AHMED Mohammed Al Jaber Al Marri, riding Shardell Sharana Golden, won the Sheikh Zayed Bin Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup for private owned horses, held on Saturday at the Emirates International Endurance Village, Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi.
Sheikh Zayed Bin Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan presented the trophies, soon after the ride. Also present were Talib Dhahir Al Muhairi, secretary general of Emirates Equestrian Federation, Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, director general of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club and Lara Sawaya, managing director of Tasweeq. SAS Investment Company LLC was the main sponsor. The event has also got sponsorship support from Wathba Stud Farm.
It drew 85 riders and the participants were required to cover the CEN 100 kms, ride divided into four stages of 32 kms, 28 kms, 24 km and 16 kms.
However, Marri had to battle through early morning fog in the first stage. He improved himself in the remaining stages to win the ride comfortably. Marri completed the journey in three hours 39 minutes and 58 seconds with an average speed of 27.28 kmph.
The winning 11-year-old chestnut gelding is owned by Mohammed Obaid Al Jaber.
Sayed Mohammed Abbas Alawi, riding eight-year-old bay mare Polonia Endurance, finished second in 03:50.09 while Ahmed Mohammed Saleh Al Shehhi, timed 03.53.57 on Sheridon to take the third spot.
The fourth place went to Mansour Ibrahim Ahmed who partnered Guru. He clocked a time of 03:54.07.
Mubarak Awad Al Khatiri, on Anter Baby, led the first stage with a time of 1.08.44 followed by Ahmed Mohammed Al Jaber Al Marri (01.09.55)
In the second stage Marri (2.11.59) took the first place and Khaitri (2:15.11) was pushed to third place behind Hamad Ibrahim Abdullah Al Marzouqi (0214.41), who was riding Catula.
In the third stage, Marri, (03.05.24) strongly maintained his top place. On the heels of the leader was Marzouqi (03.06.14). He continued the same pattern in the concluding stage also.
“I really did not expect this win. I was only hoping for a top 10 finish,” said Marri, for whom this was his maiden victory. The win also earned him a car.
“I have been riding horses for the last four years and my previous best was a second place finish at Bu Dheeb this season. Our family (Al Jaber) family has purchased 20 horses this year and Shardell Sharana Golden looked to be one of the best condition horses so I chose to ride him,” said Marri adding that there are similar or better horses at the stable. Marri is a 12th grade student at the Al Nadjha School in Abu Dhabi.
