April 25, 2014, Fronteira, Portugal ~ All arrangements are well in place for the kickoff of the Portuguese National Endurance Championships with international riders vying for honors in the seniors and juniors categories at the border riding centre in Fronteira, Portugal, over the weekend of April 26 and 27.
The race over 120 km scheduled for Sunday involves four European countries (Portugal, France, Italy and Slovakia), and is sponsored by HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Flat Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival. The Endurance venue will also be a showplace for regional products, handicrafts, and performances of falconry and horse animation.
FEI Endurance Director Ian Williams commented: “With an exciting combination of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Festival Endurance Cup and the Portuguese National Championships, this weekend looks to be a great event in Fronteira. With the recent initiatives taken by HH Sheikh Mansoor to put the horse welfare and clean sport at the very top of the agenda, we are confident that the competitions will provide a spectacle of great horsemanship and fair play.”
Lara Sawaya, director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and chairman of the Ladies Racing Committee (FAHR) said:
“Under the directives of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, seven UAE girls will display their talents and skills in what is no-doubt going to be a grueling race in Portugal. UAE lady riders competing are Aya Abdel Redha, Afra Al Souweidi, Ayesha Al Romaithy, Alia Al Khafaji, Shathra Al Hajjaj, Reem Shaaban, and Mayssa Al Braiki.
In the next edition, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance CEIO Cup in Verona, Italy. on July 25th, the leading world’s women riders will also be in competition,” Sawaya concluded.
Dates of the Festival’s Endurance Agenda:
May 23, Compiegne, France, Nations Cup HH Sheikh Mansour Endurance Festival; July 11, European Championship for Young Riders, Ladies Championship,Verona, Italy; July 24-27, Garda, Italy,120km ** Open Endurance Cup and Championship; June 1, Kings Forest, Thetford, UK 100km; September 27, Championship for 7 Yr Old Endurance Horses, Slovakia, 2014.”
Sawaya once again thanked HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak for her great backing and encouragement for the women of the UAE and the world at large.
The current edition of the two-day Portuguese event is organized under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan as part of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival which integrates the two major equine sports, flat and endurance races, under the same umbrella.
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 coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with Arabtec Holding PJSC as the Official Partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, Tourism Development& amp; Investment Company (TDIC), Al Rashid Investment, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE General Women Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2014, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Abu Dhabi Sports Channel and Racing Post.
Fronteira Race Schedule:
Saturday 26 April: CEI *** 160km, CEP 80km – Sunday 27 April: CEI ** 120km; CEIYJ** 120km; CEN 120km; CEI*80km; CEN 80km
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