Dubai: Since the seventies the Royal families of the UAE and UK have enjoyed a cordial relationship and this was very much in evidence during the Royal Windsor Horse Show, a prestigious international sporting and social event, being held on the private grounds of Windsor Castle.
Friday’s highlight of the annual, five-day extravaganza which first began in 1943, was the 120km CEI ** Royal Windsor Endurance ride which took place at the centuries-old Windsor Great Park.
The event, which attracted 44 competitors including top riders from the UAE, Bahrain and the UK, saw Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain finish joint-winners.
Holding hands triumphantly, the brothers-in-law crossed the line in a time of 4 hours 52 minutes and 30 seconds.
Cheering them on from the Royal Box was His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who also participated in the ride before he withdrew, Bahrain’s King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
Shaikh Mohammad’s friendship with the Queen stretches back decades following his first visit to a racecourse in England where he watched Royal Palace win the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Ten years later, Hatta provided Shaikh Mohammad his first success at Brighton, England. The rest is history.
Meanwhile, Shaikh Nasser explained how he and Shaikh Hamdan finished together.
“We wanted to make both [our] fathers happy — His Majesty King Hamad and my father-in-law His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid — by crossing the line together,” he said on the Royal Windsor Horse Show website.
“He was four minutes ahead of me and when I caught him up we had a bit of a chat. We decide to grab hands and cross the line together.”
The ride was held in glorious sunshine with the opening section of the ride taking the competitors through a stretch on the famous turf in front of the stunning Ascot Racecourse Grandstand.
The field then swept around the edge of Windsor Great Park to negotiate route to encompassed iconic landmarks within the park, including Jubilee Statue, Prince Consort Statue and The Long Walk.
The conditions were favourable to endurance riding and also provided a visual treat for the rider who at times enjoyed panoramic views of the beautiful Berkshire Down and Windsor Castle.
Shaikh Hamdan, with Shaikh Nasser a close second, were among the leading pack from the outset of the 120k ride before they broke away to build a lead.
Averaging speeds in excess of 24 kmph, they began to dominate their rivals in the second loop and were in control during the third loop.
“It was a great race for me, particularly as I was eliminated last year,” said Shaikh Nasser. “I loved the race, the track and the competition.”
The UAE’s Shaikh Hasher Bin Mohammad Thani Al Maktoum finished third with Bahraini riders Yacoon Yousuf Yacoob Al Hammadi (Plage El Milora) and Hood Ebrahim Ali Hussain Bucherri (Sheer Arleta FL Ewalraid) taking fourth and fifth place respectively.
French rider Alexandre Monbrun faded to sixth on Al Baran while the highest placed British rider was Harry Ingram, who finished 12th on Bronze Nahdir at an average speed of 21.445km/h.
The Royal Windsor Horse Show, which concludes on Sunday, also encompasses international dressage events, a Carriage Driving Grand Prix and over 100 showing classes, displays from The Household Cavalry and The King’s Troop, Pony Club Mounted Games, as well as military competitions such as Skill at Arms, Tent Pegging and Best Turned Out Trooper.
