Melaka International Endurance Race - 120km 80 km
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It was March in Kamas, Utah, when I received the email from Hamdan Mohammed with an invitation to attend the 2nd Annual Melaka Grand Invitational Endurance Race in Melaka , Malaysia. I train my endurance horses all winter in the snow, it’s great conditioning, but by April, I’m looking forward to warm sun and green pastures. Melaka, Malaysia is always warm weather with kind, hospitable people so, of course, I would accept the generous invitation.
Last April, I also was fortunate to attend the Melaka International Endurance Event. Steph Teeter (www.endurance.net) and myself were invited and had a wonderful experience. It was my first trip to Malaysia and I was very impressed with the beauty and overwhelming hospitality. Hamdan Mohammed and the organizing committee do an incredible job to create one of the premier endurance races in the world.
This year I invited a photographer, Vicki Gaebe (www.parkcityphotography.com) to document the race and send photos and articles for several equestrian magazines.
We flew Malaysian Airlines who really has excellent service. The flight from Salt Lake City to Kuala Lumpur is a long journey, with planning for jet lag in both directions. But Malaysian Airlines airline code is MH for Malaysian Hospitality. And, it’s true! They can make an 18 hour flight feel much shorter!
Our hotel was the Everly Resort, a luxury beachfront hotel with excellent food and service (and, a good nights sleep). Our room overlooked the pool and the Straits of Malacca, with fabulous food and Malaysian hospitality. It was a wonderful seaside resort. It was also the closest hotel to Hang Jebat Stadium – the event venue and “base camp.”
After a refreshing sleep, Hamdan met us at the hotel, where we also met Peter Tan of Presco Endurance Team Singapore. He offered my race partner, a nice Anglo Arabian gelding named Max. Also riding Presco Endurance horses were Craig Brown and Emily Balme from New Zealand, Danielle Van Eck and Kimberly Van Eck from Australia - all accomplished endurance racers. We spent the day meeting all the horses, checking our tack and pre-riding the course.
Melaka is a beautiful, historical city on the straits of Melaka. Its’ charming and historical buildings were highly influenced by Dutch, Portuguese and British early residents. Once a bustling shipping port, it is now overflowing with tourists as a bustling “shopping” port! Who could resist enchanting boutiques, handicraft shops and delicious restaurants. Melaka offers a wonderful, restored Riverwalk and canal tour in river boats. The boats are duplicate of the San Antonio, Texas river boats. Fun!!
Saturday, Race Day.
The days are not long enough in Melaka. Our day was hosted by the enthusiastic Malaysia State Government Tourism Department who eagerly showed the highlights of Melaka in a beautiful British double- decker bus. Again, the days are not long enough in Melaka.
Back to the Everly Resort Hotel to change to our race cloths and off to the Stadium to prepare for the 5:30pm start. Since most endurance races in the USA start in the morning, I needed to secure a headlamp to my helmet. I was equipped with a fantastic GPS unit that could track my every move and display it on a huge screen in the stadium. My rider number was #113, and the race management and crew knew exactly when I would return to the stadium. It was great!
The announcement to Start was broadcasted over the stadium loudspeakers and a steady stream of competitors from all around Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and me-the USA. The 80K started at 6:30pm and the 40K at 7:30pm. His Majesty, the King of Malaysia was riding the 80K. The course was lined all night with his adoring population to cheer for him and honor King Tuanku. The King is a fantastic horseman and outfitted with well trained and very fit Arabian. He also has a kind and enjoyable personality and it was my pleasure to savor any conversation with him, especially endurance! His children were also racing the 40K event. It is such a pleasure to see a sport that the entire family can participate.
Each Phase of the race trail meandered through little villages, dense forests of date palms, rubber trees and vegetation of numerous varieties and fragrances. All the checkpoints and water-stops were strategically located along the course. They were all staffed with the Malaysia Polis (police) who offered bottles of water and huge smiles!!!
