Dubai: A record prize money purse of £1 million (approx) is at stake for the first UK Endurance Masters, to be held on August 18-20 at Euston Park Suffolk.

The Masters, to be staged under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai is the first event of its kind. It has the potential to become the most significant endurance event in the UK, the competition offering riders the challenge of a variety of terrains through Suffolk and Norfolk.

There are already 130 entries from 16 countries and that number is set to rise given the attractive terms of this announcement. The organisers are hoping that the competition will attract interest from all five continents.

Meanwhile, the UAE riders swept though the third running of Toscana Endurance Lifestyle with them winning CEI2* 120km, CEIYJ2* 120km and the CEI2* Ladies 120km rides, while finishing among the top three in the other two rides of the Italian Leg of HH Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup Festival.

The two-day festival, sponsored by Meydan and Azizi Developments, took place on July 15-16 and was held at the San Rossore Estate and racetrack.

On the first day, three events were scheduled with UAE riders grabbing top spot in two. The winner of the CEIYJ2* 120km ride was the UAE’s promising rider Hamdan Ahmad Mohammad Al Marri, who defended his title. The teenager announced his form earlier this year, when he won the prestigious Gamilati Cup in Dubai.

Alia Ahmad Mohammad Al Saboori aboard Za’amah aced the CEI2* Ladies 120km held on Day 1 as well, with compatriot Ayesha Darwish Ahmad Al Romaithi coming in third in the same ride, aboard Quetzal Arvorig.

The third ride on Day 1 of the HH Endurance Cup Festival in Italy was won by an entry from India, Ugam Singh Bairisal Singh aboard Magic Glenn Avelina, and victorious in the CEI1* 81km ride. UAE rider Essa Salem Khamis Al Shair coming in second.

Day 2 featured two key rides, the CEI2* 120km, and the CEI3* 160km. The 2* event saw UAE’s Mansour Saeed Mohammad Al Faresi on board Magic Glenn Tayla taking home the trophy in the prestigious event, in fact the top six finishers in the ride were from the UAE reflecting the growing standard of the sport in the country.

The CEI 3* 160km event went to Algerian rider Mohammad Aida aboard Taher Du Barthas, the pair began slowly, finishing the first of six loops in tenth place, but as the ride progressed, they made their way towards the top of the group finally winning the title.

UAE rider Hamad Obaid Rashed Al Kaabi from the MRM stables, gave Aida a brave fight in the final moments of the race, to come in a close second.

Brigadier Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, General Manager, Dubai Equestrian Club said he was greatly encouraged by the positive outcome “We are inspired by the remarkable success of the third running of the HH Endurance Cup Festival as part of Toscana Endurance Lifestyle, and we are confident we will be able to continue to build and grow this competition in years to come.

“With a record number of entries this year, we can see competitors are keen to participate in this prestigious event, and moving forward, it is a great motivation for us to develop this platform further,” he added.