Bahrain: Al Ruwaihi wins endurance title

Gulf Daily News

BAHRAINI rider Ahmed Hamad Al Ruwaihi of Al Talia Stable was crowned the overall champion in the season's last endurance horseride championship which concluded yesterday at the Bahrain International Endurance Horse Riding Centre in Sakhir.

Riding High Roller, Al Ruwaihi overcame a shaky start to become the overall winner in five hours 14 minutes 10 seconds.

In second place was Saudi Arabia's Fawaz Al Dahrani (5:36:27) on Wargan, while third place went to Ahmed Al Hemaidi (6:04:61) of Qatar who rode Ibn Az Al Khal.

The race was the first held at night and was over 100-km, divided into four stages with 46 riders from Bahrain and the GCC in the fray.

Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa flagged off the first stage, which was over 30km, at 5pm on Wednesday.

Shaikha Najla bint Salman Al Khalifa from Ahmed Al Fateh Stable rode Al Jassi to finish first in this stage clocking 1:18:16 minutes.

Saudi rider Saud Jaber (1:23:16) on Bahar was second and Al Hemaidi (1:24:45) came third.

The second stage, also over 30km, saw Shaikha Najla extend her lead as she finished in 1:29:38, followed by Saudi Arabia's Abdulla Al Hawas (1:22:53) and Jaber (1:28:45) in second and third respectively.

Al Hawas on Reemah performed well in the third stage, which was over 26km, and finished first in 1:18:02, ahead of Al Ruwaihi who advanced to second place in 1:18:48, while Al Dahrani moved to third after finishing in 1:30:12.

The fourth and final stage over 14km saw Al Hawas finish first but was disqualified after failing to pass the veterinary test performed after the race and second-placed Al Ruwaihi was crowned champion.

Shaikh Nasser gave away the prizes at the presentation ceremony.

Results (in order of horse, stable, total time): 1 Ahmed Hamad Al Ruwaihi (High Roller, Al Talia Stable, 5:14:10); 2 Fawaz Al Dahrani (Wargan, Saudi Arabia, 5:36:27); 3 Ahmed Amroo Al Hemaidi (Ibn Az Al Khal, Ali Ahmed Al Hamidi, 5:56:33); 4 Jaffer Mirza (Al Fahd, Al Muqheeraat Stable, 6:04:61); 5 Jawad Radhi (Al Batr, Jawad Radhi, 6:46:35).

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