Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable: April 2008

Malaysia’s King, HM Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin finished with a ride time of 10:36 to be the first Malaysian to fully qualify for the 2008 World Endurance Championship!

3 March 2008, Kuala Lumpur

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan is the first Malaysian to qualify for the World Endurance Championship 2008 (WEC 2008) to be held in Kuala Terengganu this coming November. The Malaysian King was awarded the Certificates of Completion after having successfully completed within the official stimulated time at both the H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup Championship in Dubai on 12 January 2008 and H.H. The President of United Arab Emirates Endurance Cup in Abu Dhabi on 16 February 2008.

To qualify for the World Endurance Championship, a participant must obtain two Certificates of Completion with the same horse in the race endorsed by The International Equestrian Federation. To be awarded The Certificate of Completion, a participant must complete the 160-km race within 13 hours 20 minutes with a rider/horse combination.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan completed the races with the gelding named Ibrahim Pascha Larzac in 11 hours, 07 minutes, 01 second, and 10 hours 36 minutes 21 seconds in Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively. The latter is the second best time achieved in Malaysia ’s history and the best clocked this year.

Opening Ceremony : Melaka Grand Endurance Invitational Endurance Ride 2008

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

Speech from 'The Rt. Hon. Datuk Seri Hj. Mohd Ali Bin Mohd Rustam, Chief Minister of Melaka, Malaysia

Firstly, I am grateful to Allah s.w.t. for His grace in granting Melaka the opportunity and honour to organize and host the prestigous inaugural Melaka Grand Invitational Endurance Ride 2008.

The Melaka State Government has given its commitment for the promotion and development of various sports in Melaka to inspire and encourage to our youth to participate in beneficial activities. One such sport is endurance riding.

As I have been informed, the sport of endurance riding requires mental strength and agility, riding skills and an in-depth knowledge of the sport itself. The physicial attributes of a rider is not a critical factor in the sport.

With a systematic and regimented training programme coupled with the innate desire to excel, I believe that we are capable of competing successfully in this sport on an international level. The participation of overseas contestants is an indication of the increasing popularity of equestrian sports and this must be nurtured and encouraged.

I take this opportunity to wish all contestants good luck in their respective events and may they participate with true sporting spirit and enthusiasam.

Thank you. Wassalam"

Datuk Seri Hj. Mohd Ali bin Mohd Rustam