Malaysia: Final List Of 12 Riders For WEC To Be Announced On Oct 1

Bernama.com.my

September 08, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama)-- The names of 12 riders who will represent the country in the Federation Equestrian Internationale (FEI) World Endurance Championship to be staged at the Lembah Bidong, Setiu in Terengganu will be announced on October 1.

The National Sports Institute (ISN) director general Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz said 16 riders have qualified for the prestigious event, scheduled from Nov 6 to 9 but only 12 will be selected.

"All 16 will undergo centralised training from Oct 15 to beef up their team spirit, physical and mental strength," Dr Ramlan told reporters here Monday.

Ramlan added that the Selection Committee has set a number of criterias for the riders as well as their horses to ensure that they will be in the right condition for the gruelling race.

"In addition to horses that riders already have, we have also bought 13 horses from overseas at a cost of about RM2 million," he said.

Dr Ramlan said the horses which arrived early this month are to be quarantined for a period of four weeks before exposing them to the local conditions and weather.

The Malaysian team competing in the 160km race will be spearheaded by non other than the country's number one sportsman, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.

So far 26 countries have confirmed their participation and from the total, 24 countries will compete in the team event and 12 in the individual event.

The list of riders who have qualified for the FEI World Endurance Championship on merit are Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, Datuk Kamaruddin Abd Ghani, Datuk Shuib Isahak, Datuk Abdullah Taib, Mohd Faizal Ismail, Rosdam Mohd Noor, Che Ahmad Yusri Muhamad, Muhammad Alif Sabidi, Yusran Yusof, Zainuddin Yusof, Md Rino Abd Rani, Abdul Halim Alihan, Bakar Aman, Norlaily Buniyamin, Muhammad Firdaus Hamid and Md Aizie Ismail.

-- BERNAMA

Malaysia: Norlaily plans to seal her spot

By : Janet Singh

FIFTEEN men and one woman rider have been shortlisted to train for the World Endurance Championships (WEC) in Terengganu on Nov 6-9.
But four will be dropped after centralised training, and the gutsy Norlaily Buniyamin (pic) does not want to be one of them.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin is also among those who have qualified for the WEC, and he has registered Pascha Larzac and Moonlight Pharaoh as his mounts.

"I have a good feeling that I will be able to make the final cut as my horse has been in terrific form this year," said Norlaily, who is more at home when astride her mount, Jessie James riding 160 kilometres under torturing conditions.

So, when it came to getting ready for yesterday's press conference, she found out she had no make-up available.

"I had to rush out and buy lipstick and powder for this function, and my mum gave me an earful," said Norlaily.
Which is just as well because there is no special category in the WEC, and she will be competing against rugged men from all over the world on equally tough horses. "Jessie James is from Australia and has been in Malaysia for the past five years, and we finished second in the Royal Kelantan Endurance (in August)," said Norlaily with a touch of pride.

"I believe the WEC will be better suited for 'local' horses as opposed to horses which have to be flown in and then get them to acclimatise."

National Sports Institute director general Datuk Dr Ramlan Aziz said: "In June this year, only five riders had qualified and we were worried on how to get seven more into the WEC.

"And so, it was a nice surprise when 11 more qualified via various races. Now we will have to trim the squad to meet the quota allotted."

The training squad: Datuk Kamaruddin Ghani, Datuk Shuaib Isahak, Datuk Abdullah Taib, Faizal Ismail, Rosdam Noor, Che Ahmad Yusri, Alif Sabidi, Yusran Yusof, Zainuddin Yusof, Rino Rani, Halim Alihan, Bakar Aman, Norlaily Buniyamin, Firdaus Hamid, Azizie Ismail.
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Malaysia: King to lead nation at world meet

Nst.com

by AJITPAL SINGH

THE Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin (pic) will lead the Malaysian team in the 160km World Endurance Championships, and as hosts, will be looking to make an impact in the team event at the Terengganu International Endurance Park in Lembah Bidong, Setiu on Nov 6-9.

Among others expected to be picked are veteran rider Datuk Kamaruddin Abd Ganai and Mohd Shuaib Ishak, who together with Tuanku Mizan, are the top local qualifies after having earned four Certificate of Capability (COC) to qualify two horses each in the world meet.

In total, 16 local riders made the event's qualification cut but only 12 will be selected by the National Sports Institute (NSI) today at a function to be attended by Tuanku Mizan in Kuala Lumpur.

A total of 36 countries, including Malaysia, will be competing.

NSI director-general Datuk Dr Ramlan Aziz hopes the Malaysian riders will be in their best form for the event. "Tuanku Mizan is one of the best riders we have in the squad. For several months now, he has been undergoing serious physical and mental training for the event," said Ramlan recently.
He said the Malaysian squad have a strong chance to make an impression. "It will be quite tough to challenge the overseas riders in the individual category but there's a chance in the team event," he said.

"The local riders will also start the race with an advantage as they know the course well."

Among the top international riders competing are current World No 1 endurace rider Maria Alvarez Ponton of Spain, France's Jean Daniel Aiello and John Crandell of the US.

Havens Horsefeed 'Official Supplier' World Endurance Championship Terangganu

Press release
August 2008

The FEI World Endurance Championship 2008 (www.malaysia-wec.com) will be held in Malaysia from November 6 – 9th. The WEC 2008 will be staged at the Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP) in Lembah Bidong, 25km north of Kuala Terengganu on the South Chinese Sea. In total 150 riders from 36 countries will compete at the bi-annual WEC, that was held earlier in Aachen (2006) and Dubai (2004).

The WEC 2008-Organising Committee has named HAVENS Horsefeed from the Netherlands ( www.horsefeed.nl) as "Official Horsefeed" of the WEC 2008.

As part of the agreement, Havens will supply all horsefeed for all participating horses; from arrival on October 13th (start quarantine) untill departure of the horses after November 10th. All feeds will meet the highest quality standards and will be specially tested on absence of any prohibited substances in the Equestrian Labs in Newmarket (UK).

"We are proud to have found a strong european partner, that also provides guarantees as to quality and non-doping conformity”, says Azrin Zuhdi, Director and Organising Secretary of WEC 2008 OC. “Moreover, the presence of Havens in more than 55 countries in Europe, Middle East and Asia will add to the international image of the 2008 WEC."

Havens feeds are produced in the Netherlands by a family-owned company (since 1845) in 5th generation. Considered in Europe as the "Mercedes" of horsefeed, Havens has also been supplier of several Olympic Games (Barcelona, Sydney, Athens, Beijing) as well as the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Germany. All feeds are produced in the same factory which guarantees the same worldwide quality.

Havens has been present in the Asia since 2005; in Malaysia it is represented by Tallahesse Equestrian Supplies ( www.tallahesse.com ) from KL.

2008 WEC nominated entry list

36 countries (Federations) have filed their list of nominated entries, which is a 'long' list of riders and horses selected based upon eligibility and preference. The final competition squads which will travel to Malaysia for the 2008 FEI World Endurance Championship will be selected (by their respective countries) from the nominated entry list with a maximum of 6 squad members per country. Malaysia, as the host nation, will be allowed to field a squad of 12 riders.

36 countries in total have submitted Nominated Entry Lists. 24 countries are participating with a Team (3 or more entries). 12 countries are participating with Individuals. The maxium riders participating will be 150.

Full listing of nominated entries