From left to right- Joel (No.2), Irwanshah (No.3), Nazri (No.1), and Md Rino (No.4) alongside Koh Shun Zi (No.39 from HKRC) and Azwardi (No.39 from HKRC) and crew members from HKRC.
𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐆:– Sadad Endurance Team from Labuan marked a significant milestone in its equestrian journey after all four riders successfully completed the 40-kilometre CEN40 category at the MAHA 2026 Endurance Cup, at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS), recently.
The team, comprising Nazri Ibrahim, Joel Raj Francis, Md Rino Abd Rani and Irwanshah Abdullah, completed the endurance challenge in 4 hours and 32 minutes.
All four horses — Ainul Mardhiah, Fiona, Filicka and Princess — successfully passed the final veterinary inspection.
The achievement was particularly meaningful as it marked the team’s first participation in an endurance competition. Sadad Endurance Team was also the sole representative from the Borneo region at the event, making its successful completion a proud moment for the Labuan equestrian community.
The event also saw the participation of prominent personalities, including the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM), Datuk Seri Isham bin Ishak, and renowned Malaysian singer Faizal Tahir, both of whom successfully completed the endurance race.
Their participation added significance to the event and highlighted the appeal of equestrian endurance sports among participants from diverse backgrounds.
Led by team manager Nazri Ibrahim, Sadad Endurance Team demonstrated determination and commitment throughout the competition, reflecting its motto, “Two Hearts, One Trail,” which symbolises the partnership, trust and perseverance shared between horse and rider in endurance riding.
Unlike conventional horse racing, endurance competitions place considerable emphasis on the fitness, welfare and recovery of horses, with veterinary inspections playing a crucial role in determining successful completion.
The fact that all four horses passed the final veterinary inspection marked an important achievement for the team in its inaugural competition.
The MAHA 2026 Endurance Cup was organised by MARDICorp, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and Bukit Kiara Polo. The competition was also endorsed by the Equestrian Association of Malaysia (EAM) and the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI), the international governing body for equestrian sports, highlighting the event’s significance within the equestrian community.
Sadad Endurance Team expressed its appreciation to HKRC Endurance Team from Terengganu for its support, as well as its sponsors, Asian Supply Base (Labuan) and RM Investment Bank (Labuan), for their contributions towards the team’s participation.
Building on this successful debut, the team is now setting its sights on the Sultan Mizan Cup 2026, scheduled for 9 October 2026, as it continues its journey in competitive endurance riding.
The team hopes its achievement will encourage greater interest in equestrian endurance sports in Labuan and inspire more riders from the Borneo region to participate in future national competitions.
