Staggered start endurance ride makes debut today
DUBAI: The Dubai Equestrian Club (DEC) will hold a unique FEI Endurance CEI2* 120km ride on Wednesday based on the concept of a staggered start.
This is the first of its kind for a CEI2* 120km event worldwide, and will be conducted at the purpose built — Dubai International Endurance City.
Usually FEI rides feature a mass start, where all participants leave together, and the first to finish is declared winner. In this case flexibility is key and the riders will be allowed to start within a broad window spanning across almost two hours, at their own convenience.
The advantage of a staggered start is also that riders are able to ride alone or with a preferred group and therefore are able pace themselves, and allows for optimal performance.
Over 400 entries have been received for this FEI-CEI2* 120 km ride, the horses will be examined on the same morning at 6 am and following registration the riders and horses will be able to embark upon the 120km ride according to the official timings. With a total of four loops, the first is 40km, the second is 35km, the third 27km, and the final loop is 18km.
DEC General manager Mohammed Essa said “We are pleased to offer riders and horse connections this unique and wonderful opportunity to compete in an FEI – CEI2* 120km ride, where they compete in the best possible conditions, offering great flexibility despite having a pretty large field of over 400 competitors.
“Our effort is to accommodate large number of participants with no restrictions in terms of entering as long as they fulfil the eligibility conditions.
“This encourages extraordinary performances, and helps the horse rider pairings to produce some top-class timings.
“We are constantly striving to provide our riders and horses with better facilities and opportunities to help grow the sport of endurance riding, and set the standard locally and on the global stage. This is one step in that direction.”