Dubai: Meydan Group and Dubai’s support of endurance riding is to be extended in 2015 and beyond with significant announcements that include an International Endurance Series to be held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and sponsorship of the 2015 FEI World Endurance Championship for Young Riders & Juniors to be held in Chile. Administrated through Dubai Equestrian Club and devised by Meydan Group the concept for an International Endurance Series includes high-profile rides to be held during the summer and autumn of 2015. The rides will take place in key locations in Italy, England, France, Spain and culminate in Dubai. The top-finishing horses-and-riders from the four rides in Europe will earn automatic entries into the 2016 HH Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup, presented by Longines at Dubai International Endurance City.
Later in the year the endurance community will travel to Chile, where the FEI World Endurance Championship for Young Riders & Juniors will be held under the sponsorship of the Meydan Group. The championship will be staged on October 23-24 near the coastal town of Santo Domingo.
The UAE has an excellent record in the top-tier of endurance riding with Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum, President of UAE National Olympic Committee, becoming World Champion in 2002, Shaikh Mohammad earning the title in 2012 and Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, claiming the same honour in 2014.
Saeed H Al Tayer, Meydan Group Chairman, said: “With these key announcements we underline our long-term commitment to the development of endurance riding. Dubai and the Meydan Group’s support and promotion of the sport, both within our borders and around the world, is a key factor in the success enjoyed by Dubai and the wider UAE in the world’s most prominent endurance competitions.
“The development of the International Endurance Series is an innovation organised by Meydan Group’s Dubai Equestrian Club, which will add even greater global significance to the already-established CEI three-star His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup.
