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7th October 2008

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ECM Blogs

WEC hits the streets in style

Saturday, June 21st, 2008

by Peter Ibrahim Abisheganaden. Photos by Natasha Mustapha.

Malaysia's FIP World Endurance Championships hit the streets in style with a 48 horse parade through the centre of Kuala Lumpur this morning. The marching contingent of 48 horses was made up of Polis di-Raja Malaysia and DBKL's Mounted Units, and some of Malaysia's Endurance Team. They were accompanied by police outriders and two marching bands.

They left Taman Tasik Titiwangsa at 9:30 and wound their way to Dataran Merdeka, arriving at 10:40 am. Malaysia's Yang DiPertuan Agong and his consort the Permaisuri Agong were there to take their salute on their arrival at historic Dataran Merdeka.

DBKL Enforcement Unit's Marching Band was the first to arrive. Their 70 strong band gave a powerful and polished performance as they led the horses and riders in. The horses never flinched as they greeted their King. Each rider carried a national flag of a competing nation. It was quite a spectacle that raised cheers from the crowd. Bringing up the rear was the Prison's Band.

Organising Chairman of the World Endurance Championships, Dato' Seri Dr Salleh Mohammed Nor's speech was to the point and very well delivered.

As he finished, purple smoke started belching out of the flares on the field. Then our eyes were turned to the sky as four sky divers dropped into view. Two of the jumpers were carrying flags. They were the Jalur Gemilang and the flag of the FEI.

The commando sky-divers spiraled past the world's tallest flag pole, skimmed the ceremonial hats of the DBKL band and landed point-perfect on the field. The FEI flag was then presented Ian Williams, Director of Non-Olympic Sports of the FEI. He in turn presented it His Majesty Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin. The FEI flag was then presented to the public with an unfurling of all the flag of the competing nations.

It was a superb ceremony, a masterful and entertaining parade that brought the World Endurance Championship into the public eye. As parades go, this one was delightfully short and sweet. A thoroughly enjoyable event.