Interactive Map
2006 Sultan's Cup
Prize Giving
Images by Steph Teeter
 The Real Story -Part 1 |
Steph's Story - Part 1|| Steph's Story - Part 2 Steph's Story - Part 3|| Steph's Story - Part 4 Bev's Story - Part 1 || Bev's Story - Part 2 Bev's Story - Part 3 |
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Ok, time to wrap up the 2010 Terengganu Sultan's Cup. Another spectacular event - very professional, very well run - these guys do it better than anybody else I think. They have the pomp and splendor of the best venues in the world, and they do it all with a smile! And they are fantastic at PR and logistics and organizational support. The event - ride was run by professional companies (e.g. AsiaPromote) based out of Kuala Lumpur. The banquets, awards, promotion, communications, etc was extremely well done. The state of Terengganu and Yayasan (Tg foundation) provided full event support - liason, drivers, policemen, stewards - It was the best I've seen here.
So before I tell 'my story' - here's a brief synopsis of the sport of Endurance in Malaysia. (This was my 9th trip over here! So many friends and familiar faces. I've been so fortunate to have followed along on their journey.) A very brief history of Endurance in Malaysia: A Malaysian team attended the 1998 World Endurance Championship. (riding whatever they had - polo horses, thoroughbreds, criollos). They qualified by riding a circular track for 120km. But they qualified! One rider completed. Endurance rides began in Malaysia - first in Sabah (on the large island, north of Borneo), then a few more rides began to pop up on the mainland. Edaran Berhad (a technology company based in KL) became a large supporter - Tansri Tajuddin and his Ar-Raudhah stable out side of Kuala Lumpur hosted several rides and helped advance the sport. Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu became involved in the sport, and when he became Tuanku (Malaysia's King) the sport gained national support and became Malaysia's fastest growing equestrian sport. Terengganu International Endurance Park was conceived and built and became one of the world's premier endurance venues, patterned after Abu Dhabi and Dubai's Endurance Villages. The government encouraged and supported more endurance venues in the various sultanates of Malaysia. Malaysia submitted a bid to FEI for the 2008 World Endurance Championship. The nation and the state of Terengganu were in full support of the effort. A massive effort to qualify riders (including Tuanku Mizan) was undertaken. Riders travelled around the world riding, leasing and buying horses, and gaining qualifications. Malaysia's WEC test event, the Terengganu Sultan's cup, was held in November 2007 and was a success. 160 kilometers over the course at TIEP, over 60% completion with both local riders and invited International teams. FEI granted Malaysia the 2008 World Endurance Championship. Endurance continued to grow in Malaysia, more venues, more races, more riders, more horses. The Sultans Cup has become the ultimate ride for most Malaysians, with the TIEP facility, a good track for Malaysia (mostly sand and dirt trails, mostly flat). Currently the Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable (Tuanku Mizan's stable) is setting their sites on the 2011 European Championship in France - at Florac. They have horses in training in France, and are sending riders over for training and experience and qualification. They are taking FEI Endurance very seriously and continuing to learn from the best. Here are a few links to rides I've attended in Malaysia - l've written tons about the growth of the sport in Malaysia over the past few years - it's been incredible to be part of their growth. And all the new friends!
2005 Edaran
Classic more later- Steph
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, and the theme was 'songket' - the traditional woven fabric worn by royalty. There was a horse 'songket' painting competition over the weekend. Some spectacular efforts and beautiful painted horses emerged. There were all-night concerts and an open air cinema. (when I was riding back into the venue, coming off the 2nd loop my mare Ikbal and I were blasted with rock'n roll coming from the concert stage. A great re-awakening from the quiet of the track!)
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They hosted the most amazing welcome dinner that I've ever attended. A 2 hour dinner with live entertainment on stage - some popular singers and musicians flown over from KL, a sing/song story telling complete with traditional shadow puppets, and spiced up with some hip hop musicians hitting the stage. It was so good! The Malaysians really are talented and creative and professional - and can keep up with the rest of the world in this respect.