The first of the four endurance rides which kicks off tomorrow (Thursday) at the Bois de la Cambre, an urban public park situated on the edge of the Sonian Forests in the Belgian capital of Brussels is the 160-km Four star European Championship (CH-EU-E) over 160 kms.

Spain will be strongly represented and in their squad are champion riders Jaume Punti Dachs and Maria Alvarez Ponton while France has entered an equally strong team of riders including Virginia Atger and Jean-Philippe Frances among others. With hosts Belgium set to take full advantage of home conditions the 160-km premier event of Europe promises to be an exciting ride.

Over 80 riders from 23 countries will get off to a mass start at 7.00 am and will negotiate five stages of 39.5kms, 37.4kms, 32.7kms, 30.3kms and 23.4 kms.

The route will take the riders into the heart of the Sonian Forest (which has 200 kms of horse-accessible paths of which half of it is exclusively reserved for them) in consultation with the forest authorities of the 3 Regions- Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia.

On Friday, August 18, 2017, the prestigious HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Nations Ladies Cup, a CEIO two-star 120 km ride will be held along with the 120-km HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup International CEI two star ride.

The UAE ladies will be competing in both the team and individual events of the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Nations Ladies Cup and the five riders in the line-up are HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Nations Ladies Cup are Alyazia Al Romaithi, Alia Al Saboori, Ayesha Al Romaithi, Mira Jasim Al Ansaari and Nouf Ali.

Ms. Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) and General Manager of Wathba Stallions said, “We thank HH Sheikh Mansoor and Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and Head of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood for these events.”

“About 50 riders will be taking part in the 120-km event which will be run in four loops of 39.5kms, 32.7kms, 30.3kms and 23.4 kms. Six countries will be competing in the ladies team championships,” she added.

Commenting on the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Nations Ladies Cup, Ms. Noura Al Suwaidi, Director of the General Women’s Union and Chairperson of the Women’s Sports Committee said the support of HH Sheikha Fatima was vital to the cause of promoting UAE as well as lady riders from all over the globe.

The second ride on Friday is the 120-km HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup and will see 40 riders from six countries vying for honours.
Around 70 riders from 18 countries will battle it out on horses aged seven and under in the FEI World Championship of the Young Horses (CH-M-E-7Y). This 120-km event will also be run over four loops and will bring the curtain down on the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival-supported Brussels Equestrian Endurance Masters (BEEM).

The Belgian Royal Equestrian Sports Federation (FRBSE-KBRSF) and the European Horse Centre of Mont-le-Soie are involved in the event.