Bahrain: 60 riders set for endurance test

Vol XXIX NO. 277 Friday 22nd December 2006

SIXTY riders are set for the Kingdom Endurance Horseride Championship scheduled for tomorrow at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakir.

The event, comprising a 80-km race for women and 120-km race for juniors, is being organised by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) and is part of Bahrain's National Day and His Majesty King Hamad's accession to the throne celebrations.

The women's race, sponsored by Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Holding Company, is divided into three stages with 15 riders in the fray.

The race consists of two stages of 30 kms and a final stage of 20 kms.

Among the participants in the 80-km race will be Bahrain's Royal Endurance Team members Manal Fakhrawi and Sumaya Jassim, Layal Abdulaziz of Al Khaldiya Stable, Shaikha Najla bint Salman Al Khalifa of Ahmed Al Fateh Stable, Huda Aryan of Saar Equestrian School and a team from Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Stable.

Thirty riders are in the fray for the 120-km juniors race, split into 30 kms for the first two stages, 25 kms for the third, 20 kms for the fourth and 15 kms for the fifth.

Sidelines

Top Bahraini riders in this event are Mohammed Abdulaziz, Jaffer Abdulnabi and Mohammed Abdlsamad of Royal Endurance Team, Tawfeeq Al Qattan of Hawar Stable, Ali Abduljalil of Azadi Stable and Abdulla Al Khatry of Al Asayel Stable.

A 60-km qualifier will also be held on the sidelines of the main event which is also open for women. Fifteen riders from Bahrain, the UAE and Kazakhstan are taking part in this event.

This qualifying race will be organised for the new riders and is divided into two stages of 30 kms each.

Meanwhile, Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa met Kingdom Stables director Najeeb Al Burjus who arrived in Bahrain to meet the member of his team and inspect the facilities as well as the preparations being made for the championship.

Al Burjus said the stable, owned by Prince Al Waleed bin Talal, is always keen to take part in Bahrain races to gain more experience.

Shaikh Nasser thanked Prince Al Waleed, who is the Kingdom Holding Company chairman, for his personal support to the federation and the Kingdom Stable for taking part in Bahrain races.


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