• Home
• /
• Local Sports

UAE riders top in King’s Cup C’ship

Riders from the UAE put on a spirited show to win top honours in the 120-km King’s Cup Ride Championship at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

The visitors dominated Bahrain’s most prestigious endurance competition of the season and took all three podium places as Shaikh Saeed bin Juma Al Maktoum clinched a sensational victory.

The race started with 30km, followed by another 30km distance in the second, while the third, fourth and fifth phases were over 20km each.

Riding Dudley, Shaikh Saeed completed the fast-paced ride on top with a total ride time of four hours, 40 minutes and 39 seconds with a 25km per hour average speed.

Behind him were compatriots Rashid Diab Al Mazrooi (4:40:41) in second place with an average speed of 25km per hour, and Ahmed Al Qaisi (4:40:55), also with 25km per hour average speed, in third position.

The day also featured an 80-km ride for juniors, which was won by UAE’s Saeed Mahmood Al Khayari, who finished the race in five hours and 49 seconds with 23-km per hour average speed.

He was eight minutes ahead of another UAE entrant – Saif Ahmed Al Mazrooi (5:08:13), who came seconds. Bahrain Royal Endurance Team’s Ali Yousef Ahmed (5:17:49) rounded off the podium in third place with a 23km per hour average speed.

On the sidelines of yesterday’s action, Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa took on a challenging 30km marathon held at the endurance village, where he completed the event in two hours and 45 minutes.

Shaikh Khalid praised the level of competition at both races, and congratulated the winners on their outstanding performance.

The Al Khalidiya Stable captain said his decision to run at the marathon was an initiative that aimed to encourage the Bahraini youth practice different type of sports, especially the long distance races, which is one of the significant international sporting events.

Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa presented trophies and other awards to the top three at the awarding ceremony at the endurance village. Prince Salman also presented a special sword to the senior race winner, in the presence of Shaikh Nasser, Shaikh Khalid and Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

As for the junior winners, they were honoured by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation’s endurance committee chairman Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa.