Abu Dhabi: Afra Khalifa Al Suwaidi and Australian ace Margaret Wade drove away with a 4WD car each after finishing first and second in yesterday's Sorouh-sponsored Shaikha Fatima Bint Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Ladies Endurance Challenge 90-km ride at Emirates International Endurance Village.
For Afra, it was a great win as she started the final stage behind the experienced Wade, who has won the Australian National Championship four times and has a lot of experience riding in the World Cup.
But riding Al Reef horse Kassalo, Afra rode the final 16 kms at an average speed of 27.55 kms to finish with almost two minutes to spare. Wade, who finished the first 30-km stage in second place then forged ahead and led for the next two stages of 24kms and 20kms.
However Afra's horse Kassalo, a 14-year-old part Arab trained by champion Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi, did well to overturn an 18-second deficit into a comfortable win.
"Last year I won at the Al Asayel Ladies championship series and this is another great win for me. It was really very tough as the pace set by the riders was very high," said the winner, who was given the keys to her car by young Shaikha Fatima Bint Mansour Bin ZayedAl Nahyan.
The Australian champion also agreed that the pace was tough going.
"It was difficult. But I did manage to keep my horse in good condition," said Wade yesterday, who is a regular participant here in the 160-km President's Cup ride every year.
"I finished 13th in 2007 and 10th last year here in the big ride. So today's second-place is a great result," said Wade, who was also given a 4WD car for her effort.
Shaikha Asma Taleb Al Qasimi, riding Mitsouko De Sauvetere, finished third. Earlier in the morning, 67 lady riders started in the Sorouh-sponsored first-ever ladies only event being staged here at the Emirates International Endurance Village.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, attended the ride.
