The Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) has named Malaysia's Dato' Kamaruddin Abdul Ghani the FEI's Endurance Rider of the Year. He achieved this award by topping the FEI Emirates Endurance Rider Rankings, which is sponsored by the United Arab Emirates.
In a special message of congratulations to Dato' Awang via Equestrian.Com.My, Development Manager, Endurance Manager and Assistant Secretary General of the FEI Michael Stone said, "As Development Manager and head of Endurance, I would like to congratulate Dato' on his fantastic achievement in winning the FEI Emirates Endurance Rankings. To win these rankings is a tribute to his horsemanship and shows that Endurance is the most accessible of FEI disciplines. I am especially pleased that the prize is going to South East Asia as my first trip for the FEI Development Department was to Kuala Lumpur and the development of this region is very important for the FEI."
The Federation Equestre Internationale is the world body of all equestrian sports. To lead the FEI Emirates Endurance Rider Rankings is a phenomenal achievement for any rider. The FEI accredits 150 races worldwide with CEI status, enabling points that are scored at these races to be collated in the rider-ranking list. 1393 riders from five continents participated in more than 150 Endurance international rides (compared to 80 in 2000 and 63 in 1999) all over the world. South Africa and Namibia in Africa, Chile and Guatemala in South America and Malaysia in Asia organised CEIs for the first time.
Dato' Awang finished a very creditable 5th at the European Open Championships. In addition to a string of minor placings, Dato' Awang became the first man to win a total of six endurance races, including three in a row at the tail end of 2001. His winning streak of the IV Raid International 140 km at Elvas-Badajoz, Huelgoat (FRA) 130 km and the Montcuq 2 x 100 km, took him to the top of the rider rankings and he has stayed there to end the year as No. 1 in the world in endurance riding.
He finished the year with 1165 points, ahead of Jaume Punti Dachs (ESP) with 853.5 points and Mubarak Khalifa Bin Shafya wtih (UAE) with 794 points.
Already very popular in the endurance world, Dato' Awang has earned a number of nicknames. In France he is affectionately known as Pikatchou or Le Centaure du Malaisie.
Dato' Awang and his team win the cash prize of US$25,000 that is sponsored by the U.A.E. Equestrian Federation.
In cocktail reception was held today at the Selangor Turf Club, of which Dato' Awang is a committee member. In his speech Dato' Awang thanked the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and Datin Sri Siti Hasmah Ali for their help and encouragement. He went on to thank the Minister and Ministry of Youth and Sport, OCM, EAM, MERS, STC Equestrian & Sports Centre and Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Resort.
Dato' Awang also thanked all the Malaysians who had prayed for his success, and thanked even those who "had negative thoughts about me." He said, "Their negativeness was the turbo of my motivation."
Later, Dato' Awang said he had spent about Rm. 1.5 million in his quest to be No. 1 last year. He listed his sponsors as The Malaysian Totalisator Board, Resorts World Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Tan Sri A P Arumugam, H.M. Sultan Hassanal Bokiah, Sultan of Brunei, and Malaysian Airlines System. He also acknowledged that there were other sponsors who had declined to be named.
In speaking to the press, Dato' Awang acknowledged his team - of ten horses and crew that went into making Team Kamaruddin Abdul Ghani.
When asked what his future goals were, Dato' Awang pointed to the 2002 World Equestrian Games to be held in Jerez, Spain in September this year. He said he would like to see a Malaysian team participating with him.
"Having done what I have done, I feel my fellow Malaysians, especially the young ones, can achieve the same level of glory for our beloved nation if they can set their minds towards their ambitions.
I am challenging them to do it. I have this to say: If a 56 year old grandfather can do it, it should not be a problem for them as they have the advantage of age on their side."
Equestrian.Com.My send our congratulations to Dato' Awang, the first Malaysian and the first ever Asian to become world No. 1 in equestrian sports, and the first to be honoured by the FEI with such an award.
To read Equestrian.Com.My's exclusive interviews with Dato' Awang please click on the links below:
