HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival to stage three endurance rides in Italy
11 September 2015, Abu Dhabi, UAE ~ The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival will be staging important endurance rides including the FEI World Endurance Championship for Young Horses and the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance CEIO Cup for teams in Verona, Italy, on 26, 27 September 2015.
Details of the three rides and other international events to be staged by the Festival were announced at a press conference on the sidelines of the third day of the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) 2015.
Dr. Abdulla Elreyes, Director General of the National Archives, Diego Albiero representing the Italian Equestrian Federation, Miguel Pinero from the Portuguese Equestrian Federation, Gerard Aurel from the France Equestrian Federation, Ms Lara Sawaya, Chairperson of the IFHRA, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and Chairman of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities, Ahmad Al Qubaisi and Khalid Al Hammadi addressed the press conference.
“The endurance rides in Verona will be part of the Italian Endurance Festival comprising the FEI World Championship for Young Horses (7 years) on 26 September, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance CEIO and the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival Cup rides will be on 27 September,” said Ms Sawaya.
Sawaya also confirmed that the Festival in 2016 will join hands with the Endurance governing bodies in France and Portugal to stage the same events in Negrepelisse, France, in September, and during Portugals’ April National Championship ride.
The Festival Will Support the 2017 World Championship for Young Riders in Italy
Speaking for Endurance Italia, Diego Albiero said, “We are honored to be part of the Festival. These races are fundamental and crucial for the development of the sport and the promotion of tourism and business in Italy and the future of the young riders themselves.”
Albiero detailed that 102 entries have been received for the 2015 September Young Horse Championship. On 22 September there will be an international news conference to announce more details of the races.
Ms Sawaya also announced the Festival’s UAE team of riders for the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance CEIO Cup (for teams) naming Afra Al Suwaidi, Aisha Al Romaithi, Alia Khafaji, Shatra Hajjaj and Aryam. UAE riders Khalifa Al Jahouri, Ahmed Al Dahim, Suhail Al Junaibi, Rashid Al Junaibi and Mohammed Humaid Al Nyadi will represent the Festival in the men’s competition.”
Sawaya emphasized that the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival focuses on the family and Italy will provide entertainment and drawings for five lucky couples to visit Abu Dhabi to attend the finals of the Festival on 8 November. Also invited are the top five finishers in the FEI World Championship for Young Horses and the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Festival Endurance Cup and the first four teams in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance CEIO Cup.
“We would like to reiterate that all rules and regulations of the governing bodies will be adhered to in the races,” Ms Sawaya stated.
All events will be telecast live by Yas Sports TV, and streamed live on Festival’s web TV.