HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival-supported FEI World Championship for Young Horses on Friday
2015 winner:Saif Ahmed Al Mazroui on Descarado
22 September 2016, Montauban, France ~ After a hectic schedule of Purebred Arabian flat racing in the recent weeks, the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival now shifts its focus to endurance. Over 200 horses and riders will be seen in action starting from Friday, 23 September 2016 in three Festival-supported rides in the historic Saint-Étienne-de-Tulmont region near Montauban, France.
FEI World Championship for Young Horses
On Friday, 23 September, over 100 riders including 12 from the UAE, will compete for the FEI World Championship for Young Horses (aged 7) organized by Endurance Equestrian Negrepellise and supported by the Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Racing Festival.
The championship ride will be contested over a distance of 122 kms with four loops of 35kms, 30kms, 35kms and 22kms and takes off at 07:30.
Two 120km rides on Sunday
On Sunday, 25 September, the Festival-supported feature event is the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Cup CEIO 120-km, and will award individual and team championships. Over 40 lady riders from ten countries are expected to participate.
Over 60 riders will also be seen in action on Sunday in the 120-km CEI Two-star HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup.
“We are delighted to be hosting the FEI World Championship for Young Horses here in France and we thank HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival for their support,” said Gerard Aurel, President of Endurance Equestre in Negrepelisse.
“In total we expect a participation of about twenty-five nations, more than 200 horses and as many riders. The events will take place in the communes of Saint-Etienne-de-Tulmont, Nègrepelisse, Vaïssac, and Genebrieres. The course distance of around 120 km will be varied, running through hills, rural and farm areas and forests. It will be very competitive for the riders from around the world,” Aurel said.
HE Suhail Bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Managing Director of the International Petroleum Investments Company (IPIC) said, “We are extremely pleased with IPIC’s role as strategic partners to the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival. The Festival, has through such events, has done the UAE proud by promoting Purebred Arabian horses and the UAE culture around the globe.”
“The mother of the UAE, Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the UAE’s General Women’s Union has touched so many lives in the UAE and the world and this ride is being held under her patronage,” said HE Noura Al Suweidi, Director of the General Women’s Union. “The support for the ride is under instructions from HH Sheikha Fatima to enhance and support women sport in general and her passion to develop women to play an active role in society.”
Ms. Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the Int’l Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) said, “This is the third year that the Festival is supporting these rides in Europe and we are very satisfied with the success.”
“The prize money for Ladies CEIO Cup winners is Euros 5000; second-placed team is Euros 3000 and the third-placed team is Euros 2000, apart from individual trophies and team trophies,” Ms Sawaya stated.
The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is sustained by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, with National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC as associate sponsors, IPIC as Strategic Partner, The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare and sponsored by Al Aweer Stables, Ayadii LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Bloom, Petromal, Rise General Trading Co. LLC, Hayatna, Wathba Stallions, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club, Mohamed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Omeir Travels, Dr Nader Saab Switzerland, Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics, YAS Channel, Racing Post, Paris Turf, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2016, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.
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