UAE Teams to Donate All Prize Money Won at H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum UK Endurance Festival
18 August 2018, Suffolik, UK ~ It has been announced that competitors representing the UAE at this weekend’s H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum UK Endurance Festival will not be claiming any prize money that they may win at the Festival. Instead, the money will be donated to increase the expenses and travel allowances of non UAE riders competing at Euston Park over the course of the weekend.
The UAE has 58 riders entered across the weekend, which is set to be the largest Endurance event in Europe this year, with prize money and allowances to cover expenses and travel costs which total £1million. The Festival is the culmination of four Euston Park rides over the summer of 2018, which have attracted a record number of riders.
Speaking on behalf of all UAE riders, Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, competing in Saturday’s CEI3*said: “The UAE riders have had such strong past seasons at Euston Park and as we look forward to the World Equestrian Games in Tryon we wanted to come together and show our appreciation for the outstanding opportunities we have had in Great Britain.
“Endurance is a wide and diverse family. We are honoured to be part of it and very much want to give something back to it.”
Euston Park Endurance Event Director, Nick Brooks-Ward, said: “This is an incredibly generous gesture from the UAE riders, who have a reputation for performing very well at Euston Park.”
Organisers will confirm the breakdown of benefits, when the final UAE prize money figure is known.
Horse and Hound notes: {On 7 August organisers announced that the major CEI3* 160km class had switched from Friday to Saturday, causing problems for those expecting to ride both days, while the CEI2* 120km class had been cancelled. Many are now trying to rearrange travel and accommodation for themselves and their crews, while others hoping to switch to another class are racing to obtain £200 FEI horses passports – a process which normally takes three weeks.}
The H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum UK Endurance Festival organisers are grateful to event sponsors Emirates Airline, Longines, Azizi Developments, Mubadala and Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City – District One for their support.
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