Malaysia to start SEA Eventing League
Monday, April 4th, 2005
By Natasha Mustapha, Eventing Convenor of the Equestrian Association of Malaysia
Eventing is part of next year’s Asian Games. There is also a great possibility that the SEA Games will be returning to Thailand in 2007, and that means a likely return of eventing to the SEA Games. In preparation for these prestigious games, we looked at the possibilities of preparing a team both locally, and calling on the talents of such international riders as Husref Malek.
Husref has already pledged his support and will come home periodically to conduct clinics and to help riders here, while continuing to compete and train in Australia.
To do well, we need to have both training and competitions. We need to build up a base of eventing riders in Malaysia, no matter what the levels. We have to start from somewhere. So for the first time, we are to have an eventing season in Malaysia. Equestrian Association of Malaysia’s Eventing Committee and two of Malaysia’s turf clubs, the Selangor Turf Club and the Perak Turf Club, will be working together to hold a series of events that will be used to form a league. The Turf Clubs already have existing cross-country tracks in that have been developed in the last few years. The jumps and tracks will be spruced up. Both clubs have given their full support to get these leagues off the ground.
There will be South East Asian (SEA) Eventing League and the Malaysian Pony Club Eventing League. The first round will be at the Selangor Turf Club Equestrian Centre on 29th April to 1st May 2005.
There will be several categories, besides the Pony Club, there will be a Young Riders category and a Seniors category. Each will have a preliminary and a novice level. The preliminary level will be aimed at introducing horses and riders to eventing, while the novice level will aim to prepare riders for national representation. Standards will be kept easy to start with so that we can get eventing going as a sport. Most horses now jumping in the lower grades of showjumping should be able to handle the requirements of these courses.
How the League works:
This year the league will consist of two rounds and the finals. Points will be awarded from competing in all the rounds including the finals where our Malaysian Eventing Champions for the various categories for 2005 will be announced. There are plans to increase the number of rounds next year to give riders more chance to compete to gain points.
This league is open not only to Malaysians and Permanent Residents but also to any riders who are based in Malaysia. They may enter this league through their club affiliation or by their Pony Club membership.
The aim of the SEA Eventing League is to create an eventing culture. Malaysia can become a driving force in this region. Invites will go out to all other SEA countries to come and participate on their own horses. Riders and horses will also get a chance to further improve their riding skills as EAM will be holding clinics prior to each competition.
The league calendar is as follows:
|
DATE |
EVENT |
VENUE |
|
April 29 – May 1 |
SEA Eventing League #1
Malaysian Pony Club Eventing League #1 |
Selangor Turf Club Equestrian Centre (STCEC) |
|
July 16 & 17 |
SEA Eventing League #2
Malaysian Pony Club Eventing League #2 |
Perak Turf Club Equestrian Centre (PTCEC) |
|
Sept 15 – 18
*National Horse Show |
SEA Eventing League Final
Malaysian Pony Club Eventing League Final |
Selangor Turf Club Equestrian Centre (STCEC) |
For those interested in representing the country, please note that this league will also be used as qualifiers for Doha Asian Games 2006 and SEA Games 2007 in Thailand.
Happy Eventing everyone!
