Course for FEI judges Held in Abu Dhabi
Seminar on endurance to mark HH The President of the UAE Endurance Cup

A highly educative and interactive seminar on endurance riding was organized in the Capital on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 by The UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation in association with the Emirates Intentional Endurance Village and Federation Equestre Internationale, FEI. The seminar was also a part of the FEI recognized Judge Course for Candidate. The seminar-cum-course attracted over 40 participants belonging to different disciplines and nationalities, including UAE, America, France, India, Qatar, Iraq, UK, Sudan, Egypt, and Sweden.

The event, held at the Sheraton Hotel, was being organized on the occasion of the His Highness The President of the United Arab Emirates Endurance Cup, which was being held at the Emirates International Endurance Village, Al Wathba, on Thursday, February 17, 2005.

The seminar discussed at length the requirements to be an FEI International Candidate Judge. Mr. Ian Williams, FEI Endurance Judge and Director, Endurance at the FEI, spoke about endurance as a sport and the rules and regulations concerning the sport. While giving details about the origin of the FEI to the organization of endurance riding, he also mentioned that the FEI has made some changes to the rules and regulations for endurance. The amendments to the Endurance Rules will come into effect from January 2006 and they mainly deal with qualification process for major championships.

Mr. Ian William

Dr. Jim Bryant

Dr. James Bryant, Head of the Veterinary Department, UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, dealt with the veterinary aspects of the endurance riding. Both the FEI experts touched on various aspects and job profile of members of the Ground Jury, Organising Committee, Veterinary Commission, stewards and various other officials involved in the conduct of the ride. The experts brought to the attention of the participants, through imaginary situations, various finer points which officials should be aware of during competitions.

All the participants later took part in the course, which was again followed by a detailed discussion.

Commenting on the good response to the course, Hussein Mohammed Hussein, Secretary General, UAE Equestrian Federation, said: "The participation reflects the growth of endurance sport in the region particularly in the UAE. The UAE has always played a lead role promoting endurance riding and the success of this seminar and judges' course further confirms this aspect. With the number of rides increasing and more and more countries organizing endurance rides, it is very important that the quality of officials is of high standard. Such seminars and courses will help in this direction."

Those who successfully complete the course will be eligible to officiate of candidate judges for a period of two years. Based on their performance and after they officiate as candidate judges in a minimum number of rides, these officials can seek to upgrade themselves to international judges.

A judge is a member of the Ground Jury appointed to control an equestrian competition or event. There are three categories of judges: official International Judges, International Judges and International Candidate Judges. The FEI maintains a list of all International Candidate Judges who have been nominated by their respective National Federations and accepted by the relevant Technical Committee. It also maintains a list of International Judges appointed by the relevant Technical Committee after consultation with the National Federations.

HH The President of the UAE Endurance Cup
Sheikh Sultan welcomes participants

His ExcellencyDr. Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court and Chairman of the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, has expressed his satisfaction over the participation of several prominent national and international endurance riders at the His Highness The President of the United Arab Emirates Endurance Cup which is being held at the Emirates International Endurance Village, Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, tomorrow (Thursday, February 17, 2005).

Over 120 riders have confirmed their participation for the CEI, Three-star, 160-km ride, which is being held under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Over 50 riders are also expected to ride in the 80-km The HH President of the United Arab Emirates Endurance Cup for Children and Juniors up to 16 years which is being held at the same venue on Friday (February 18, 2005).

Dr. Sheikh Sultan said that the Cup has a special place among all the competitions held in the UAE, as its name is associated with the President of the country. "The ride is already a success even before it began considering the number of world-wide prominent riders it has attracted."

He added that the UAE President's Cup has been a huge success ever since it was inaugurated in the year 2000. Because of its significance in the annual endurance calendar, the national and international trainers, stables and riders eagerly await to participate in the ride, which they consider a very prestigious issue, he said.

Dr. Sheikh Sultan also stated that it is very significant to note that many riders of international caliber, who took part in the World Endurance Championship, held on January 27, 2005, at Dubai Endurance City, Seih Assalem, Dubai, will be riding at the HH The President's Cup in Abu Dhabi. "This only goes to prove the importance of the championship in the region," he said.

While praising all the people involved in making the endurance riding a huge success in the country, Dr. Sheikh Sultan particularly referred to the high level of organization witnessed in the country. He also praised the highly qualified personnel who were responsible for developing and promoting endurance as a sport that has achieved international status.

Dr. Sheikh Sultan particularly thanked the electronic and print media for their close cooperation and excellent coverage "without which the sport would not have reached such a big scale."

Winners of photography Competition announced
Prize distribution on Thursday

Four winners have been selected for the National Day Endurance Photography Competition for amateur and professional photographers organised under the directives of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister for Presidential Affairs. The National Day Cup was held on January 13, 2005, at the Dubai Endurance City, Seih Assalem, Dubai.

Ms. Hanan Abdullah Al Mualla, UAE national and student at the Dubai Higher Colleges of Technology, won the first prize of Dh 20,000 in the amateur category and Mr. Rashid Adbul Al Rasool Al Baloushi, UAE national, won the second place in the same category and will receive Dh 15,000.

In the professional category Mr. B.K. Majid from Al Adiyat magazine, Dubai, got the first prize of Dh 20,000 and Mr. Kamal Ahmed of Al Khaleej, Sharjah, won the second place and gets Dh 15,000. As many as 17 photographers from different parts of the world took part in the competition.

The three-member panel which selected the winners included Ghasim Al Hammadi, Professional Press Photographer and President of the Arab Photographers' Union, Ahmed Al Khwaja, well-known artist and advisor at the Emirates Heritage Centre and Abdul Kadir Al Saadi, artist and designer and Deputy Head, Media department of the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation.

Prizes will be distributed to the winners at the closing ceremony of the His Highness President of the UAE Endurance Championship, which will be held on Thursday, February 17, 2005, at the Emirates International Endurance Village, Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi.