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THE BEST RACE EVER
by Paula Nascimento - www.endurancebrasil.com.br
The title may sound exaggerated, but for those who are endurance enthusiasts, witness what happened last February 13, 2010 at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, has been elusive, and it is a privilege.
Again, it was sure that what happens in the Middle East is a different sport from the rest of the world. The world record was broken again this shows how hard and fought are the competitions in the UAE and this was evident with the top two broke the old record. The record continues with the horse of South African origin, Charlandre el Sharif, 13, from Al Reef Stables.
For the two Brazilian riders the race was short and lasted only one loop, both were eliminated by lameness. But it is inevitable to say that the experience was very worthwhile, since dropping to 106 sets at full speed is something that only happens in big races.
The disappointment of the Brazilians soon became an indescribable feeling. Andre Vidiz and Rafael Salvador, the breeder's Steinbruch Leo and Paul Saliba, and veterinarian Dr. Silvio Arroyo Filho were amazed at the competition as a whole and with the show they were watching. "We must see to believe" talked the whole time Leo Steinbruch, who besides breeder, is one of the most experienced riders in Brazil.
On Friday, the Brazilian squad is to follow the initial inspection. Andre Vidiz needed to change the mount because its not approved in the initial examination. After this time against the two representatives of Brazil were to know the horses they would ride. Rafael Salvador formed together with Amia, a mare of 13 years and Andrew Vidiz mounted Atlas of 12 years. It was five o'clock in the morning when I, along with the two riders, Leo and Silvinho, we arrive at the competition venue. It was dark and cold, after talking about how it would support the riders with the Al Reefs Stables team, we see the start. 106 horss began to race at full speed and the poor visibility did not stop the riders speed on the track. We follow the Brazilians riders on the track. The number of cars that follow the horses is amazing and the difficulty of driving in soft sand, with low visibility, high speed and with cars and horses through all sides, makes it even more exciting.
In the first stage who arrived in leadership was Tayef Atiq Al Falah, the Wrsan Stables, riding the mare Uruguayan 11 years, Silvina. The group had a mean of 25.52 kilometers per hour, traversing the 34 km in only 1h17min and only 1min57s was already in the vet-check. The Brazilians arrived half an hour ago and were eliminated.
For the second step, unfortunately we received the two as companions in the car. The pace was breakneck speed was maintained and in some places the horses were faster than the cars. Who led this time was the representative of Estonia, Kaja tuisk, who rode the horse Kheops Lozelle, owned by Seeh Al Salam Endurance Stables, averaging 25.47 km / h and recovery time of 1 min27s. The following 33 sets were less than 4 minutes apart in the first place.
In the third step the lead back to the Wrsan Stables, but with another rider: Abdul Rahman Mohd Karam Shirouh, with the animal Nadja Lotoise. The speed was 25.27 kilometers / h and recovery was 1min41s seconds and there were 22 horses that were less than 4 minutes from the leader.
The fourth loop had the feared Tora Bora mountains with a lot of ups and downs, a total of 32. From inside the car, we saw the horses were crossing the Tora Bora with much more ease than the cars themselves, which often came down in reverse, they could not reach the top of the mountain. The leadership was once again Tayef with teammate Abdul second. Tayef made 23.46 kilometers / h in the loop more difficult. The Tora Bora select who is able to get the victory, so that after this step we can see Ali Khalfan and Sultan Ahmed already in sixth and seventh place respectively, and 12 horses with less than 4 minutes for the first place.
In the fifth step, the leadership was assumed by Majed Mohd Salman Al Sabri, with Armin Zulu, 9 years, representing Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. His speed was of 24.55 km / h and took 1 minute and 29 seconds to enter the vet-check. Nine sets were at 2 minutes apart.
