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Jump-Off 68
Tuesday, June 10th, 2008
Pity the leader caught between unloving critics and uncritical lovers. ~ John Gardner
The Shandur Polo Festival
Is this Polo in its original form? 5-a-side, stone walls for boards, 30 minute chukkas, and the whole game played on one horse. And played at 3,800 m above sea level in the mountains of Pakistan. Did we mention the rules? No? That's right. There are none.
Flat Broke
The ever popular people at the EAM must be wondering what would possess the vandal who deflated all the tires of the EAM Float while at the SUKMA Games in Terengganu. Perhaps not getting paid might be a reason?
Collective Concussion
You could not condone it, but you have to admire the bravery of the boy who went headfirst into part B of the first double in the SUKMA XII team showjumping competition. He was stretchered out of the arena with a neck brace on, but jumped out of the ambulance and escaped the clutches of the medical team. His team manager and trainer then tried, unsuccessfully, to get the Ground Jury to accept him as a starter in the 2nd round.
Postponed Yet Again
The EAM’s long overdue Annual General Meeting tentatively scheduled for May has been put off yet again. The PFL is said to be groping for a new date.
Royal Intervention II
Having got the MB of his choice in Terengganu, it is said that KDYMM Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, the 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, has a choice of who he’d like to see as the next President of the Equestrian Association of Malaysia.
His Majesty may not get his way this time as the incumbent has held only two AGM’s since he was elected in 2002, the last of which was three years ago. Hint to the King: He isn’t nicknamed President For Life for nothing.
Cast Your Vote
The latest Vote! On Equestrian.Com.My’s home page is, “The EAM hasn't had an AGM since June 2005. When do you think will they have another AGM?”
Entrenched Disguise
Soon after a groping scandal broke in the newspapers, a former minister was seen at a KL polo club sporting a disguise of a hat and beard. All that was missing was the proverbial trench coat?
New Approach
Congratulations to FEI President HRH Princess Haya on the success of her horse New Approach in the Vodafone (Epsom) Derby 2008 on Saturday 7 June.
Jump-Off wants to know if it is a coincidence that the horse is named New Approach, or if it was named for her reformation of the FEI.
Singaporean Olympism
TLOTB has been rife with stories about the Olympic Games. Congratulations to N Y Ho on a very nice interview in the Straits Times. On 1st May the paper also ran a story about how Singapore needs to find 40 horses for the 2010 Youth Olympics, which will be run as a borrowed horse event. The article, by Terrence Voon, says “The event requires a horse and its rider to clear a series of 14 obstacles up to 1.60-metre high at speeds of up to 400m per minute.”
“Organisers are therefore planning to approach horse owners in neighbouring countries for help." EFS President Dr Melanie Chew was quoted as saying “If someone is willing to lend us horses, that would be great. We will pay for all the costs, like transport.”
How many 1.60 horses does she think there are in South East Asia?
Malaysian Olympism
Not one rider carried the flame when the Olympic Torch Run came to Malaysia, not even Olympian of the Year Qabil Ambak.
If riders were to have been picked, Jump-Off’s favourite to watch would have been Qabil’s brother, Quzier. His running at trot-ups has always been a sight to behold.
Capital Transactions
The Stables with a View are said to have charged for some lessons in Euros. Jump-Off finds it a little strange that operators in the Federal Capital should shun the Ringgit.
WTF Answer of the Month
Instructor to rider, “Your horse makes a lot of noise when he works. Is he broken winded?”
National Rider, “That’s why I give him a liver tonic.”
Married Again – Congratulations to Rod Shepherd, the Darth Vader of Karaoke, who has remarried in Australia.
Raised for Charity – the Hookahs of the Royal Selangor Polo Club raised a cool RM100,000 for Riding for the Disabled Association of Malaysia at their Hookahs Polo Tournament 2008.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this (and previous) Jump-Offs. If you have an interesting story that you think should be in Jump-Off, please e-mail pete@equestrian.com.my
New Approach