Wall of silence on ‘fake’ riders
Two ineligible riders took part in an FEI ride in the UK this summer
A WALL of silence surrounds the circumstances that enabled two ineligible riders to accompany HH Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum and other UAE competitors during an international 160km endurance ride at Euston Park on 5 August.
Since reporting on one of the instances (news, 23 August) H&H has made exhaustive efforts to contact people allegedly involved.
While there is no dispute about their ineligibility, neither the FEI nor organisers Euston Park Endurance (EPE) will either confirm or deny the names provided by H&H as being the two riders’ true identities.
Both are regularly pictured and named on the social media pages of the sheikh and his associates. One is even pictured with Sheikh Hamdan on the Crown Prince’s official YouTube channel. When pressed about this matter last week, EPE replied:
“No comment.”
After receiving new evidence, a FEI spokesman told H&H: “We are addressing all these matters with the relevant parties.”
There is no confirmation if the two riders were questioned, or why those who helped them went unsanctioned. A rider who allows an ineligible rider to compete alongside them is committing a warning card offence under FEI endurance rules, but no yellow cards were handed down that day.
The FEI asked EPE for an explanation over the first instance in August, after H&H’s concerns.
Bib 34 was originally allocated to Saeed al Khayari, 24, of the UAE, who did not appear on the final 160km start list of 10. An 11th, unlisted combination wearing bib 34 in the 160km then came to spectator attention after
this rider — someone clearly older than his 20s — allegedly fell off.
Witnesses who recognised the horse as GB-owned HS Jamal then told H&H of their suspicions and, in response to H&H’s enquiries, the FEI consulted
EPE. FEI reported back that timekeepers realised the rider was ineligible 10 minutes after the start, so the ground jury stopped him. He was then identified to H&H as Saeed Khalil Mansour al Mansoori, 28, currently unregistered and whose FEI record shows he never achieved novice qualifications.
It was a further week before FEI results were amended to show HS Jamal’s participation.
Ride director Nick BrooksWard said the errors were due to an “unforeseen extra security protocol” the day before, and as the rider’s name was not given to them for hours, they “overlooked” checking his eligibility.
NEW INFORMATION
BUT it has now emerged that HS Jamal’s rider was neither Mr al Khayari nor Mr al Mansoori.
At the time, EPE “assured the FEI no similar incidents will happen again” yet it has since admitted a second horse had a “ghost” rider that day.
In official ride photography, a yellow-shirted man on a grey is shown at three locations with the UAE’s authorised 160km competitors. He appears to wear a hair extension and fake breasts.
The grey is Crystal Magic Star, number 103, who was entered in the 80km CEI, but whose originally named rider Philippa Jupp was listed as disqualified for “not conforming to many rules”.
EPE’s spokesman said the yellow-shirted man was noticed arriving late on horse 103 at the 80km start and apprehended during the first loop. His bib and GPS transponder were removed.
The ground jury then “inadvertently” agreed he could ride a “training loop”, but later heard he was with the 160km horses. He was stopped on the 160km second loop.
HS Jamal and Crystal Magic Star are respectively owned by Lauren Mills and her partner, Philip Hirst, who have not responded to H&H’s requests for comment. No response has been received from the Emirates Equestrian Federation, or from Mohammed Essa, long-time endurance representative for the Maktoum family, who EPE undertook to consult in response to H&H’s further questions.
FEI endurance rules have a welfare remit, so no one can attempt longer distances before completing shorter ones. Ineligible riders could also void public liability insurance.
Professor Barry Peachey, chairman of the Equine & Animal Lawyers Association, said: “Insurance is based on good faith. If anyone involved in obtaining cover does not disclose all relevant information about anything to do with it, the policy can be voided.
“The insured has a legal duty to disclose anything that affects risk, even if not specifically asked.
“It is all very bad news, especially for an innocent victim of a runaway horse, for example.”
‘We are addressing these matters
with the relevant parties’
THE FEI