Modern competitions consist of a number of phases (or loops). At the end of each phase, a maximum distance 40 km, there is a compulsory halt for veterinary inspection called a ‘Vetgate’. Each horse must be presented for inspection within a set time of reaching the Vetgate and must meet the required criteria before being allowed to continue.

The competition started at 6am local time and ran over a 160-km desert course, where waterfalls were purpose-built in nine oases. A state-of-the-art treatment centre at the Vetgate ensured the welfare of the horses throughout the ride.

Attracting almost 200 riders from 41 countries, the Dubai ‘Ride’ has made it into the Guinness Book of Record as the single largest world equestrian championship. In addition to the horses, some 750 personnel - riders, grooms, vets, doctors and chef d ’equipes - together with some 42 officials travelled to Dubai to take part in the event.

“This is a sport that is growing very fast and, this week, it is our pleasure to stage the biggest gathering ever in endurance history,” commented Sheikh Monammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at a press conference. “This race is the biggest of its kind – if you win this race, you are the best in the world.”

To cover an event of this size live for over ten hours, you need engineers and equipment with similar qualities to the riders and horses taking part in the actual event. For the 2005 FEI World Endurance Championship, Dubai TV chose D-Cam ‘Clip-on’ wireless camera systems for their proven reliability and performance.

The race itself was covered using camera crews in two Nissan Patrol and one Hummer to follow the race, and three Land Rovers to transport cameramen to various vantage points around the 40Km course. All six vehicles were equipped with D-Cam ‘Clip-on’ transmitters. In addition, the three tracking vehicles were equipped with 10 Watt power amplifiers.

A further two D-Cam ‘Clip-on’ systems with Gigawave Diversity Receivers were used for interviews and to film the activities in ‘Dubai International Endurance City’, a facility built specially for the event.

MVL-D receivers with fanbeam antennas mounted on a 35m ‘Cherry Picker’ were used, where the local terrain would allow it, to receive signals direct from each of the D-Cam ‘Clip-on’ transmitters. For those parts of the course that were not line of sight, Dubai TV engineers used mobile battery operated ‘Rebro’ systems to relay the signals back to the central receive point as required.

Broadcast RF, the UK based RF specialist, supplied Dubai TV with additional equipment including the six D-Cam 'Clip-on systems for the ttracking vehicles and mobile camera crews. Broadcast RF also provided three 'Rebro' Units, two 'Diversity' receivers, and four support engineers.

According to Dubai TV links engineers, monitoring the incoming signals at the central receive point, pictures from the ‘Hummer’ that was used to cover the race leader were available 99% of the time. An impressive result for everyone concerned.
Dubai, UAE - January 2005

Broadcast RF was also at Gloucester watching the home team try to secure a place in the semi-finals with a victory over ‘Stade Francais’. Gloucester had to win the game in order to gain the extra points for qualification from Pool 6. Broadcast RF provided the 2 D-Cams and a Diversity Receiver for one of the D-Cams. Sadly for Gloucester fans, Stade Francais went on to win the game by a huge margin, totally dominating the league.

The winners of the Leinster vs.Leicester and Stade Francais vs.Newcastle Falcons quarter-finals will earn the right to play the semi-final match at a ground in their country. The final is to be played at in the 67,500-seater Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, on 22 May
Europe - January 2005

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