Alia tops in HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance Cup

Negrepelisse (FRA)-CEIO 120km Ladies .pdf Negrepelisse (FRA)-CEI 130km.pdf Negrepelisse_CEIO 120km LADIES Team Results.pdf

French women win team gold in HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival-supported event

Montauban, France - It was a memorable day for UAE lady riders as Alia Ahmad Mohammed Al Saboori won the 120-km CEIO HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance Cup while Alyazia Khalid Khalifa Al Romaithi finished second in the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup, both events held on the historic Saint-Etienne-de-Tulmont region in Montauban, France, on Sunday, September 25, 2016.

Alia Al Saboori and her 14-year-old horse Za’amah from the MRM Stables turned in a dominant display to lead from start to finish in the four-stage 120-km event and win in a time of in 06:14:34 seconds at an average speed of 19.45 kmph.

Finishing nearly 13 minutes behind the winner was Uruguayan rider Cecilia Garcia on Tess Du Melay (ride time 06:27:02 ) while French rider Ludivine Bonnot astride Djalik D’alajou clocked 06:33:14 to finish third and cheer the large band of home supporters.

The lady riders from France however did their country proud by winning the team gold with Beatrice Danlau on Palkaya D’Alaize, Emmaneulle on Affa De Lap and Marion Wasilewski finishing first with a combined timing of 21 hrs 09 mins and 43 seconds. The combined timing of the three Spanish lady riders who finished second was 21:09:43.

After the victory Alia Al Saboori stated that the ride was very hard and the terrain was even more difficult. “The terrain was a bit slippery too, but the only advantage was the good weather today and my horse Za’amah was very cooperative”, she said.

In the 130-km HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup, Spanish rider Cristina Yebra Altimiras, riding Girol De Quercus finished first in a time of 6:03:19 riding at an average speed of 20.14kmph.

The UAE rider Alyazia Khalid Khalifa Al Romaithi had to be content with second place. But it was a great debut for Alyazia who was riding outside the UAE for the first time. She partnered Salam Banquetol from Nad Al Sheba Stables and clocked 06:04:28 seconds to finish the 130-km distance with an average speed of 20.08 kmph. Belgian Elizabeth Hardy on Ravage Du Saule D’Or finished third in 6:19:00 at an average speed of 19.31 kmph. Fourth place in this ride went to another UAE rider Tahera Ibrahim Yousef Shahdabi. 

Alyazia, winning the second place in her first ride outside the UAE, said the terrain was tough and was made worse by the continuous drizzle. “It was very slippery and I slipped no less than ten times before completing the ride” she said. “But I am happy and thank the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival for the support.”

HE Hazza Al Kaabi, Deputy Head of Mission, UAE Embassy in France, Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the Int’l Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR), Ahmed Al Qubaisi, Manager, Communications, Abu Dhabi Sports  Council, Saif Awani of Al Awani General Enterprises, Adnan Sultan, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Musallam Al Amri, Director of Al Jazira 1& 2 Stables, Dr. Stepano Daneri of National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC, Gerard Aurel, President of Endurance Equestre in Negrepelisse along with other officials of the event took part in the prize distribution.

HE Al Kaabi said: “It is very important to have such events outside Paris, which is the centre for big racing. I’m happy to state that the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival is providing so many opportunities to racing fraternity that it is creating a huge impact all over the world. These events help UAE-France bilateral relations and it is a huge step forward."

He took the opportunity to thank His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Presidential Affairs and Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Mother of the UAE, Chairperson of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation and Chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood and Mother of the World, for their support.

Ms Sawaya said she was proud that the UAE lady riders had done exceptionally well in the two rides on Sunday. “In the three rides over two days over 205 horses/riders took part which is a great achievement and all this is the result of the support of HH Sheikh Mansoor and HH Sheikha Fatima, the Mother of the world.

Commenting on the next event which is the participation in the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2016 (ADIHEX) she said the Festival has taken a 3750 square feet pavilion.

Ms Sawaya also confirmed that the third leg of the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Triple Jewel in the US which used to be run in Los Alamitos has now been shifted to New Jersey and will be run on Sept 4, 2017.

“All the winners of the two rides today and all the Technical staff involved in the ride organization will be invited to Abu Dhabi for the November finale of the Festival,” she added.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is sustained by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, with National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC as associate sponsors, IPIC as Strategic Partner, The  National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare  and sponsored by Al Aweer Stables, Ayadii LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Bloom, Petromal, Rise General Trading Co. LLC, Hayatna, Wathba Stallions, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club,  Mohamed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Omeir Travels, Dr Nader Saab Switzerland, Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics, YAS Channel, Racing Post, Paris Turf,  Al Wathba Centre, the UAE's General Women's Union, The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2016, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.

Source: HH SH Mansoor Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival / Satya Narayan
Photo: Morhaf Al Assaf