Bahrain: Top riders ready for endurance challenge

Gulf-daily-news.com

Saturday, December 25, 2010


THE National Day Endurance Horseride Championship takes place today at Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

The 120-kilometre event, which is being held under the auspices of Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, is scheduled to flag off at 6.30am.

It has been organised as part of celebrations for Bahrain's National Day and His Majesty King Hamad's accession to the throne.

The ride is set to feature at least 30 prominent riders from different stables across the kingdom.

Shaikh Khalid, along with Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, are among the leading riders at the event.

Other participants set to contest for the win are Khalifa Al Otaibi and Ali Mohammed from the Al Fateh Stable; Ahmed Al Dossary, Saud Al Dossary, Khalil Abdulsamad and Yasser Yousef from the Al Shuwamekh Stable; and Mohammed Al Haiki, Mohammed Al Ruwaie, Abdulla Yousef and Mohammed Al Ruwaie from Al Ruwaie Stable.

The 120km ride is to be the main race of the day. It will be divided into five stages, including two 30km legs to start, a 25km third stage, a 20km fourth and lastly a 15km finale.

An additional 80km qualifying ride will be held for a group of young riders seeking experience.

That event has been divided into three stages. The first two will be over 30km each while the final will be over 20km.

Some of the top entries for this ride include Baig Singh, Najeet Singh, Younes Abdulnabi, Manar and Abdulla Al Dossary, and other competitors from stables like Al Muntaser, Ahmed Al Fateh and Al Shuwamekh.

In preparation for today's events, the mandatory veterinary examinations on all participating horses were conducted yesterday, as well as the official weigh-ins of riders.

Shaikh Khalid and Shaikh Nasser were also present at the endurance village to follow up on the preparations for the championship.