All set for Ladies Endurance Cup in Al Wathba

Officials at the Press conference. — Supplied photo

Stage is set for the running of the 100km Shaikha Fatma bint Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Ladies Endurance Cup at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba on Friday, a Press release said.

The event is being organised by the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club under the directives of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs as part of the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival with Arabtec as official partners and the sponsorship of the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Emirates Airline as official carriers and Al Awani Companies Representation. According to the organisers, the race has attracted 100 riders to compete for the Dh500,000 in prize-money plus a car for the winner.

The race is open for six-year-old horses and above and the minimum rider’s weight should be 65kg. The riders will cover the distance in four stages distributed over 40km, 26km, 18km and 16km with 40 minutes, 30 minutes and 40 minutes intervals respectively.

According to Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, director of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, all arrangements have been completed for the competition pointing out that vehicles will not be allowed to enter into the protected areas which are accessed by the authorised only and violators will be answerable by the governing body.

“The endurance village will also host the Shaikh Mohammed bin Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup for Private Stables only on Saturday and 100 riders have been registered for the 100km contest,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lara Sawaya, director of the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and chairwoman of Ladies Racing Committee in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) reiterated that the Shaikha Fatma bint Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup and Shaikh Mohammed bin Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup for Private Stables Only are in line with the objectives of the Shaikh Mansour festival to encourage the local owners and small stables.

“On this occasion, the village is renamed Fatma Wathba Land and Mohammed Wathba Land as children aged 5 to 9 years old for boys and 7 to 9 for girls will be invited during the festival to the village which is equipped with Fun Park to acquaint them with the equine sport. Forty IPads will be raffled for the children, 20 items during each race.

“There are also three gold with diamond and Saphayer special design by Tarfa Itany from Falamank Jewelers chains for the top three ladies in the race who will qualify directly for the HH Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance Championship in Italy without entering the draw for the 15 UAE ladies as per the directives of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan,” she said.