Bahrain: Season opening endurace ride set

Gulf-daily-news.com

October 29, 2010

THE Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) is today organising the Breef Season Opening Endurance Ride Championship.

Starting at 4pm, the first event of the 2010/11 season will be held at the International Endurance Village in Sakhir. It is a qualifying ride covering a total distance of 80 kms.

The ride, due to conclude at night, is divided into three stages, with 30 kms for the first stage marked with red stripes.

The second stage will also be over 30 kms and is covered in green while the third stage, which is over 20 kms, is marked yellow.

The total duration of the ride is seven hours and 50 minutes. There will be a 30-minute break between the first and second stages while the break between the second and third will be 40 minutes. Maximum weight for the riders is 75kg, including the horse gears.

Breef, under the presidency of Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, has finalised its preparations for today's qualifying ride. The registration of riders taking part has been completed.

This ride will be a great opportunity for all riders to prepare for the new season. It also aims to attract new riders.

Meanwhile, Shaikh Khalid expressed confidence of a very successful season.

Shaikh Khalid, the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports vice-president, said this season's rides would be different from the previous ones.

He believes that the foundation of endurance rides is expanding with more riders from different stages expected to sign up for the new season's competitions.

Shaikh Khalid underlined the development of endurance rides in Bahrain to the unlimited support of His Majesty King Hamad.

The Breef's chief also highlighted the achievements of Bahraini riders in regional and international championships, the last of which was at the World Equestrian Games held in Kentucky where some of the world's best riders were in the fray.

Supreme Council for Youth and Sports president and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa is the event's organising committee chairman.

The Ground Jury is headed by Ghalib Al Alawi while Haider Zubi of Jordan will be the foreign judge. Other ground jury members are Mohammed Dadulla, Abdulghani Al Boosta, Ali Ghuloom, Mahdi Al Kalaiti and Fahad Al Romaihi.

Mahmood Hassan is the chief steward while Abdulla Al Rumaihi is the other steward for the event.

The veterinary commissioner is Dr Khalid Hasan while Mahmood Al Hammad of Saudi Arabia will be the foreign veterinarian.

Other veterinarians are Bahrain's Dr Ebrahim Yousif, Dr Sabah Al Kabie, Dr Abu Obaidah Yaqoob, Dr Abdelrahman Abu Shook and Dr Caonabo Melo of the Dominican Republic.