The last loop was the cherry on the cake of this historical evidence, what we saw was an unprecedented fight with several changes of position and animals running as if on a great flat race track without fences. The exchanges were constant and less than 14 kilometers to arrive, it was impossible to say who would cross the finish line in front. After much fighting and less than 10 km to arrive, we saw that the fight would be restricted to the Sultan Ahmed Al Baloushi riding Charlandre El Sharif, who held the world record and Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri riding Kalifa, aged 12. The speed was very high and when they reached the final stretch of 2 kilometers, speeds increased from 50 km / h when the two side by side.But at the end, the experience of small South African horse of only 1, 48m high worth more and this crossed the line ahead of his opponent, breaking his own record.
Now, the Al Reef Stables has the two speed world records, in 160 km and 120 km.
The average speed of the champion in the last step was of 33.22 km / h and the second in 33.06 kilometers per hour, totaling an average speed of 25.18 kilometers per hour Both have completed the 160 km in just 6 hours and 21 minutes.
Describe and express all the emotions of this last Saturday in Presidents Cup 2010 is difficult, but maybe say it was fantastic, is the closest to what you mean. It must see to believe and by luck and a lot of fighting, some Brazilians have been able to witness this spectacle.
Photo by ABDUL RAHMAN/Gulf News
February 14, 2010
Beats Al Jahouri of Al Wathba in a nailbiting finish to lift the President's Cup
Abu Dhabi : Twenty-three-year-old Sultan Ahmad Al Beloushi of Al Reef Stables rode Charlandre El Sharif to a scintillating victory in the Dh1.5 million HH The President's Cup, the 13-year-old gelding breaking his own world record for a 160km ride by more than seven minutes.
Al Beloushi denied Al Wathba's Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri, on Kalifa, in a finish that would have done a 1,000-metre sprint proud as there was hardly anything to separate the two horses after 160km of battling at the Emirates International Endurance Village at Al Wathba desert area.
Al Beloushi and Charlandre El Sharif completed the ride in a record time of 6 hours, 21 minutes and 12 seconds, bettering the earlier best of 6:28.28 by the same horse under Omar Hussain Al Beloushi in January 2008 in the HH Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup at the Dubai International Endurance Village.
The Al Reef youngster, riding the horse trained by his elder brother Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi, was fourth going out into the final loop of 16km with less than a minute separating the top six riders.
However, Al Beloushi's horse, one of the most consistent performers, managed to get the better of 160km specialist Al Jahouri and shatter his ambition of winning his first President's Cup.
"This is without doubt the greatest win of my career. Charlandre El Sharif is a star and today he proved it," said Al Beloushi.
He, Al Jahouri and the third-placed Majid Salman Al Sabri received a car each for their efforts.
"My elder brother Yousuf just told me to pace my speed to under 25kmph for the first five stages (144km) and then go all out in the final loop, and I did just that," said Al Beloushi, whose average speed on the final 16km loop was 33.22kmph in comparison to his ride average speed of 25.18kmph.
Heart-break
For Al Jahouri, it was a heart-breaking experience as the President's Cup is the only silverware missing in the Al Wathba star's showcase.
"I think it just boils down to bad luck. I have won the National Day Cup thrice, the 160km HH Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup twice. But my best in this ride [before this race] was a third-place finish in 2007," said Al Jahouri.
Earlier, 106 riders started in the event, which was attended by 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, and Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, among others.
RESULTS
Results of yesterday's 160km endurance ride:
1. Sultan Ahmad Al Beloushi (Charlandre El Sharif), 6:21.12
2. Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri (Kalifa) 6:21.13
3. Majid Salman Al Sabri (Armin's Zulu) 6:27.33
Khaleejtimes.com Al Beloushi Wins The President’s Cup Race
by James Jose
13 February 2010, Sultan Ahmad Al Beloushi won the prestigious His Highness The President’s Cup at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba on Saturday.
Sultan Ahmad Al Beloushi, from the Al Reef Stables, guided Charlandre El Sharif to victory in the Dh 1.5 million 160-km Ride in world record time. The 13-year-old gelding Charlandre El Sharif lowered his own world record by more than seven minutes.
