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September 2007 • VOLUME 25 • © HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine FEI Endurance
13/09/2007 - Barroca d’Alva, POR, Open European Endurance Championships
Barocca d’Alva is situated approximately 30 minutes from Portugal’s capital city Lisbon and lies within reach of the Tejo river estuary. The area is a renowned equine hub organising various equestrian competitions throughout the year. Whilst Portugal had previously hosted the European Young Rider Eventing Championships in 2004 it was the first time the country had organised an Endurance event of this level.
The FEI European Endurance Championship Open Qatar Challenge opened on Thursday 6th September with a ceremony and parade for all riders. Each country was led in by their own traditional Portuguese rider on either an Andalusian or Lusitano horse, with the country’s flag held aloft.
Vetting was the following day which passed without drama. All horses passed which meant within the competition 20 nations would be represented within the open category. 88 riders in total, with 15 countries heading a full team of three or four riders.
Several nations were slightly apprehensive about the track, which although was flat with generally good going was demanding and would require a‘thinking cap’ to achieve a good result. Lately, within in endurance the trend has been to have one central vet gate from which all loops start and finish. The Championship this year was different, whilst the start and finish were in the same place; all other vet gates were held at a different venue.
The start was in Companhia Das Lezírias, an area with a diverse land use ranging from forestry, to vineyards to agricultural use, located further north than Barocca d’Alva. The race began at 6.30 on the Saturday morning.The first leg of the race was 34.5km long and took competitors south a long farm and woodland tracks. Loop two was shorter, only 21.75km and took competitors further south again for 10km before bringing them back up to their second vet gate at Barroca d’Alva.
The UAE were looking strong at VG2, 1st through to 5th represented by the UAE Flag. HE Sh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (UAE) was in first place riding Kaysand Farrazah. This talented grey gelding had accompanied HE Sh Hamdan’s younger brother HE Sh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (UAE) to second place in the President’s Cup in Abu Dhabi in February this year. The horse once again looked on fine form completing the first two loops at an average of 19.5kph.
Following the third loop (27.5km) of yet more sandy/stony farm tracks the speed had dropped to just over 19kph. First place had now gone to Sultan binSulayem (UAE) with Nashmi, although the UAE were still holding places 1st to5th with only 1 minute between all 5 riders. They had now developed a lead of some 14 minutes over their closest rivals, Maria Alverez Ponton (ESP),Jaume Punti Dachs (ESP) and Kristel van den Abeele (BEL).
Many countries were still doing well and were all in contention for a team medal. At this point 87% of the starters were still in the race, with virtually all eliminations for lameness. Whilst the track looked sandy and forgiving, many stones were hidden and were starting to take their toll on the horses.
The fourth loop was a repeat of the second, and saw virtually no change inthe front runners. However, 13 horses were eliminated here as the track and the heat started to impact on the runners. The UAE continued to dominate,holding 1st to 5th. The speed was also remaining constant at just over19kph. Whilst the front running speed was fast, the first 46 horses were still within one hour of the leading horse, Zakah Zahara ridden by Mubarak Khalifa bin Shafya (UAE).
Vet Gate 5 saw a dramatic change to both team and individual standings. With only 27km to go team medal hopes were shattered for 5 nations when more thanone team member was eliminated from their team. Belgium and USA lost 3riders each, Germany, Italy, Qatar, and Portugal all lost 2 riders, France,the UAE and Luxembourg one rider.
First to leave the final vet gate was Sultan bin Sulayem (UAE) with the powerful bay gelding Nashmi. He was closely followed by HE Sh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (UAE), HE Sh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (UAE) and Mubarak Khalifa bin Shafya (UAE). Fifth to leave was Jaume Punti Dachs from Spain, with French rider Jean Phillippe Frances close behind.
The fight was now on between France, Bahrain and the UAE for Team Gold. All3 teams had 3 team riders leaving the final vet gate in the top 16. The Battle for the open medals was being strongly contested by Spain, Great Britain and Switzerland.
The final leg of the race headed north from Barocca d’Alva, up through the forests and vineyards to the original venue of Companhia Das Lezírias.Spectators waited anxiously to see who would be the first to appear. Yet more bad luck hit the UAE when HE Sh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s (UAE)horse fell not far from the finish line. But their bad luck still wasn’t over. Sultan bin Salayem (UAE) crossed the line in first place but was utterly devastated when Nashmi’s heart rate failed to drop in time for the final vetting. Sultan bin Sulayem, who has been a consistent finisher in Endurance, has had four successful CEI3* finishes already this year.
So, although second to cross the line Mubarak Khalifa bin Shafya won Goldfor the UAE in the Open Title, riding 11 year old grey gelding Zakah Zahara.This is the second win over 160km for this pair, having previously taken 1stplace at Euston Park (GBR) earlier this year. Zakah Zahara has had a very successful endurance career so far, 5 wins over the past three years, three of which have been this year. Normally based in the UAE the gelding made his first trip to Europe this year and appears to be enjoying the new challenges of a different terrain.
A racing finish for Open Silver and European Gold saw Jean Phillipe Francis(FRA) pip Spanish rider Jaume Punti Dachs to the post by a few seconds.Francis and his mount Hanaba du Bois had finished second at Barroca d’Alvalast year at the trial ride, but this year the Grey mare stepped up her game. The speed increased from 17.45kph last year to just over 19kph thisyear, and of course took that big step up from second to first position.
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