A prize awaits winner of Al Maktoum endurance cup

A strong contingent of UAE riders will be challenged by some of the world's top riders in the 5th edition of the His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup on January 14, a 160-km ride which is the feature event of the season for rides held at the Dubai International Endurance City course. The 160-km three-star ride will be run in five stages and is being organised by the Dubai Equestrian Club (DEC) which is part of the Meydan Group and is presented by Longines, the official timekeeper of Meydan Group, and supported by Emirates Airline, official airline of Meydan Group. The UAE rider's list, which includes members of winning team at the last World Endurance Championship and the Pan Arab Games held recently and also the European Open champion Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri and the Pan Arab Games individual champion Yousef Ahmad Al Beloushi, are expected to dominate the event. The international line-up is likely to include two-time world champion Maria Alvarez Ponton and former world champion Miguel Villa apart from many other top riders. "The Dubai Equestrian Club is once again honoured to offer the HH Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup to the world of endurance riding that includes the competitors, crews, officials and all the people that make this great sport possible," said Mohammad Essa Al Adhab, Deputy General Manager of the Dubai Equestrian Club. "We extend our special appreciation to our distinguished sponsors, Longines and Emirates Airline. They support this great event and the tradition of the horse in the United Arab Emirates. This is truly a sports event that displays and celebrates our equestrian culture and the legacy of the horse," he said at a press conference on Tuesday. "Ensuing from its partnership with the Meydan group, we are delighted to announce that Longines is the presenting sponsor and official timekeeper for the Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup," said Juan-Carlos Capelli, Vice-President and Head of International Marketing of Longines. "The Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup is a blend of fortitude, technique and stamina and examines the harmony and balance between a rider and their horse. A race that requires precision, concentration and commitment, the Endurance cup fully corresponds to the values of Longines," he added. "Emirates has a strong affiliation with horse racing events and equestrian sports around the globe and we are incredibly proud to announce our sponsorship of the 2012 HH Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Endurance Cup," said Khalid Al Haddad, District Manager Sharjah and Northern Emirates for Emirates Airline. "Endurance riding holds a prestigious place in the sporting calendar of the UAE and our sponsorship of this race further highlights our commitment to the equine world. This race is a true testament of both the horse's endurance and rider's skills and I look forward to the race," he added.