May 13, 2013, Abu Dhabi ~ The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival announced the addition of two International endurance rides to their roster.
Lara Sawaya, Director HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and Head of International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) Ladies Racing said two rides will be held under the banner of the Festival starting with a 160-km ride later this month. “The first ride is a CEI-O three-star Nation Cup ride which will be over a championship distance of 160-kms in Compiegne, France. There will be participants from all over the world including from the UAE and this race will take place on May 24 with pre inspection on May 23. The prize distribution ceremony will be on May 25″ she said.
“The second ride that the Festival will be involved in is the 2013 FEI World Endurance Championship for Juniors and Young Riders which will take place on July 27, 2013 in Tarbes, France. Riders and teams from 44 countries will be in the fray in the 120 km event,” Ms Sawaya said.
“The aim of the endurance rides is to further promote the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Festival globally. There will be the logos of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and others as well as a new logo under directives of HH Sheikh Mansoor and it will be called Al Wathba Centre. It is the new logo being introduced to the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival,” she added.
The events will be streamlined live on the net and Abu Dhabi Sports Channel will transmit live the main features of the two rides.
Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club who also addressed the press conference said, “The Emirates International Endurance Village will sponsor the top five finishers of the 160 km FEI CEIO 3-star event to compete in the HH the President’s Endurance Cup in 2014 in Abu Dhabi.”
Talal Al Hashmi of Abu Dhabi Sports Council said, “We at ADSC are always keen to support all sporting events that help revive the UAE traditions and also put Abu Dhabi on the international sporting map. We are glad to be supporting the two endurance rides as part of the ADSC initiatives.”
The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is organized by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and co-ordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare and Fegentri with Emirates airlines as the official carrier and sponsored by Invest AD Arabtec Holding PJSC, Al Rashid Investment, Areej Al Ameerat, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2013, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Wathba Stud Farm , Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Hotel and SPA and Jannah Hotel and Resort.
~end press release