Three continents on the Team podium, Fahed Sulaiman wins first ever individual gold medal for Bahrain
 
Sunday evening, 18 December, saw the closing ceremony of the 2006 FEI Gulf Energy World Endurance Championship which took place at the Bahrain Royal Equestrian Race track. The ceremony was the culmination of three days of Endurance competition at the highest level.

Thirty countries attended this record breaking event with teams entered from over twenty four Nations. The event was held under the patronage of H.H. Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and was organised by the Bahrain Royal Endurance and Equestrian Federation through its President, H.H. Shaikh Nasser bin Hammad al Khalifa

The Championship began with a lavish opening ceremony held at the world famous Formula 1 Race track in Bahrain. The Championships was declared open by the Crown Prince of Bahrain, H.H. Shaikh Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa who attended the opening ceremony together with other members of the Bahrain Royal Family, Bahrain Equestrian Federation Board Members, FEI Officials and over five hundred riders, support staff, parents and guests.

The trot up took place the following day at the newly built Endurance Village in Bahrain. This purpose built facility was designed especially for these World Championships and the Bahrain Federation is planning to host further Championships in the future. With sixteen lanes for trot up, covered crewing bays, a modern fully equipped Equine Treatment Facility and full catering and rest areas the site is one of the most up to date venues available.

The Championship started on Saturday morning at 5.00am and a short while later the sun rose over the waters of the gulf as the 127 starters followed the 30 km first loop along the waters edge.

The competition continued throughout the morning with the riders and horses returning to the central vet gate. The first horse to cross the finish line did so just after 1.00pm. Fahed Sulaiman (BRN) riding Lormar Lorrien, a 1998 grey mare was passed by the vet panel and declared the provisional individual winner.

Other riders and horses continued to arrive and the final horse to cross the finish line did so just before 5.00pm. A total of 59 starters completed the full course.

Final placings

Individual:
Gold Fahed Sulaiman / Lormar Lorrien (BRN)
Silver HE Sh Abdullah bin Faisal Al Qasimi / Colahlee Park Charlene (UAE)
Bronze HE Sh Ahmed bin Mohd Al Maktoum / Jazyk (UAE)

Teams:
Gold: Australia
Silver: France
Bronze: Brazil

FEI Endurance Committee Chairman, Dr Hallvard Sommerseth, commented; ‘Everyone who has had the opportunity to be involved with this Championships either as rider, crew or organiser, can take home some great memories of top level competition and warm and generous hosts who have made us all feel very welcome here in the Kingdom of Bahrain’.