A total of 106 riders including 20 invited riders from US, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Hungary, Slovakia, Belgium and Poland took the start. The event was attended by 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, Dubai Deputy Ruler and Minister of Finance and Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs among others.
The 23-year-old Sultan Ahmad Al Beloushi and Charlandre El Sharif completed the Ride in a record time of 6 hours 21 minutes 12 seconds, bettering the earlier best of 6:28.28 by the same horse. Omair Hussein Al Beloushi had ridden Charlandre El Sharif to that record.
Al Wathba’s Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri on Kalifa was second with a time of 6:21.13s followed by Majed Salem Al Sabri, on Armin Zulu, in third with a time 6:27.33s.
Ali Khalfan had won the National Day Cup thrice, the 160-km His Highness Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup twice.
His best finish in the His Highness The President’s Cup was a third place in 2007.
Dubai Crown Prince Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, riding Kumait, and Shaikh Mayed bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, riding Kamel Armor, made an exit after the fourth loop of the six-loop ride which was run in stages of 34km, 31km, 30km, 27km, 22km and 16kms.
The Al Wathba Stud Farm, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), Bonyan International Investment Group LLC, Invest AD and Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2010 (ADIHEX) supported the event.
Results: 1. Sultan Ahmad Al Beloushi (Charlandre El Sharif) 6:21.12s; 2. Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri (Kalifa) 6:21.13s; 3. Majed Salem Al Jabri (Armin’s Zulu) 6:27.33s.
Enduroonline.com.br
Charlandre El Sharif dá mais uma vitória a Al Reef Stables, escreve seu nome no rol dos animais bicampeões da Presidents Cup e estabelece novo recorde da prova. O primeiro foi Domino,de Al Wathba Stables, que venceu em 2002 e 2003, depois foi a vez de Kaysand Farrazah, de Dubai, que venceu em 2006 e 2008 e agora Charlandre além de se tornar campeão dois anos seguidos, estabele dois novos recordes: da Presidents Cup e de provas de 160 km, seu próprio recorde de 2008 quando venceu a HH Shk Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup 2008.
A Maktoum Cup, Charlandre El Sharif, montado por Omair Husain Al Bloushi, e tendo como treinador Yousef Ahmed Al Bloushi, estabeleceu recorde mundial ao completar a prova em 06:28:28 com velocidade média de 24.71 km/h.
Hoje, Charlandre foi montado por Sultan Ahmed Al Baloushi e com o mesmo treinador, Yousef Ahmed Al Bloushi com quem venceu em 2009, completa os 160 km em 06:21:12 com velocidade média de 25.18.
******
Charlandre El Sharif gives one more victory to Al Reef Stables, write your name on the list of animals bichampions the Presidents Cup and sets new record of proof. The first was Domino, Al Wathba Stables, who won in 2002 and 2003 when it was time to Kaysand Farrazah of Dubai, who won in 2006 and 2008 and now Charlandre addition to becoming champion two consecutive years, set two new records : the Presidents Cup and evidence of 160 km, their own record of 2008 when he won the HH Shk Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup 2008.
The Maktoum Cup, Charlandre El Sharif, ridden by Omair Husain Al Bloushi and having a coach Yousef Ahmed Al Bloushi, set a world record by completing the race in 06:28:28 with an average speed of 24.71 km / h.
Today,Charlandre was built by Sultan Ahmed Al Baloushi and with the same coach, Yousef Ahmed Al Bloushi who won in 2009, complete the 160 km in 06:21:12 with an average speed of 25.18.
Gulfnews.com
February 12, 2010
Twenty top riders from around the globe to take part in event
Abu Dhabi : Four cars and a prize fund of Dh1.5 million will be up for grabs in tomorrow's His Highness The President's Cup 160km endurance ride, which also sees the introduction of a team competition at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.
Addressing a press conference here yesterday, Adnan Sultan Saif Al Nuaimi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club said, "We have invited riders to form teams of four members each and the riding time of the three top finishers in each team will count for the competition.
