Royal Endurance Team riders triumph!

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

The Royal Endurance Team won yesterday the 120-kilometre race for the general and junior categories as part of an international ride in Spain.

First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, General Sports Authority Chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee President, His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa congratulated the team on their performance.

“This victory builds on the achievements of the Royal Team in international and European forums”, he said, commanding the role of His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and Royal Endurance Team captain.

HH Shaikh Khalid said that the achievements reflect the level attained by the sport of endurance, that the victory in Spain builds on the achievement of HH Shaikh Nasser, who ranked first in the World Endurance Championship in Abu Dhabi.

HH Shaikh Khalid congratulated Royal team riders Salman Issa, Manal Fakhrawi and Ahmed Al Dhawadi, who won the top three spots, in addition to Abdulla Al Ruwaei, the champion of junior category.

HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad participated in the 160km event but his horse failed to pass the veterinary examination after the first stage of the race.

He followed up the other team riders, who motivated them to achieve positive results in both races.

Issa finished first, clocking six hours, seven minutes and 41 seconds, followed closely by Manal in 6:07:42 and Althawadi in 6:07:46.

Al Ruwaei outclassed other riders to rank first in the junior category, clocking a winning time of 6:59:14. The Royal Team’s champions were honoured at the end of the event.

The Royal Team members hailed the support of HH Shaikh Nasser, which motivated them to achieve the positive results in Spain.

They also hailed HH Shaikh Khalid’s directives during the different phases of the races, which enabled them to achieve an honourable performance.