Abu Dhabi: The UAE endurance team launched their preparations for the FEI European Open with a solid performance in a 120-km ride which was held in Verona, Italy on Saturday.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, won the ride which was held on the sidelines of the fourth session of the UAE-Italian Joint Economic Committee.

It was Shaikh Mohammad's second victory aboard the 11-year-old grey mare Acadienne and highlighted a 1-2-3 sweep for the UAE. Shaikh Mohammad, Shaikh Rashid Bin Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum on 12-year-old Kangoo d'Aurabelle and Saif Ali Al Katbi on Nikos almost finished together with just a second separating the three riders.

Preparations

Shaikh Mohammad was timed at 6 hours 19 minutes and 02 seconds, while Shaikh Rashid clocked 6.19.03 hours and Al Katbi 6.19.04. Last year, Shaikh Mohammad rode Acadienne to win the 160-km ride at Euston Park, which was a prep ride for the World Championship where the UAE won the team gold.

Seventy endurance riders from various European countries contested Saturday's ride which is being used by teams to prepare for the 160-km European Open championship to be held in Florac, in the south of France from September 4 to 11. The UAE, who first won a gold medal in Spain back in 1999, are certain to start as the big favourites.

Lozère Endurance Equestre has specially designed a course for the championship which will test the horses' stamina, horsemanship of the rider, the ethics of endurance riding and above all the competitiveness of all participants.

Florac, which is considered one of the best areas in France for trout fishing with rivers such as the Lot, Tarn and Truyère particularly noted for their trout populations, had organised the first continental Championships in 1984.

Meanwhile, delegates from the UAE are attending the Australasian FEI Endurance Conference and Forum, which began in Brisbane, Australia yesterday.

Conference

Over 150 delegates representing nine nationalities are attending the event. Delegates from Australia, Canada, France, Great Britain, Malaysia, New Zealand, Thailand, the UAE and the USA are taking part in three days of lectures and discussion sessions across a wide range of topics relating to international Endurance.

This is the first time the world forum has been held outside Europe and guest speakers have travelled from Canada, America, the UAE, Malaysia and Switzerland, and from across Australia.

The members of the FEI Endurance Technical Committee who are in attendance will also meet during the Forum and attend the Australian Endurance Festival taking place this weekend featuring FEI competitions at 1*, 2* and 3* level.

"This conference and forum has given representatives from the regional nations a unique opportunity to meet together and exchange views with other nations from both within the region but also from much further afield," FEI Director of Non-Olympic Sports Ian Williams said.

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