Bahrain: Hamdan scores big victory

Gulf News
By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: March 14, 2009, 23:03

Abu Dhabi: Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, scored a remarkable win in Bahrain's 120km endurance championship on Saturday to lift the prestigious His Majesty The King's Cup.

Riding Sas Alexis, Shaikh Hamdan led a 1-2-3 finish for the UAE in the ride organised by the Royal Jordanian Equestrian Federation at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

Shaikh Hamdan and Sas Alexis completed the 120km distance in 5 hours 3 minutes and 23 seconds

The UAE's Salem Bin Ghadayer finished second on Dell Hama, just seven seconds behind. Completing the UAE sweep was Butti Mohammad on Drumslin Moonshine in 5:16.23.

More than 40 riders took part in the ride, held annually. Some of the top riders from Jordan and Kuwait were in the starting line-up.

It was Shaikh Hamdan's second consecutive podium finish in Bahrain. Recently, he finished third behind His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Bahrain's Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa in the 120km Endurance Giants Body Weight ride.