Abu Dhabi: Twenty-one-year-old Uma Mencia Uranga, a student at the American University in Dubai, romped home a convincing winner of the Al Jaber Ladies Challenge at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi yesterday.
Averaging an impressive speed of 28.58 km per hour aboard the nine-year-old bay gelding Pintaka, the Spanish rider made every kilometre count as she completed the gruelling 90 kilometre course in a time of three hours, eight minutes and 55 seconds. Pintaka is owned by the Fazaa Endurance team stables.
Finishing in second place on board Siloah Hamza was Emirati rider Fatima Jasem Saeed Al Merri representing the Seeh Al Salam Endurance Stables.
Stopped the clock
She stopped the clock in 03.20.28 hrs.
Maha Khalid of Morocco, riding the Dubai Endurance Stables-owned Jimbarb Joseph, was a close third in 3:21.06 hrs.
"It was a very fast endurance ride," an excited Uranga, who took home a new car as the first prize, said. "I never rode so fast since I started competing in the UAE. This is my third season here and Pintaka responded well and picked up impressively at the most important stage of the ride."
Emirati rider Arfa Khalifa Al Suwaidi set the early place in the CEN ride by winning the first stage over 30 kilometres in a time of 51.48 minutes.
She was followed by Anna Gorobovik of Kazakhstan who timed 52.25 min on Kamel Armor with Uranga a steady third in 53.00 min.
1. Uma Mencia Uranga (Pintaka/ Fazaa Endurance team) 3:08.552. Fatima Jasem Saeed Al Merri (Siloah Hamza/ Seeh Al Salam Endurance Stables) 03.20.28; 3. Maha Khalid (Jimbarb Joseph/ Dubai Endurance Stables) 3:21.064. Sara Mohammad Al Jaber (Highland View Dolly/ owned by Mohammad Obaid Al Jaber) 03.22.495. Maud Philippe Breyne (Nadwah/ Al Ghuwais Stables) 3.22.52.
