Bahrain: Manal declared winner

Gulf-daily-news.com

8th MARCH 2009

BAHRAIN'S Royal Endurance Team rider Manal Fakhrawi was declared the winner of last month's 120-km Women's Endurance Horseride Championship following the disqualification of the original winner, it was announced yesterday.

Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Stables rider Latifa Al Shaikh had won the race on February 7 at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir while Manal was second.

But Latifa's horse Castle Bar failed a dope test later and was disqualified.

An official from the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef), who preferred not to have his name mentioned, said the result of the blood tests did not pass the regulations of the International Equestrian Federation.

Manal, who rode Samara in the race, said she was delighted to hear the news. "It's a honour to receive the Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Cup," said Manal.

It was the second victory this year for Fakhrawi's coach Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa who is also manager of the Bahrain Royal Endurance Team.