Exciting finishes mark Union Endurance Cup in Barka

BARKA, NOV 22

The Union Endurance Championship was held on Friday at the Al Mahamid Endurance Village in Barka, organised by the Oman Equestrian Federation as part of its annual season, the event drew significant international presence, including foreign veterinarians and officials and featured a total of 61 horses across its various categories 36 horses in the 100 km Union Cup ‘CEN’ and 25 horses in the international qualifying rides over 100 km ‘CEI1’ and 120 km ‘CEI2’.

Veterinary inspections were conducted on Thursday, followed by the start of the races early on Friday morning, the competition witnessed strong performances and precise oversight from technical committees in accordance with FEI regulations, Among the distinguished attendees were international veterinary expert Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al Yahyan, who headed the treatment committee and international judge Haider al Zoubi, who led the ground jury, in addition to several supervisors from the United Arab Emirates, their presence contributed significantly to enhancing the technical rigor and organisational standards of the event.

In the Union Cup 100 km race, N G Aswan Arabi ridden by Ilaf bin Qabeel al Zadjali and trained by Mohannad bin Ibrahim al Balushi secured first place, Second place went to R Chi Bald Traklin ridden by Moayed bin Said al Balushi and trained by Saleh bin Salim al Balushi, while third place was claimed by Fai Jab ridden by Abdulrahman bin Khalid al Zadjali, also trained by Mohannad bin Ibrahim al Balushi, AT Dial Venus, ridden by Azzam bin Said al Balushi and trained by Mohammed bin Hammoud al Balushi, completed the podium in fourth place.

Dr Khalid al Yahyan emphasised the central role of veterinary supervision in endurance racing, noting that a horses ability to pass veterinary checks hinges on strict criteria chief among them maintaining a heart rate within the internationally approved threshold, alongside sound movement and overall physical integrity, having qualified veterinary teams ensures the safety of the horses and preserves the fairness of competition”.

International judge Haider al Zoubi highlighted the importance of the judges oversight throughout the competition, explained that the jury is responsible for monitoring compliance with course rules, regulating speed and ensuring that all FEI guidelines are properly applied during each phase of the ride, “The riders demonstrated commendable discipline today, which contributed greatly to the success of the event”.

Winning trainer Mohannad bin Ibrahim al Balushi expressed pride in his team’s results, taking both first and third places, “these achievements are the result of a well structured training plan and continuous effort from the entire team, N G Aswan Arabi showed exceptional readiness and responded perfectly throughout all stages,” adding that ensuring the horses’ ability to safely pass veterinary checks always comes before competing for titles.

Trainer Saleh bin Salim al Balushi, who secured second place, praised the consistency of R Chi Bald Traklin’s performance, “the horse maintained a strong rhythm from start to finish, Our strategy focuses on balancing speed with endurance to guarantee a safe completion, participating in an event of this calibre motivates us to aim even higher”.

Similarly, rider Moyed bin Khalid al Balushi expressed satisfaction with his second place finish, noting the intensity of the competition. “The pace was demanding from the beginning, but the horse was in great condition, allowing us to maintain competitive speed without overexertion. The veterinary stages were challenging and very precise and thankfully we passed them smoothly, this result boosts my confidence for future races.”

The event concluded with the crowning of winners and the recognition of the technical, medical and international teams involved, the championship received strong praise for its organisation and competitive level, underscoring the continuous growth of endurance riding in the Sultanate of Oman.