Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin today officiated the opening of the 2008 National Horse Show held at the Trengganu Equestrian Resort.
His Majesty accompanied by Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah and Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Pemangku Raja Trengganu,, Tengku Muhammad Ismail watched a dressage to music performance by the mounted unit of the Royal Malaysian Police and a mounted games challenge by children of The Malaysian Pony Club at the opening ceremony.
Their Majesties were taken on a tour of the National Horse Show to witness the 7th Asian Regional Farriery Competition, Horse Carnival, Equine Expo, Horse Breed and Carriage Displays and equestrian competitions.
VIP guests present included YAB Dato’ Ahmad bin Said, Menteri Besar of Trengganu and YB Datuk Abdul Rahin bin Dato’ Mohd Said, Chairman of the Trengganu State Youth and Sports Committee .
Dato’ Ahmad Said remarked that it was a historic day for Trengganu as it was the first time the National Horse Show is being held here since its inception 14 years ago. This initiative augurs well for the development of equestrian sports in the state as well as the country.
“I am confident that the National Horse Show will benefit the people on the east coast as it will be an eye opener to equestrian sports and the career opportunities in the equine industry. It is also a positive move to develop the sport in Trengganu which is in line with the government’s objective to encourage more youths to participate in equestrian sports.
“I would like to see our young people take advantage of the career opportunities available besides learning to ride.”
He added that events like the National Horse Show and the FEI World Endurance Championship will bring more visitors to the state of Trengganu.
At the National Horse Show, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Malaysian Equine Council (MEM) and the Equestrian Federation of Australia (EFA) giving the Council the sole rights to utilise the EFA syllabus in Malaysia. The MOU also reaffirms the understanding between the two organisations with regards to accreditation and certification of the Coaches Training Programme in Malaysia, which is recognised by the National Coaching Council of Malaysia.
Said Che Mat Din bin Ismail, Joint Vice Chairman, Supreme Committee, National Horse Show, “This is a significant achievement for Malaysia as training and education will undoubtedly upgrade skill levels and improve knowledge of those involved in the equine industry.
“This is another step forward since formal training and education of equine personnel were introduced by the Malaysian Equine Council after the inaugural National Horse Show held in 1994 at the STC Equestrian and Sports Centre, when the organisers recognised that there is a need.”
He also pointed out that a total of 200 Pony Clubbers who are part of the Riding-in-Schools Programme from Johor, Kelantan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Kedah, Kuala Lumpur and Trengganu are competing in the dressage, showjumping and pony club events.
Her Majesty Tuanku Nur Zahirah presented prizes to the winners of the Horse Art Competition. Sekolah Menengah Kebangssan Sultan Sulaiman, won the competition galloping off with a cash prize of RM5,000, while Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Padang Midin, in second place, won RM3,000 and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tengku Bariah won RM2,000 in third.
The competition, with the objective of exposing students to equestrian sports and discovering creative talents, was opened to 10 schools, one of which is a primary school, in Trengganu. The competition saw the creativity of 100 students who turned 10 live-sized fibre glass horses into works of art.
The debut of the National Horse Show in Trengganu attracted over 300 entries in the competitions including riders from Hong Kong and South-east Asia. On opening day more than 8,000 visitors turned up at the Trengganu Equestrian Resort.
US lass Francesca Liauw and La Bonita won the Malaysia Airlines Mini Prix today at the National Horse Show held in Trengganu Equestrian Resort. Riding for 3Q Equestrian Centre, Francesca cleared the jump-off round in a time of 37.94s.
Qabil Ambak, also from 3Q, and Jennifer Chang from Hong Kong were the only two other riders in the jump-off round which must be completed in 52s. Qabil was the first rider in, and set the time at 38.76s putting the pressure on Jennifer and Francesca. Jennifer rode a clear round, finishing in 39.92s which placed her in third.
The course, designed Hamood Sultan Al-Tooq from Oman and Indonesia’s Rahmat Natsir, had fences at 1.30m in height.
Qabil entered three entries with mounts Chivas Z, Parvina and Amadeus van de Boswinning However Chivas Z was scratched and Johari from PTC Equestrian Centre withdrew LTM Star Sasa.
Major Dr, Faiz Khalid, Malaysia’s second astronaut, paid a surprise to the National Horse Show today. Showing an avid interest, Major Dr. Faiz had a lot of questions about the sport and he was invited to walk the course with showjumping judge Mohd Siraj.
“This is the first time I’ve seen a live horse show. It kept me thinking of different things about the sport – coordination between the horse and rider and the bonding with the horse. This is unlike any other sports, horse and rider must work as a team as it involves two individual athletes. It’s fascinating. It’s unbelievable to see athletes perform so well,” said Major Dr. Faiz.
He further commented, “There’s a lot of people on the east coast and they can learn a lot about equestrian sports. The skills and discipline required in the sport can be applied to real life.”
He was also invited to present the prizes to Francesca in first place, Qabil in second place and Jennifer in third.
Introduced for the first time at the National Horse Show, the FEI World Jumping Challenge is created by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) to provide less experienced jumping riders an opportunity to compete on an international level locally. It consists of two categories – Category A where riders have to clear fences of 1.20m in height while in Category B, heights of 1.05m. Riders have to complete four rounds over four different courses designed by a course designer designated by the FEI.
Category B had 10 riders competing in both rounds. Round 1, which time allowed was 120s, saw only one clear round and that was from Mohd Faiz Hanuar riding Augusta Puccini from Melaka Equine Park who clocked 81.03s. Six riders who ended up with 4 faults each and the fastest round of 45s was ridden by Amira Syahirah from Persatuan Ekuin Trengganu Riding-in-Schools Programme (RISP) on Dicky.
Round 2 saw three riders with no jumping faults but Johari Lee and Ong Wan Ming each had one time fault, leaving Ahmad Imtaz Amir Hamzah and Super Jogger from PkTC Equestrian Training Centre in the clear, clocking 79.83s.
In Category A, there were only six riders after 3Q’s Francesca Liauw scratched La Bonita from the class, to conserve La Bonita for the Malaysia Airlines Mini Prix. Horses had a hard time in the sweltering heat of Trengganu Equestrian Resort.
First rider into the ring, Jasmine Lai from Hong Kong riding Drumlough had a clear round in 75.68s, the only clear in the first round which time allowed was 82s. Catherine Tzinberg had three rails down and jumped a wrong fence causing her to be eliminated. Annabel Li was also eliminated when French Connection refused to jump the double combination.
The second round of Category A had Shaun Yeoh, Nabil Ismail, Mary Kate Hasset and Jasmine Lai vying for the lead. Shaun and St Patrick’s Day incurred 24 faults, Nabil on Urgola riding for Melaka Ekuin Park clocked 82.34s and incurred four jumping faults, Mary Kate from Hong Kong riding Luc Skywalker had eight jumping faults and a time of 63.22s and Jasmine finished with eight faults for a rail down and a refusal at the last fence and in a time of 71.92s.
Rounds 3 and 4 for Categories A and B will be held tomorrow and we shall see who will wrestle the title of the Trengganu FEI World Jumping Challenge 2008.
