed with great care of horses, those who force here is likely to get through out of gas! "
Alessandra Brunelli:
"I confirm Henry's feelings about the course. Personally I was very impressed with the vet-gate of Assisi, impressive for its grandeur ... ..Never seen anything like this in an endurance race! "
Martina Lui e Simona Garatti:
"The red ring is very demanding at altitude, the bottom is quite insidious and as regards the slope for immediate descent is difficult to interpret at best. If the weather will not help us you should also pay attention to the lines in asphalt in the towns, which could reveal quite slippery."
Jacopo di Matteo:
"According loop really hard, but the latter stages are flat and therefore very fast. The average of the first race could settle around 18 km / h.
Melania Serioli:
"I think the averages will certainly not those of Compiegne, which I do not mind at all.My horse is more at ease on difficult terrain like this. Crossing our fingers. "
Editor of Sportendurance a heartfelt thanks to all the riders, polite and helpful despite the imminent departure.
Good luck to the whole team Italy ...
The sun has come back at the Misura Village with the arrival of the teams taking part in the FEI Open Meydan City European Endurance Championships 2009. After several rainy days the good weather came back again and the teams can prepare their horses to the best in view of the competition on Saturday 26th.
Spain: Selection for 2009 European Championship in Assisi
The Royal Spanish Equestrian Federation (RFHE) has chosen the six riders and horses and one reserve pair selected for the September 26th 2009 European Endurance Championship:
- "Nobby" - Maria Alvarez Ponton
- "Cheveret Rn" - Silvia Yebra Altimiras
- "Tiki Star" - Robert Diaz Noguera
- "Sancok" - Alex Luque del Moral
- "Vanita Bint Vacora" - Anna Maria Yebra Altimiras
- "Piga de Belene" - Raquel Pratdecorona
Reserve horse:
- "Luna de Crouz"
03-09-2009
Work in progress at the Misura Village, located in Pallareto, just below the magnificent Saint Francisco's Basilica, in Assisi. The village will host with outstanding features the incoming event.
Ten thousand square meters of tensioned structures will lodge the expo areas with two restaurants, a conference hall, a press room, the Poker Texas Hold'em room and the VIP lounge.
The Misura Village it's going to have also a reserved part for the tents of the Royal families that will participate at the competition and an Indoor Arena for free concerts and entertainment.
Assisi Endurance Lifestyle is getting ready to welcome in style, with unique arrangements, the eleven days of sport, communication, art, culture, science and free entrance night concerts.
Hospitality will be one on the event's point of strength that will include the Meydan FEI Open European Championship 2009.
01-09-2009
Are 26 the nations, listed in the Nominated entries at the Meydan City FEI Open European Endurance Championships 2009, the most important event for the ongoing year.
At the competition - constituted by 6 laps that winds along 160km in the Umbrian country side - are going to participate 19 European nations, 7 non EU nations for a total of 116 riders, 89 European and 27 non EU that will challenge for the European and Open Challenge scheduled for September 26th at 5.00 am from the Misura Village.
These are the numbers of the event, waiting for the definite Entries, that will be confirmed September 21st , that clearly show a great event, most of all for the rides reputation. In Assisi sport, environment, culture and history will be enhanced Sport, environment, culture and history can be enhanced here as in few places in the world.
This thanks to the special contribution of the binomials that will compete in the race that will wind along 5 municipalities. Meydan City FEI Open European Endurance Championships 2009 are also this but, most of all, are a melting pot occasion between people, culture and diverse stories in the name of sport.
Assisi has always been ambassador of welcoming culture and ideals sharing and is perfectly suited to be a the host of the event for all over the world horses and riders.
Nominated Entries list with all the participants nations