Datuk Kamaruddin Abdul Ghani and the Malaysian Endurance Team has returned empty handed from the World Equestrian Games.

Datuk Kamaruddin was the No. 1 ranked endurance rider in the world last year, but like the Dubai World Cup this year, he did not even get to start the World Equestrian Games.

Speaking to Equestrian.Com.My this morning, Datuk 'Awang' told us that he has had a run of very bad luck recently. "First of all, the horse which I had planned to ride and had done all the preparation with in France had an accident just before the games. I had to use a horse that was on the WEG list horses to start the race, so I leased two horses from the Qatar team, one for Laurence Liew, whose horse also had gone lame, and the other for myself.

I presented this horse at the veterinary inspection prior to the race, but it was lame during the inspection. I don't dispute that. I was very disappointed, but that is the way it goes sometimes in this sport."

Still Datuk Awang did not give up. He quickly negotiated the lease of a horse that passed the veterinary inspection but had been left out of the Spanish team. It was a horse that he had considered to be one of the favourites for the race but had not been selected by the Spanish team. He then informed the Ground Jury, who approved the change of horses and readmitted him to the race, assigning him an identification number, no. 150.

Datuk Awang went to bed that night believing he was in the race the next day.

At 6:30 am, after he had warmed up on his new horse for the 7:00 am start, he was called by the President of the Ground Jury and informed that the Spanish had protested against him riding a Spanish registered horse in the race. The President of the Ground Jury informed him that he would not be allowed to start the race.

"I was very disappointed then. I had wanted to race not only for my own glory but also to lead the Malaysian team. I knew that they needed my help and experience to be able to execute our team strategy."

In fact, a Spanish registered horse was still leased out at the last minute and was allowed to start for the Norwegian team, something that is difficult to understand in the light of the Spanish protest against Datuk Awang riding a Spanish registered horse.

Without their leader, the team did not stay together as planned and got separated. None of Malaysia's endurance riders finished the race.

Norlaily had a fall around the 7 km mark and could not hold onto her horse to remount. It put paid to any chance of a team result as a team had to finish with at least 3 of 4 starters, and Malaysia was then down to only two.

Laurence Liew, riding the horse leased from the Qatari team was vetted out on the 3rd loop.

In very poor conditions of rain and a sodden, heavy track, Dr. Nik's horse collapsed on the 4th circuit and was one of two horses that died during the race.

Datuk Awang said, "People asked me how I could still smile. I told them I had a face-lift because my smile was fixed."