Bahrain Royal Endurance Team to take part in Compiegne 160-km race

PARIS- Bahrain Royal Endurance Team is set to take part tomorrow(May 23rd)in the 160-km race in Compiegne, France. Being the team’s second participation in Europe, the five-stage ride, which will act as a qualifier for the World Equestrian Games to be held in Normandy, France, next August, is expected to be contested under heavy rain under the patronage of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Eight Bahraini riders will vie for top honours in the race which will take place two days prior to the 120-km challenge in which Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and other riders will participate.

Outstanding Bahrain Royal Endurance Team riders who were able to stand out in the Royal Windsor Horse Show, in Britain, will have to battle it out again in France to reassert Bahrain’s advanced status in this sport. They will be among more than 21 teams and around 90 male and female horse riders from all over the world.

The Royal Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa described such contests as an opportunity to further develop skills and acquire more experience to continue the path of success in the endurance sport. He said despite a warning of heavy rain shower during the race, the Bahraini riders are looking forward to the competition with a high spirit and great optimism as they have the needed experience for that. He praised all the efforts made to achieve the best results.

Shortly after arrival at the airport, Shaikh Nasser visited the royal team’s stable in Paris’ suburbs to get assured about the horses’ readiness, in the presence of the riders. He listened to a briefing by the technical and veterinary teams and got ascertained about success in going through all needed procedures, including veterinary examination, under the supervision of the International Equestrian Federation Veterinary Committee.

Tomorrow’s 160-km race will be held over five stages of 39.4 km, 36 km, 34.4 km, 30.3 km and 20.1 km each. It is staged as part of Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival which is organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Al-Shaqb Stable in Qatar.-BNA