Bahrain: World military endurance ride set

Gulf-daily-news.com

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

BAHRAIN will be hosting the First World Military Endurance Horse Ride Championship this year in December.

First vice-chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa has issued directions for the preparation of the prestigious event.

The first edition will be organised in co-operation with the International Military Council (CISM), with large number of riders from around the world expected to take part.

The organising committee is yet to announce further details regarding the upcoming championship.

Meanwhile, Shaikh Khalid has approved the working committees. This was announced after Shaikh Khalid's meeting with Bahrain Military Sports Association president Col. Dawood Hussain Al Manea.

Shaikh Khalid also chaired the Executive Committee meeting, which was attended by committee deputy chairman Al Mane and tournament director Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa.

CISM vice-president Abdulhakim Al Shino of Bahrain was named head of communication committee, while the technical committee is headed by Dr Khalid Ahmed Hassan.

Shaikh Khalid noted that the military championship, to be organised for the first time at the international level, has received big interest from His Majesty King Hamad, who always shows interest and support for equestrian sports.

Shaikh Khalid praised Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa for his keenness to improve the abilities of the Bahraini riders and encourage them to participate in different endurance competitions.

He also hailed the role played by the Military Sports Association in Bahrain in preparing talented riders for the national military teams which have achieved outstanding results over the past years.

On his part, Al Manea expressed thanks and appreciation to Shaikh Khalid, praising his efforts in supporting and patronising horseracing tournaments, and for issuing his directives to develop plans and programmes to organise such events.

He emphasized that the Bahrain Military Sports Association, through its working committees, and in co-operation with Breef, will do its utmost for the success of the World Championship, which was approved by the CISM.