[RC] Fine example of journalism from the Gulf News online edition - Maryanne Stroud Gabbani
The Gulf News hasn't posted the results of today's race at the pyramids,
but their reporter needs to brush up on fact checking. For example,
there was no "team" in the first "championship" because the race was
pushed on Egyptian riders within three months of their first experience
of endurance of any sort.
For example, the local expatriate riders are currently extremely
uninvolved in the sport after what they experienced in the first two
years.
For example, at least one of the Egyptian riders listed as "having
improved a great deal lately" hasn't participated in any of the rides
for some time and is currently out of the country, while one of the
local 'foreign' riders is also known to be out of country and not
involved at all in Egyptian rides.
If this were a paper copy of a newspaper, I'd have a very happy parrot.
Maryanne Stroud Gabbani
Cairo, Egypt
maryanne@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.ratbusters.net
Ride 'to encourage Arab youth'
Cairo |By Yasir Abbasher | 02-11-2002
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Sheikh Mohammed practices with the UAE endurance team. Pictures: WAM
The UAE's horsemen, led by defending champion General Sheikh Mohammed
bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defence,
are expected to stake their claim for the top places in the third annual
Al Ahram Al Araby Endurance Ride starting today.
Sheikh Mohammed confirmed that his participation in the ride comes as an
indication of the strong mutual realationship between the UAE and their
brothers in Egypt and also to encourage the Egyptian youth to practice
equestrian sports which is deeply rooted in the Arab World's heritage.
In an interview with Fox Sports Sheikh Mohammed said that the nature of
the race course this year is different from that of last year but with
experience the horsemen should know how to deal with it. Comprising
mainly sand and stones is expected to be one big hurdle facing the
riders today.
Sheikh Mohammed denied that 120km race will harm the horses as some
societies of preventing cruelty against animals claim.
"Love and mutual understanding is the strong bond that links the horse
and the horseman," he said.
Sheikh Mohammed leading the UAE riders in Al Ahram endurance ride.
Pictures: WAM
"All riders are very keen not to exhaust their mounts. There are medical
check ups, and good treatment to ensure that the horses take part in
their best conditions. Anyone following endurance rides knows that the
riders put the safety of the horses even before their own most times."
Sheikh Mohammed is expected to ride Yamama, a new horse today in the
championship. Faih, the Anglo Arab Chestnut Gelding he rode to victory
in both the previous championships misses the event this year.
Sheikh Mohammed won both the previous rides in 2000 and 2001 confirming
the UAE's dominance of the top positions along with Sheikh Hazza bin
Zayed Al Nahayan, Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed, Sheikh Hamdan bin
Mohammed, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al
Nahyan.
Sheikh Hazza finished second with Sheikh Rashid third.
But the UAE team are likely to find tougher competition this year from
the local Egyptian competitors and the foreign expatriate riders based
in Egypt who have already earned invaluable experience from
participating in the past two championships.
Jumaa Mahmoud Awad was the only Egyptian to finish in the top ten in the
first championship while his team-mates Mohammed Dardir, Jabir Hosni,
Mohammed Taha and Ginny Abdul Aziz have improved a great deal recently.
Saudi Arabia's Salim bin Laden, Kuwait's Khalifa Mohammed Al Khorafi,
Jordan's Hussain Abu Shabab and Australian Luke Antony Steele are other
competitors expected to achieve good results in the ride.
And while the local organisers have confirmed finishing all necessary
preparations to secure maximum success.
Maryanne Stroud Gabbani
Cairo, Egypt
maryanne@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.ratbusters.net
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