Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, won the H.H. The President of the United Arab Emirates Cup endurance ride on February 16, 2008. The ride which was held at the emirates International Endurance Village, Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, was participated by 87 riders and as many as 22 riders completed the distance.

Riding 12-year-old grey gelding Kaysand Farrazah, Sheikh Hamdan completed the 160-km ride in 6 hours, 52 minutes and 29 seconds riding on an average speed of 23.27 kmph. Kaysand Farrazah was also adjudged 'Best Conditioned Horse'. Sheikh Hamdan got a special cash prize for this apart from winning the keys to a 4WD car for his triumph

The race was attended by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs.

The Dh1.5 million ride, was sponsored by Hydra Properties and Emirates NBD.

Mohammad Ahmad Ali Al Subose from Al Asafa Ltd finished second riding 10-year-old chestnut gelding Kevin de Narthoux in a timing of six hours, 52 minutes 30 seconds maintaining an average speed of 23.27 kmph. Third place went to Mohammad Rashed Saeed Khamis Al Subosi who partnered 14-year-old grey gelding Genio II owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. He clocked six hours, 57 minutes and 24 seconds.

The prestigious President's Cup featured several popular national and international riders and was run in six loops of 34 km, 32 km, 30 km, 24 km, 24 km and 16 km respectively.

Unfortunately, top contenders for the prize Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sheikh Majid bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum Sheikh Hazza bin Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Omair Hussain Al Beloushi, Yousef Ahmed Al Bloushi, Ali Mohammad Al Muhairi had to make an exit at various levels due to several reasons.

After the triumph, Sheikh Hamdan, stating to the media that it was one of his most prestigious triumphs, added that he was dedicating this win to His Highness Sheikh Mohammad, Sheikh Mansour and Sheikha Fatma bint Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Other winners include Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Juma Al Maktoum, Ahmed Salim Al Bloushi, Majed Mohd. Salman Al Sabri, Yousif Abdullah Al Hammadi, Pio Juan Miguel Olascoaga, Ali Ghanim Al Marri, Thani Mohd Al Muhairi, Meg Wade, Abdullah Essa Mohd. Al Buziri, Khalid Ali Al Shafar, Hashim Moosa Mohd Ali Al Balooshi, Virginie Atger, Bhanwar Singh Khiv Singh Rathore, Liviana Maur, Marilyn Lemoine, Joao Raposo, Filipe Cacheirinha, (His Majesty) Tusnku Mizan Zainal Abidin, (King of Malaysia) and Ghanim Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem.

Prizes were given away by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the presence of Dr. Sulayem Al Fahim, CEO Of Hydra Properties.

As many as 13 people with special needs braved their way into the desert to take part in long-distance endurance ride at the Emirates International Endurance Village on Thursday, February 14, 2008.

The ride, held for the first time ever in the region, was held under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs and was organised by the Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care, Special Needs and Minors' Affairs. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed is also the Chairman of the Emirates International Endurance Village.

Fifteen-year-old Waleed Hassan Al Hammadi won the first place riding Sharqi. He became the first person to win the endurance ride for persons with special needs. Matar Al Rumaithy came second on Silverstar while Sultan Al Khaily on Hattaf finished third.

Sara Al Qubaisi was the only girl and finished the distance with aplomb riding Bosh. Sheikh Mansour accompanied her on the final furlong, amid cheers from the participants and the onlookers.

Sheikh Mansour later told newspersons that he was touched by the display of the riders as they proved that anything is possible, if there is a will. While distributing the prizes, Sheikh Mansour said that this ride was only the beginning and he plans to make it an international event.

The UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation in cooperation with the Emirates International Endurance Village will be hosting the HH The President of United Arab Emirates Cup endurance ride on Saturday, February 16, 2008.

The 160-km FEI CEI three-star ride will be held at the Emirates International Endurance Village, Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, and is being sponsored by Hydra Properties and Emirates National Bank of Dubai, with prize money of over Dh 1.5 million.

The ride will be run in six loops of 34 km, 32 km, 30 km, 24 km, 24 km and 16 km respectively and is likely to start at 6.am.

Over 120 enthusiastic endurance riders, including Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince, Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sheikh Majid bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Nahyan, have confirmed their participation.

Apart from Sheikh Hamdan and Sheikh Majid, other UAE riders include Sheikh Abdullah bin Faisal Al Qassimi, Sheikha Madiya Hasher Mana Al Maktoum, Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Juma Al Maktoum, Sheikh Juma Dalmook Juma Al Maktoum, Sheikh Abdullah bin Faisal Al Qassimi, Sultan bin Sulayem, Hassan bin Ali, Ali Mohammad Al Muhairi, Rashed Salem bin Ghadayer, Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri, Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi, Omair Hussain Abdullah Al Beloushi, Abdullah Khamis Ali Saeed, Abdullah Thani bin Huzaim, and many other top riders.

Some of the non-UAE riders include His Majesty Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, the King of Malaysia. John Crandell, Katherine Brunjes, Stephen Rojek, Meg Wade, Jaume Punti Dachs, Maria Alvarez Ponton, Virginia Atger, Philippe Benoit, Marlyn Lemoine, Alison Jane Buckley and Brenda Cooke among several others.

A press conference was held at he Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club addressed by Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, on February 13, 2008, who stated that the apart from the prize money on offer, the winner will also receive a car.

