ABU DHABI – A great ride by Fatima Jassem Saeed Al Marri brought Hurst Randor home to land the Shaikha Fatma bint Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Ladies Endurance Cup at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi on Friday.
The CEN 90 kms grueling race was divided into four satges of 30 kms, 24 kms, 20 kms and 16 kms and it attracted 58 riders vying for honours at the beautiful venue.
The winner walked away with main portion of the mouth watering Dh500,000 in prizemoney.
The race was attended by Shaikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
The brilliant lady Fatima Al Marri covered the ditance in three hours, nine minutes and eight seconds at an average speed of 28.55 km/h astride the eight-year old gelding Hurst Radnor, to win it for Seih
Assalam Endurance Stables.
Al Marri has won earlier in the season the National Day Cup and this was her second time to cross the finish line ahead of all.
The race is sponsored by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, Emirates Airlines, SAS Investment Co LLC, Samawi Neon, Al Ameri, Areej Al Ameerat, Mauzan and Al Awami.
She finished the first phase in third place and climbed up two places into first, which she maintained in the remaining two stages. “It was a fast ride and there were a couple of other competitors who were also with good horses,” said the 17-year-old college student from Dubai.
“This is my third win though it was the horses’ first win. I am planning to participate in the remaining rides of the season and achieve good results,” she said.
Lauren Michelle Hiscock, finished second riding Tora Conrad from Al Rees Stables. She clocked 3:09.13, riding on an average speed of 28.539. “This is my best finish with Al Reef Stables and I am very happy with the horse,” said Hiscock.
Geraldine Jacquet from France, on Kaysand Farrazah from Al Aasfa Ltd clocked 03:09.44 to place third.
Taleb Dhaher Al Muhairi, secretary general of Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEI) , Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, director general of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Lara Sawaya, director of Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, and sponsors’ representatives gave away the trophies.
