Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai won the first place in the in the 120-km FEI CEI three-star Qatar International Endurance Cup held in Doha, Qatar yesterday. He was riding Kishon Zeal maintaining an average speed of 23.41 kmph.

Sheikh Hamdan was followed home by Salem Rashed bin Ghadayer on Wadhnan while the UAE's Ali Ghanim Al Marri was third on Cutie.

Mohammad Ahmad Ali Al Subose won the 120-km Abu Dhabi International Cup held at the Bou Theib Endurance Village in Al Khatem, Abu Dhabi, on Saturday, March 1, 2008.

Al Subose though finished third in the ride, the top two riders were eliminated after their horses failed the final veterinary check.

Al Subose was riding 10-year-old Part Arab gelding Zephyr and completed the distance inn 5 hours, 30 minutes and 49 seconds. Ahmad Salem Ali Sultan Al Subose finished second on Wyman. Both the riders are from Dubai-based Emirates Stables.

Matar Ghanem Al Mansoori took third place riding Silver Mistral and clocked 5 hours, 5 seconds and 35 minutes.

Mohammad Saif Al Neyadi, General Manager of Emirates Heritage Club, gave out the trophies.

The Round III of the His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa al Nahyan Endurance Challenge for Ladies will be staged on Friday, March 7, 2008. A car worth Dh 150,000 will be given away for the winner with highest points. Sue Sidebottom and Afra Khalifa Al Suwaidi are the top contenders to climb the winner's podium. They have already earned 180 and 200 points respectively.

The Challenge, sponsored by Hydra Properties, will start off at 6.30 am at the Al Asayel Endurance Village and over 30 riders are expected to participate in the competition. The 100-km ride will be run in four phases of 30 km, 30 km, 24 km and 16 km respectively.

Salem Al Ketbi, President of the Al Asayel Endurance Village, stated that the ride has proved very successful and expected a thrilling finish on the day.

Dr. Sulaiman Al Fahim, CEO of Hydra Properties, said it was a proud moment for their company to be associated with the ladies ride with so many riders from different parts of the world taking part.

Ms. Lara Sawaya, Tasweeq Managing Director, said that there were chances for any one of the top seven riders to win the overall title because of the impressive point system.

More than 100 riders are expected to take part in the FEI CEI, three-star 120-km The Emirates Challenge, scheduled to be held at the Emirates International endurance Village, Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, on Saturday, March 8, 2008.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, is likely to ride 12-year-old chestnut gelding Garaman Mikado.

The ride, which will be run in five phases of 32 km, 30 km, 24 km, 18 km and 16 km, is expected to be flagged off at 6 am.

Some of the other contenders for the challenge include Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Juma Al Maktoum, Sheikh Juma Dalmook Juma Al Maktoum, Sheikh Abdullah bin Faisal Al Qassimi, Sheikh Saqr bin Faisal Al Qassimi, Yousef Ahmed Al Bloushi, Salem Rashed bin Ghadeyar, Maria Alvarez Ponton , Mohd Ahmad Ali Al Subose, Ahmed Salem Ali Sultan Al Subosi and several others leading riders.