Dr. Sulaiman Al Fahim, CEO of Hydra Properties, sponsors of the most prestigious ride in the UAE endurance calendar added that Hydra Properties has been in the forefront in sponsoring several community events including sport, but this support for The His Highness The President of the United Arab Emirates Cup "is a moment of great pride ."

Ali Mohammad Ali, Regional Manager, Abu Dhabi, Emirates NBD, also one of the sponsors said it was an honour to be part of the event.

A Show Jumping Championships will be held at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club in Abu Dhabi on February 14 and 15, 2008, under the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and in cooperation with the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation. A total prize money of Dh 120,400 has been earmarked for the occasion and the event will be held at the grass arena of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, which is organizing the event.

The Championships comprise seven categories from Class 1 to Class 7. Class 1 for A and B riders, and Class 2 for D riders and Class 3 for C1 riders will he held on February 14 and will begin at 4.30 pm. An amount of Dh 15,050 will be given away to the winners.

Friday morning will feature competitions for Class 4, 5 and afternoon will have competitions for Class 6 and 7. The morning show will begin at 8.30 am and the afternoon show will begin at 4.30 pm.

As many as 120 show jumpers from all over the country will be vying for honours in the Championship. Some of them include Sheikha Latifa Al Maktoum, Sheikh Shakboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, Mohammed Al Kumaiti, Ahmed Amin, Hamad Al Kirbi, Mohammed Rashid Al Suwaidi, Mohammed Abdullah Al Marri, Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi, Saif Omar Thabet, Rashed Al Rumaithi, Abdul Rahman Al Habsi, Rashid Ahmed Al Hosani, Abdullah Al Shuabi, Arif Ahmed and others.

The officials for the Championship include Khalil Ibrahim, Jury President, Hassan Mousa and Ms. Christine Gruber, Judges, Saad Al Junaibi, National Federation Steward and Kamal Ziri, Course Designer.

Prizes are as follows:

Hamdan Mousa Mohammad Al Hammadi won the His Highness The President of the United Arab Emirates Cup for Junior and Young Riders at the Boud Theib Endurance Village in Al Khatem on Saturday, February 9, 2008.

He was riding 11-year-old grey mare Nadja Lotoise, owned by UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to clinch the coveted ride and finished the distance in four hours, 48 minutes and 15 seconds.

The ride which was sponsored by Hydra Properties was flagged off in the early morning at 6.30 am with 44 riders. The 120-km FEI.CEIJY three-star was run in five phases of 30 km, 30km, 24 km, 20 km and 16 km respectively.

Second place went to Rashed Ajmad Al Bloushi from Al Reef Stables. He was riding nine-year-old chestnut gelding Waterlea Tuppence. Khalifa Ganem Al Merri clinched the third place riding 15-year-old grey gelding Little Joe Fox owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

"I am very happy to win this prize as this is my first ever win and I have been taking part in competitions for over seven years now. Finally to win in the President's Cup is a great victory and I am very happy," Al Hammadi told the gathered media after his stupendous victory.

Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, CEO of Hydra Properties Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim, Emirates Heritage Club's Mohammad Saif Al Neyadi and Tasweeq Managing Director Lara Sawaya were present during the prize distribution ceremony.

The 160-km The President's Cup will be held on Saturday February 16, 2008, at the Emirates International endurance Village, Al Wathba.

Sue Sidebottom (Great Britain) won the Round II of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Challenge endurance cup held on Friday, February 8, 2008, at the Al Asayel Endurance Village, Sweihan, Abu Dhabi. Sue had finished in the fifth place in Round I.

The 100-km ride for lady riders, which was sponsored by Sorouh, featured 34 riders and 16 ladies successfully completed the ride.

Sue Sidebottom was astride 11-year-old chestnut Anglo-Arab Fenwick Cadenza, owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry. Sue clocked three hours, 49 minutes and 13 seconds riding on an average speed of 26.18 kmph.

Second place went to Reem Shaban Ibrahim Hasan (UAE national) who was riding Rivendel Shaman, 14-year-old chestnut gelding from Al Reef Stables. Her timing was three hours, 49 minutes and 23 seconds with an average speed of 26.16 kmph. Third place went to Kayleigh Smith who was riding Stanpark Trooper, 14-year-old bay gelding, owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum. She covered the distance in three hours, 49 minutes and 52 seconds riding on average speed of 26.10 kmph.

Afra Khalifa Al Suwaidi, who won first place in Round I, finished in the fourth place in this Round II riding 10-year-old bay gelding Al Galahn from Al Reef Stables. Her timing was three hours, 50 minutes and four seconds and the average speed recorded was 26.08 kmph. Shamsah Awad Al Otaiba was fifth riding Yaraandoo Jakara Silver, nine-year-old grey gelding owned by His Excellency Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa al Nahyan. Her timing was three hours, fifty minutes and 30 seconds with tan average speed of 26.02 kmph.

Sheikha Hissa bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan on Sabee finished sixth on seven-year-old grey stallion Sabee owned by His Highness President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Her timing was four hours, three minutes and 51 seconds and average speed recorded was 24.61 kmph.

Other finishers include Martha Mary Misheff, Sheikha Asma Taleb Al Qassimi, Sheikha Najla bint Salman Al Khalifa, Allison Jane Buckley, Margaret Wade, Bonnie Petley Saba, Silvia Valenti Vidal, Humyan bint Khalid Al Meraikhi, Sheikha Maryam bint Omer Al Qassimi and Karine Nelly Peron.

Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikha Fatma bint Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Khalifa bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan were present during the prize distribution ceremony.