Sheikh Mohammed Endurance Cup on Saturday
Published Thursday, January 17, 2013
Some of the greatest endurance riders in the world will descend on Dubai on Saturday, January 19 for the sixth annual HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup CEI*** presented by Longines.
The world renowned highlight of the Dubai endurance season will see competitors compete over a 160km course at the purpose-built Dubai International Endurance City course.
Last year the ride, which is organised and hosted by Dubai Equestrian Club (DEC), was won by 17-year-old prodigy, Abdulla Ghanim Al Marri, who claimed a 27-second victory over Bahrain's Ahmed Abdulla Al Hazza.
That triumph handed Al Marri the record as the youngest winner of the event in its five renewals.
Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, Deputy General Manager of DEC, said: "Last season we were treated to one of the most thrilling finishes in the history of the HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup and we fully expect the race to produce the same levels of excitement this term.
"We would like to extend our special appreciation to our presenting sponsor, Longines – a distinguished brand that has long been a major supporter of equestrian sports in Dubai.
"Thanks to the success of our Ruler, HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who was crowned the 2012 World Endurance Champion, the UAE has risen to the very pinnacle of international endurance riding. Despite this we still look to further raise the profile of the sport in the UAE.
"This race, when taken alongside our season-long programme of contests, serves to continue to assist in the development of a strong grass roots movement as well as the expansion of our elite programme both at home and abroad."
Juan-Carlos Capelli, Vice President & Head of International Marketing of Longines said: "We are proud to be the major partner of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup in the framework of our long-term commitment with Meydan. Longines will be delighted to award the winner of the Cup with a timepiece that perfectly represents our watchmaking tradition, namely The Longines Master Collection Retrograde Gold."
Endurance riding requires the rider and horse to work in perfect harmony as a team. They must manage pace to complete extreme distances in the fastest time while passing stringent veterinary examinations that ensure the horse is not under fatigue and stress. The event will be divided into five stages.
After the completion of each stage, the horses are rested and refreshed and undergo a veterinary exam to determine if they meet the physical standards to continue to the next stage.
The horse that finishes first, as well as all finishers, must successfully complete a post-race veterinary exam to determine they did not fail to meet the physical standards set forth by the sport.
It is only after the final veterinary exam that the official order of finish is determined and announced.