Bahrain: Royal victory!

Gulf-daily-news.com

Sunday, April 17, 2011

ROYAL Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Salem Sabt emerged champions in the season-ending 120-km Endurance Horseride Championship for the Crown Prince Cup, reports RAMI HULAYYEL. Shaikh Nasser proved too strong to win the 29-rider senior ride while Salem Sabt finished on top in the junior event, which saw 20 riders in the fray.

The final endurance event of the season, which took place at the Bahrain International Village in Sakhir, ended on an exciting note with Shaikh Nasser winning it by a narrow margin.

Shaikh Nasser, the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports president and chief of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, completed the challenging 120-km ride on Mystic Traveler.

Shaikh Nasser clocked five hours, 42 minutes and 12 seconds with an average speed of 21.040 kmph.

The Royal Endurance team dominated the show, winning the next two places. Noureddin Kaddouri, riding Kalharabi Katar, timed 5:53:14 to clinch second place with an average speed of 21.035kmph.

Third place was also won by the Royal Endurance team through Jaffar Mirza on Danon Jabeen. Mirza, who took the lead in the early stages, could finish third in 5:42:16.

Fahad Ismail (5:49:04) of Al Khalidiya Stables claimed fourth position, followed by Raed Mahmood (5:01:59) in fifth place, Isa Al Doseri (5:14:57) of Al Shawamekh Stables sixth and Al Reem Stable's Mohamed Al Shaikh (5:28:40) seventh.

Bag Singh (5:54:14) of Al Montasir Stable was eighth, ahead of Nakhat Singh (6:01:22), also of Montasir Stable, while Manar Rashid (6:05:58) of Ahmed Al Fateh Stable rounded off the top 10. Manar was the first lady rider to complete the event.

Junior

In the junior ride, Al Asayel Stable rider Sabt steered Ge Lady to victory in five hours, 33 minutes and 12 second after a close battle with another Al Asayel Stable rider Mohammed Al Khatry. Fahad Helal (5:44:30) was third on Al Jared.

Ali Baqer (5:49:20) of Hawar Stable was fourth, followed by Ali Al Abdulla (5:33:03), Saud Al Hadhrami (5:33:31), Mohammed Al Khatri (6:06:52), Faisal Al Manea (6:12:09) and Mohamed Al Subai (6:14:43), all of Al Asayel Stable.

An additional 85-km qualifying ride was held on the occasion, with seven riders in the fray. It was won by Abdulla Al Qoad, riding Kintamani Kebir, who clocked three hours, 49 minutes and 36 seconds.

He was followed by Hamad Al Marri (4:52:06) of Royal Endurance Team in second place with Al Shawamek Stable rider Abdulla Al Dosseri (5:29:14) third.

His Majesty the King's Personal Representative Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa honoured the top three riders in each event.

Shaikh Khalid thanked Durrat Al Bahrain, especially its board chairman Abdulhakeem Al Khayyat, for sponsoring this prestigious event.

Photos by Osama Mohammed can be seen here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/ridecamp/HRHTheCrownPrinceCupEnduranceRIdeChampionshipFEICEI120Km41511?pli=1#