The Edaran Endurance Classic 2008
Wednesday, June 11th, 2008
by Peter Ibrahim Abisheganaden. Photos by Natasha Mustapha.The 6th edition of the Edaran Endurance Classic was launched this morning with a press conference in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.
The Edaran Endurance Classic will be held from 26th to 29th June at the Terengganu International Endurance Park at Lembah Bidong, the site of November’s FEI World Endurance Championships.
"This year's ride is especially significant not only because it is one of the riders scheduled within the FEI-EAM-ISN endurance circuit in preparation ofr WEC 2008 but also because it is, in fact, being held very close the the championship and, at the venue of the championship," said Dato' Abdul Hamid Mustapha, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Edaran Endurance Classic 2008.
As a precursor and a Malaysian qualifier for the WEC, it gives Malaysian riders a taste of the WEC, and selectors a chance to assess what might be Malaysia’s best team.
This year’s Edaran Endurance Classic is especially significant as a chance for Malaysian riders chasing their Certificate of Competitiveness or CoC eligibility for November’s World Endurance Championships.
Malaysian riders are hoping for one of the four team and eight individual slots available to the host country.
Five Malaysians are already qualified for the World Endurance Championships. KDYMM Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, the 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia has already qualified two horses. Former World No 1 Datuk “Awang” Kamaruddin bin Abdul Ghani and Datuk Mohd Shu’aib Ishak both qualified horses in Uruguay. Two stable riders from the powerful Royal Terengganu Endurance Stables and Tengku Mahkota Kelantan Stables have both qualified. Abd Halim Alihan (RTES) and Rosdan b Mohd Nor (TMKN) are early qualifiers who have completed their full CoC eligibility.
About fifteen other Malaysians have completed the first part of the CoC, which comprises of two CEI 160 km finishes within 24 months on the same horse, the second of which must be within 12 months of the WEC.
Many will be participating in the Edaran Endurance Classic hoping to gain the second part of their CoC.
This is the sixth edition of the Edaran Endurance Classic. It was first started in 2003 at ar-Raudhah Equine Centre. It has since become one of the highlights of the Malaysian endurance scene. It moved to Terengganu last year in support of the World Endurance Championship preparations. This year the EEC is scheduled also as one of the rides in the FEI-EAM-ISN Malaysian Endurance Circuit.
His Majesty Seri Paduka Yang di-Pertuan Agong will be participating in the Edaran Endurance Classic as part of his preparations for the World Endurance Championships.
The CEI 3*160 km ride will be flagged off on 28 June at 5.00 pm. There are 7 loops to the 160 km circuit, and a maximum riding time of 16 hours. The winner will receive RM10,000 in cash. The Edaran Endurance Classic will feature a team event, which carries a cash prize of RM4,000.
There are also 120 km (also CEI 3*), 80 km and 40 km rides. The event carries total prize money of RM100,000, making it one of the richest endurance events in Malaysia this year.
Edaran Endurance Riding Seminar 2008As part of the event, the Edaran Endurance Riding Seminar 2008 will be held at TIEP on Friday 27th June.
Amal Najmin Tajudin is organising this seminar to help Malaysian endurance riders prepare for the WEC. The speakers are:
- Dr Kerry Ridgway, DVM, an expert of equine exercise physiology. He will be speaking on stomach and colonic ulcers in horses.
- Equine Nutritionist Dr Peter Huntington will be speaking about vital nutrition and feed considerations for peak performance.
- Master Farrier Kevin Crafar, a two-time winner of the International Heavy Horse Shoeing Competition, will provide tips on good shoeing.