I was flooded as I drank so much water. In and out of each of these stops was illuminated with fluorescent tubes of light. Flashing red lights also lit the course and colored arrows directed you through each Phase. It was incredibly well marked (has anyone ever been lost?) Maybe, only when the clouds opened a slide of rain from the sky. Only, for an hour, not cold but a pleasant reminder of why it is so, so, so green here.
My equine partner, Max, unfortunately was slightly lame after the third veterinary check. It was 2am and we were eliminated at the 80K check. Max was such an impressive competitor and we really enjoyed the racing together. The 120K winner was Wan Mohd Kmamluddin B. Wan Yussuff of the State of Terreganu Endurance Team and Racing Stables. This flashy grey gelding, Idais Tobiha (FRA 11828) also won the coveted Best Conditioned horse award.
Oh my, just 2 hours sleep and back to the Stadium for an incredible lunch and award presentation. Our lunch was hosted by the Café Botanikal and consisted Sze Chuan Fresh King prawns, roasted chicken, deep fried grouper fillet with assam sauce (my favorite), braised broccoli with scallops, mushrooms with abalone, and wonderful yong chow fried rice. The meal was presented by white gloved waiters. We were entertained with local Malaysian music and singing talent. The state dignitaries were dressed in stunning batik shirts-each so unique and different. Several of the team stables were also outfitted in custom batik shirts including the golden yellow shirts with a batik horses head in the design. The Chief Minister of Melaka, Datuk Seri HJ Mohd Ali Bin Mohd Rustam congratulated all the competitors and awarded the trophies, including His Majesty’s 3rd place finish! Very Nice!
Only 24 hours later Vicki and I would be on a plane home to the USA. Again, I say, the days are not long enough in Melaka. Definitely, next year, I will plan a longer visit to enjoy this remarkable city and gracious, beautiful people.
Terima Kasih (Thank you) to all the organizers of this incredible, impressive event.
Melaka, Malysiaaaaahhhhhh. Ahhh again.
April 9:
It was March when I received the email- You are cordially invited to attend the Melaka Grand Invitational Endurance Race. I couldn't hit the reply key as enough-Yes Please! I attended this event last year and I knew it was a Premier endurance race with riders from Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, as well as Malaysia. The Malaysian hospitality is exceptional.
This journey begins from Salt Lake City on april 6th. Since there is not a "Beam me up Scotty" airlines, I booked Malaysia Airlines who makes a 20 hour flight feel like only 18 hours. Vicki Gaebe with www.parkcityphotography.com also joined me and will document the race and update ridecamp with photos.
After the looooong flight, we arrived at the Everly Resort Hotel. With the sound of the waves on the beach, I slept. Thursday, we went out the the stadium, rather base camp, to meet more of the riders and my horse for the event. Max is avery handsame tall Anglo Arabian owned by Peter dari Singapura of Presco Endurance racing.
The Malasysian humidity is thick, but it feels good to thaw out from a snowy winter.
Look for my follow up email with more race details.
Happy Trails, Beverly Gray
April 10
Melaka Pre Ride Day
First of all, I passed the pre vet check with Max the Anglo Arabian gelding that I will be riding the 120k in Melaka, Malaysia.
Just like at home, preparing for the pre vet check was an all day event. We've become quite involved with the Presco Endurance Stable from Singapore as Peter Tan has supplied horses to New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia and myself as the solo USA rider. Peter is a great support of the sport, he endeavors to spread awareness of endurance riding, making the Melaka Grand Invitational known to more people in Southeast Asia.
It was more than just hot today, I was melting from the humidity. Now, remember, I left a snowy Utah. Good thing the race is at night. I start at 5:30pm tomorrow. The only danger I fear is the king cobra.
Photos, I promise, will be downloaded soon.
A white glove dinner for all competitors will be by the pool with Melaka Governor, as well as the King of Malaysia. This is not a "no frills ride" OK, wish me and Max luck tomorrow.
Happy Trails, Beverly Gray