Ghazi Al Dossary from Al Raood Stable was crowned champion of the Season-Opening Endurance Race, held over a distance of 120km yesterday at the Bahrain International Endurance Village.
Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF) Honorary President Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa presented the prizes to the winners. BREEF President Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa participated in the presentation ceremony along with BREEF Endurance Committee Head Shaikh Daej bin Salman Al Khalifa.
Al Dossary on his horse Mike trained by Shaikh Daej bin Salman succeeded in clinching first place after finishing the race in a total time of 04.56.35 hours with a speed of 24kph. He was followed by Hussain Nayef from N13 Stable team riding Ralia and trained by Ahmed Abdulla, who finished the race in a total time of 05.06 50 hours with a speed of 23kph. Third place was won by Paghat Sing from Al Raood Stables, finishing in a total time of 05.06.55 hours with a speed of 23kph.
On this occasion, Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad expressed his appreciation for the winners in the race, stressing that the levels provided by the riders and stables in this race indicate the intensive preparations for the sport of endurance in the Kingdom of Bahrain, which has superior care by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad pointed out that the race was exciting and powerful between all the riders who participated.
Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad also stressed that the general level approved this season and it will be completely different from previous years. He expects things to be more competitive especially in the battle for the top positions in the next coming races.
For his part, Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid pointed out that the season-opening ride was a very strong and exciting race, expressing that it proves the ability and high level of skills by the riders in the endurance sport in Bahrain.
He expressed his happiness on the great levels shown by the riders from local stables, stressing at the same time that next races will be much stronger and all the riders will have to be well-prepared to achieve top positions.
The results of stages were as follows:
STAGE 1: Jaffar Merza took the lead with a total time of 01.09.40 hrs, followed by Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa in 01.09.50 hrs. Third place was Ahmed Al Dossary who finished it in a total time of 01.10.44.
STAGE 2: Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa took the lead in this stage in a total time of 01.10.54, followed by Shaikh Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa who made it in 01.10.31, while Ahmed Al Dossary finished third with a total time of 01.11.05.
STAGE 3: Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa finished the race in a total time of 01.05.33 hrs, followed by Abdulrahman Al Saad who finished the stage in a total time of 01.05.53, while Ghazi Al Dossary finished third in a total time of 01.05.20.
STAGE 4: Ghazi Al Dossary took the lead of this stage with a total time of 00.53.28 minutes, followed by Khalid Al Khatri who made it in 00.51.52, while Hussain Al Nayef came third with a total time of 00.54.32.
STAGE 5: Ghazi Al Dossary finished the stage in a total time of 00.34.58, followed by Hussain Nayef who finished it in a total time of 00.40.49. Paghat Singh came third with a total time of 00.37.40.
Source: BNA