July 25, 2013, Tarbes, France ~ Opening Ceremonies for the CEI 120km 2013 World Endurance Championship for Junior & Young Riders was held Thursday, July 25, at the Haras de Tarbes – the Tarbes Stud in the centre of the City of Tarbes in southwest France.
In the pomp and circumstance of the Ceremony, over 100 riders were presented by country in alphabetical order with their Chef d’Equipe.
At the end of the 27 country parade, the Honored duo were Cécile Miletto and her Champion horse, Dynamik, now aged 23. This is the horse on which she won two French Championships as partner (1999 & 2001), and came in second in the 2000 World Endurance Championship at Compiegne. Dynamik was later sold to HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum where he competed successfully until 2006. In 2007, HH Sheikh Mohammed returned Dynamik to a grateful Cécile, and now he is ridden by her eight year old daughter, Carla in his retirement.
An equestrian presentation followed the ceremony by Yvonne Lavagne and Champion dressage stallion, Madnour.
Down the road, the Endurance Village at Ibos is in the last stages of preparation for the Saturday competition, while tents are blossoming with shops, hospitality areas and eating sites. All will be ready for the afternoon Pre-Ride Veterinary inspection of Friday, July 26.
The riders depart at 7 am on July 27 for the first of four loops, all coming back into the Endurance Village for vet checks before continuing.
The event will be filmed live for Abu Dhabi TV with video streaming on http://www.sheikhmansoorfestival.com/
The Main Sponsor for the event, the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, will bring you daily updates and news.
This is the seventh Junior & Young Rider World Endurance Championship. Martin Stirling from Uruguay took individual and led the Team to Gold in the 2011 FEI World Endurance Championship for Juniors and Young Riders in Abu Dhabi. In 2009, the UAE’s Hussain Ali Al Marzouqi won Gold on his horse, Sergai in Hungary.
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. Sponsors include the Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), 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 Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah.
Photo credit: Pamela Burton, Morhaf, Gilly Wheeler
~end