Bahrain: Riders ready for Grand Prix race

Bahrain Gulf Daily News

SHAIKH Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa arrived in the UAE to lead Bahrain's top riders in tomorrow's first round of the 120-km Endurance Horseride Grand Prix at Emirates International Endurance Village, Al Wathba, in Abu Dhabi.

Commencing at 6.30am (Bahrain time), the race will be one of three races in the 75-kg body weight series to be organised for the first time in the region with riders from Bahrain, the UAE and other invited guests in the fray.

Shaikh Nasser, the Bahrain Royal and Equestrian Federation (Breef) president and Royal Endurance Team captain, will be joined by Breef first vice-president and captain of Al Khaldiya Stables Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Leading prominent riders from the UAE will be Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE's vice-president, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai besides Presidential Affairs Minister Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Tomorrow's race will be divided into five stages - 32km for the first stage, 30km for the second, 24km for third, 18km for the fourth and 16km for the fifth.

Bahrain will host the second round, to be held at the International Endurance Village in Sakhir on January 10 next year while the third and final round is scheduled for February 28 at Dubai International Endurance City in Seih Assalem.

The overall winner of the series will accumulate the highest number of points. The top 10 riders in each race of the series will gain points.

Approved

The organising committee approved the points system for the series as the winner in each round will be awarded 100 points.

Eighty points will be given to second place, 70 for third place, 60 for fourth, 50 for fifth, 50 for sixth, 30 for seventh, 20 for eighth, 10 for ninth and five points for 10th.

Tomorrow's first round will coincide with the National Day Cup which is scheduled for the same day.

Both events were announced during a Press conference in Abu Dhabi.

It was attended by Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club director general Adnan Al Nuaimi, Hydra Properties chief executive officer Dr Al Fahim and managing director of Tasweeq Lara Sawaya, announcing the 37 National Day Cup and Giants Endurance Challenge.

Al Nuaimi said Hydra Properties and Shaikh Mansour's breeding stables in Normandy, France have joined hands to sponsor and support both races.

"It is also our privilege to collaborate with the Breeding Stables in Normandy, France, owned by Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in sponsoring these two endurance rides and other events this season," said Al Fahim.

Al Fahim said that is the first time that Hydra Properties has been involved with the National Day Cup which is one of the most important events and most of the top riders in the UAE will be there to add to the prestige of the event.

"Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan's breeding stables in Normandy, France is supporting the National Day Cup and the Grand Prix as part of its promotional campaign," said Lara.