Bahrain: Manal clinches women's title - Jan 5 2008

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MANAL Fakhrawi was crowned champion of the women's race while Ali Busaffar won the men's event in the National Guard Open Endurance Horseride Championship yesterday at the Bahrain International Endurance Village premises in Sakhir. The championship, organised by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef), featured the first women's race in the season besides a men's race, both over 100 kms.

The races were divided into four stages as 30 kms are set for the first two stages, 25 kms for the third and 15 kms for the fourth.

Riding Chronic Milky Way from the Royal Endurance Team, Manal emerged winner with a total time of four hours, 14 minutes and two seconds.

Behind her was Latifa Al Shaikh (4:14:31) from Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Stable while Qatari rider Khadija Al Bastaki (4:18:55) was third in.

Busaffar, representing Al Asayel Stable, steered Hemrick to a first-place finish in five hours, two minutes and seven seconds.

He was followed by Isa Al Dossary (5:03:31) of Al Fateh Stable in second place with Al Asayel Stable rider Nisar Hassan (5:07:36) third.

The event also comprised two qualifying races over 85-kgs and 60-kgs which will be open to new riders and horses.

The 85-km race were split into three stages, including 30 kms for the first two stages and 25 kms for the third while the 60-km event consists of two stages, each over 30 kms.

The event was held under the patronage of National Guard commander Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa who honoured the winners in each race at the prize-distribution ceremony.

The event was also attended by Breef president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Breef first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Breef second vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa and other officials.

Shaikh Mohammed congratulated the winners and thanked the riders from Bahrain and other GCC countries for taking part.

Shaikh Mohammed also praised the federation board and committee members for their efforts in organising the race, wishing them further success and progress.

Results (horse, total ride time):

Women: 1 Manal Fakhrawi (Chronic Milky Way, 4:14:02); 2 Latifa Al Shaikh (Anwar Al Mammlakah, 4:14:31); 3 Khadija Al Bastaki (4:18:55); 4 Sara Baban (Falah Ohood, 4:20:12)l 5 Shaikh Najla bint Salman Al Khalifa (Lalik Du Parc, 4:38:20); 6 Caisha Smith (Cedar Ridge Independence, 5:31:34); 7 Hannan Al Dawadi (Al Arem, 6:17:47); 8 Esther Ghuloom (Kabyle Armor, 6:22:34).

Men: 1 Ali Busaffar (Hemrick, 5:02:07); 2 Isa Al Dossary (Bedouin De Piboul, 5:03:31); 3 Jaffar Al Alawi (R S Iman, 5:55:38); 4 Mubarak Al Rowaie (Swoop, 6:08:19); 5 Baqer Ali (Shahhar, 6:20:02).

Gulf-daily-news.com