HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival-sponsored endurance
events attract strong entries

160-km and 120-km rides in Compiegne, France

The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival plays the role of main sponsor in the three-day 2014 edition of the Festival Mondial d’Endurance in Compiegne, France starting on Friday, May 23.

Riders from 32 countries will be taking part in the two rides making this annual event bigger than the European Championship in terms of nations participating.

Over 100 riders including a strong contingent representing the UAE will be seen in action in the 160-km CEI-O Three Star ride on Friday.

Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, Sheikh Hasher bin Mohammad Thani al Maktoum and Sheikh Hamed  Dalmook Al Maktoum  along with more than a dozen other UAE riders will be taking part in the 160-km ride on Friday.

This ride will be run in five stages of 39.4 kms, 36kms, 34.4 kms, 30.3kms and 20.1 kms.

This 160-km event will be one of the qualifiers for riders and horses for the World Equestrian Games to be held in Normandy in France from July 28, 2014.

Sunday’s 120-km event will see the lady riders compete for the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Cup and the event will also see classifications to decide the overall winners as well as the Nations Cup team toppers.

Over 125 riders are expected to be in the fray in Sunday’s event which includes a strong team of lady riders from the UAE will be in the starting line-up.

“We are delighted to be back here again and we thank His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and Head of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood  for their support,” said Ms Lara Sawaya, Director of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival  and Chairman of Ladies Racing at the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR).

“It is a very busy period for the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival over the next fortnight. After the endurance rides here in France the Festival will unveil the 5th edition of the World Arabian Racing Conference in London. After five days of action in London which will see the three-day conference, an endurance ride and the two premier flat races of the Festival being staged, we move to Sweden for the Festival’s races in Stockholm on June 6,” Ms Sawaya said.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with Arabtec Holding PJSC as the Official Partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC),  Al Rashid Investment, Al  Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE's General Women's Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2014, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Abu Dhabi Sports Channel and Racing Post.

Source: HH SH Mansoor Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival / Satya Narayan
Photo: Cidinha Franzão