UAE: Alyazia wins Round II at Al Asayl

Khaleej Times

12 February 2007

DUBAI — Shaikha Alyazia bint Sultan Al Nahyan won the Round II of the three-round Al Asayl Ladies Championship Endurance Series, which at the Al Asayl Endurance Centre, Sweihan, Abu Dhabi.

Riding 10-year-old Arab, bay Mare Ningadoo Moesha, from the Al Reef Stables, Shaikha Alyazia completed the 80-km ride in 3 hours, 15 minutes and 19 seconds riding on an average speed of 24.58kmph.

The FEI, CEI Two-star Round II, which was run in three phases of 30km, 30km and 20km respectively, was flagged off early in the morning with 20 enthusiastic young ladies of whom 13 riders successfully finished the ride. Princess Alia bint Al Hussein, President of the Royal Jordanian Equestrian Federation presented the trophies to the winning ladies.

The Round II endurance ride, jointly organised by The UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation and the Al Asayl Endurance Centre, is part of the Three-round Al Asayl Endurance Championship, the first of which was held on January 19, 2007. The Round III, which is the culmination of the Series, will be held on March 9, after which, based on a point system, the Ladies Endurance Champion will be declared.

All the rides are being held under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Shaikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the UAE Equestrian Federation.

For Shaikha Alyazia, who is the Manager of the Al Asayl Endurance Centre, this was a real moment of glory as she had decided to retire from Round I at Gate II keeping the welfare of her horse in mind.

With a good and efficient planning and sharing a brilliant rapport with her horse Ningadoo, Shaikha Alyazia finished the first loop of 30 km in one hour, 16 minutes and 53 seconds riding on an average speed of 23.41 kmph. She finished the next two loops ahead of others.

Second place in the ride went to Afra Khalifa Al Suwaidi who partnered 12-year-old Jen A Dale Zamarah, a chestnut mare also from Al Reef Stables.

She finished the ride in 3 hours, 15 minutes and 20 seconds, just a second behind Shaikha Alyazia, and rode on an average speed of 24.57 kmph.

Shaikha Madiya Hasher Mana Al Maktoum finished third riding Huzie D Ax, 12-year-old grey mare from Emirates Stables.

She clocked 3 hours, 21 minutes and 57 seconds and her average speed registered was 23.77 kmph.
Shaikha Madiya was a bundle of happiness as in Round I, though she completed the ride in the first place, she could not collect her trophy as her horse was found to be lame.
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