17 August 2016, Brussels ~ A 160-km international endurance ride with some of the top riders in the world will kick-start the three-day HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival-supported Brussels Equestrian Endurance Masters (BEEM) on 18 August 2016.
Thursday’s 160-km Open International Endurance Ride in the ancient Sonian forest region is the main event of BEEM and is the result of a three-year pact between the Royal Belgian Federation of Equestrian Sports (FRBSE-KBRSF) and the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival. Thursday’s 160-km event is a three-star event and will be run in five stages of 40kms, 40kms,30kms, 30kms and 20 kms.
Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) said support to the endurance rides in Belgium was under instructions from HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
“This will be a great start to our partnership with Belgium in the field of Endurance sport. Next year the
HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance competition will be part of this event and in 2018 we are looking to bring the FEI World Championship for Young Horses (Under 7 years) here. We are confident that the spotlight will be on Belgium during this period,” Ms Sawaya added.
Pierre Arnould of FRBSE-KBRSF, one of the main organizers of the event said, “We are very thankful to HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for extending this support to endurance in our country.BEEM is being positioned as a major meeting for European and International Endurance for the next three years, offering three days of endurance competition under the patronage of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI).”
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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