Sport | Other Sports
Quality endurance field chasing Dh400,000
Most of the UAE's top runners are expected to take part in Saturday's 120km Emirates Challenge Endurance ride, to be sponsored by Hydra Properties and Abu Dhabi Sports Council.
- By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
- Published: 00:37 March 5, 2008
- Image Credit: Supplied Picture
- Lara Sawaya, Mohammad Al Mahoud, Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim and Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi at a press conference to announce details of the ride.
Abu Dhabi: Most of the UAE's top runners are expected to take part in Saturday's 120km Emirates Challenge Endurance ride, to be sponsored by Hydra Properties and Abu Dhabi Sports Council.
Announcing details of the March 8 ride at a press conference yesterday, Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, said around 90 riders were expected to take part in the FEI CEI three-star ride.
Five loops
"The total prize money on offer is Dh400,000 while a luxury car will also be on offer for the winner. The ride will be run in five loops at the Emirates International Endurance Village," Adnan said.
Dr. Sulaiman Al Fahim, CEO of Hydra Properties, who also addressed yesterday's press conference, said: "With the UAE endurance season coming to the finishing stages, most of the horses and riders are well-prepared. The Emirates Challenge is an important ride and we expect most of the top riders to take part in Saturday's ride."
"Hydra Properties has been in the forefront of various community and sporting events and we have felt highly satisfied with our support for endurance sport which is part of our heritage and culture," Dr Sulaiman said.
Mohammad Al Mahmoud, of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said the council was aiming to coordinate sporting events and clubs in Abu Dhabi. "Endurance is an important sport in the UAE and we are keen to be involved in this sport," he said.
Lara Sawaya, Managing Director of Tasweeq, said spectators attending Saturday's ride will be eligible to take part in a free raffle draw. "A total of Dh10,000 and three mobile phones will be up for grabs to the fans," she said.
Saturday's event gets off to a mass start at 6.00 am and the riders will negotiate five stages of 32kms, 30kms, 24kms, 18kms and 16kms.
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