"Twenty riders, invited from the US, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Hungary, Slovakia, Belgium and Poland will be taking part in the event which will be run in six stages," Al Nuaimi said.
"The Al Wathba Stud Farm, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage [ADACH], Bonyan International Investment Group LLC, Invest AD and Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2010 are supporting the event and we are thankful to them," he said.
Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Communications Director of ADACH, said, "Endurance riding is part of our heritage and culture and we are glad to be involved in this sport."
Lara Sawaya, Director of Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Flat Racing said, "The Al Wathba Stud Farm is supporting this event which is one of the biggest endurance rides in the world. The introduction of the team competition will make it more interesting and lay the emphasis on team work."
Van Wijk en Romer aan start in Abu Dhabi
11/02/2010Horses.nl
Endurance amazones Jannet van Wijk met Zaira Star en Carmen Romer met Eddie trainen op dit moment in de woestijn in Abu Dhabi. Zaterdag 13 februari komen de amazones aan start bij de Presidentcup in de Verenigde Arabische Emiraten.
De 160 kilometer lange wedstrijd begint zaterdag om 6.00 uur lokale tijd (Nederlandse tijd 3.00 uur ?s nachts) bij het 'Emirates International Endurance Village' in Al Wathba. In de wedstrijd is Phase 4 het interessantst omdat de route over zandduinen gaat, het overige parcours gaat over vrij vlakke gedeelten in de woestijn.
Jannet van Wijk heeft de afgelopen maanden getraind op snelheid en haar doel is om deze wedstrijd met een goed gemiddelde te finishen. Het is voor Zaira Star pas haar tweede 160-km-wedstrijd, maar de merrie is in goede conditie. De paarden zijn ondergebracht in koele en luchtige stallen. Er starten slechts dertien ruiters van buiten het Midden-Oosten.
Jannet van Wijk riding Zaira Star, and Carmen Romer riding Eddie R, is currently training in the desert in Abu Dhabi. On Saturday, February 13, the ladies will participate in the Presidents Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
The 160 kilometer long race starts Saturday at 6:00 pm local time (3.00 hours Dutch time at night) at the "Emirates International Endurance Village" in Al Wathba. In Phase 4 the game is interesting because the route goes over sand dunes, the trail takes other relatively flat areas in the desert.
Jannet van Wijk has recently trained in speed and its purpose is to match this with a good average to finish. It was only Zaira Star's second 160-km-race, but the mare is in good condition. The horses were housed in cool and airy stables. It started only thirteen riders from outside the Middle East.
Rapp and Reynolds to Ride for US at Abu Dhabi Al Wathba President's Cup Add Your Comments
Release: February 11 2010Author: Joanie Morris - USEF.org
Lexington, KY ? The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will be represented by two endurance riders at the 2010 Abu Dhabi Al Wathba President?s Cup in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. This prestigious 160 km race is one of the premier events on the international endurance circuit and takes place on February 13, 2010. Riding for the US will be: Ellyn Rapp on Belshazzar and Jeremy Reynolds on Sir Smith.
Rapp was recently second in deluge conditions at the 2009 Kentucky Cup ? which served as the test event for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games at the Kentucky Horse Park. She can expect totally different circumstances in Abu Dhabi where the forecast calls for temperatures in the 70s and dry conditions on race day.
Reynolds will ride Sir Smith, an experienced endurance veteran in the United Arab Emirates. Reynolds is also a farrier and is married to fellow endurance rider Heather Reynolds ? who has also represented the United States in international competition. Sir Smith has two FEI wins on his record already and looks to add to this tally in Abu Dhabi.
Complete horse and rider information:
Rider/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Breed/Sex/Owner
Ellyn Rapp/27/Lamotte, IA/SA Belshazzar/13/Shagya-Arabian/G/Jeremy
Olson
Jeremy Reynolds/30/Los Gatos, CA/Sir Smith/11/Arabian/G/Heather and Jeremy Reynolds
To follow along with the adventure via the Reynolds? blog, please visit: http://www.reynoldsracing.us/home.