Endurance champions crowned

Manama : The winners of HM the King Endurance Cup which featured two competitions, including one for the seniors and the other for youth, were crowned yesterday. 

HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of Bahrain Olympic Committee, Honourary President of the Bahrain Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF), honoured the winners. 

The 120km competition is the highlight of the Bahrain endurance season and was organised by BREEF, featuring an impressive roster of international competitors.

Winning was Rashid Theyab Al Mazrooie (three hours 45 minutes and 46 seconds) from the UAE riding Kurrency, followed in second by Jaafar Merza Abdulnabi of Victorious Stud and Mansour Al Faresi of UAE in second and third respectively. The second and third place finishers were riding Tismael De Vayrols and Oued El Kebir Larzac respectively.

In the youth competition, Hamad Isa Al Janahi emerged victorious, while Saeed Al Shamsi and Dana Al Benghadeer completed the event in second and third respectively.

Shaikh Nasser who is also the Captain of the Bahrain Royal Endurance Team, expressed his appreciation and gratitude to HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for patronage of the event, stating that HM’s support has boosted the motivation of the participants. Shaikh Nasser praised the performances shown during the event, stating that the event was a huge success due thanks to the efforts produced by the competitors in both contests and spoke of his optimism for the future of endurance sport in Bahrain.

Meanwhile, HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Captain of Al Khalidiya Studs hailed HM the King’s patronage to the event, pointing out that this has contributed to motivating the participants to give their all to win the Cup and valued the Royal directives to develop endurance sport which represents a part of Bahrain’s rich history and heritage.

BREEF president, Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa expressed his sincerest gratitude and appreciation to HM the King for support of the event and efforts by the organisers to make the event a success as per the directives of Shaikh Nasser. 

Shaikh Duaij bin Salman Al Khalifa, President of the Endurance Committee in BREEF, hailed HM the King’s sponsorship to the event,  praising the efforts of the participants from UAE and congratulated Shaikh Nasser, Shaikh Khalid and Shaikh Faisal following the success of the race.