Dalal for endurance showdown

KUWAITI rider Dalal Al Jari confirmed her participation in the final endurance race of the season, organised by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) on Wednesday midnight at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

Al Jari, who is the only Kuwaiti female in the fray, said she is delighted to take part in Bahrain endurance races for the second time after competing in a race last season.

The event is over 100 kms and divided into four stages with riders from the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain taking part. The first two stages covers 30 kms each, third stage 25 kms and fourth 15 kms.

Al Jari, who owns a stable after her name, said one of the reasons why she decided to come to Bahrain and participate was to gain more experience competing against top GCC riders.

"I am glad to hear the news of endurance races being organised in Bahrain. I wanted to come here earlier this season to compete in previous races but because of some academic commitments I could not make it," said the 19 year-old Kuwaiti.

"I am so grateful for the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation under its president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa for the great hospitality and kindness to me and other GCC delegations," Al Jari said.

Meanwhile, the Royal Endurance Team, captained by Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, continued preparations for the race with intensive training sessions at their stable in Zallaq area.

The team include top class veteran riders, including Yousef Taher and Abdulhaq Qadoori.

The organisers approved the technical team which will supervise the championship. The team is headed by Vijay Murthy of India and includes Bahrain's Abdulsamad Al Mousta, Mohammed Dadulla, Ali Ghuloom and Mahmood Abdulsaheb.

The veterinary committee was also formed and includes veterinarians from Belgium, Saudi Arabia, India and Bahrain. The Bahraini veterinarians are Dr Abbas Al Haiki, Dr Ebrahim Yousef, Dr Adam Sabeel, Abdulrahman Abulshook, Dr Farida Abdulrazzaq, Dr Sabah Al Ka'abi and Dr Yousef Ebrahim.