Abu Dhabi: Kamila Kart seems to be enjoying her endurance season here in the UAE.
The Polish rider won the gruelling 240km three-day Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Festival endurance ride at the Boutheib Endurance Village in Al Khatem here yesterday.
Riding 11-year-old Novisaad d Aqui, Kart did very well to finish a mere two seconds ahead of Ceinwen Morgan on Kalawind de Sommant with the UAE's Noora Abdullah Ahmad Al Hosani on Fanmar Baza in third place.
Feature ride
Kart's win in the feature ride of the Festival, organised under the patronage of Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President's Representative, is her second after the Polish rider had earlier done well in two Ladies rides.
Kart had won the President's Cup for Ladies over 90km held at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba and had earlier finished sixth in a Ladies Ride held at the same venue.
The three-day 240km ride was run with the riders negotiating 80km each day. At the end of the first day, Kart was in 10th position.
At the end of 160kms and after two days, Sabrina Mendiz was leading with Kart in fourth place.
In yesterday's final 80km leg, Kart initially slipped a place lower to finish the first stage in 5th place,but later gathered pace to top the final stages to stave off the second-placed Morgan.
Another consistent performer this season, Fatima Jasem Saeed Al Marri came up on top once again, this time winning the 120km Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Ladies Cup. Al Marri, who won the prestigious National Day Cup earlier in the current season, pipped Emma Victoria Finnie of Germany with just a second separating the two after five loops covering a distance of 120kms.
Great win
Al Marri, however, dominated the Ladies ride after being second in the first two stages of 30kms each and then moved into the lead and stayed there to post a great win on 9-year-old Hurst Radnor.
Al Marri, who had finished third in the Festival's Junior ride last year, said: "I am grateful to all the support I receive from my family and the staff at Seih Al Salam Stables for all the success I have had so far this season."
Rashed Ahmad Al Beloushi on Otiste outduelled Mohammad Sulaiman Rashid Al Marboui on Bevolin Races The Wind to win the 120km Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup for Juniors.
Results:
Top Five in the Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Festival three-day 240km Three-star ride: 1. Kamila Kart of Poland (Novisaad d Aqui) 9hrs 47mins 35 secs; 2. Ceinwen Morgan (Kalawind de Sommant) 9:47. 37; 3. Noora Abdullah Ahmad Al Hosani (Fanmar Baza) 9:48.24; 4. Sabrina Magali Mendiz of Argentina (Halim) 9:49.10; 5. Ahmad Mohammad Al Jaber Al Marri of UAE (Al Wathba Shakarma) 9:49.11.
Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup for Ladies 120km ride: 1. Fatima Jasem Saeed Al Marri of UAE (Hurst Radnor) 4:43.53; 2. Emma Victoria Finnie of Germany (Baraka Pir Taj) 4:43.54; 3.Stefanie Arnold of Germany (Torrybum Countess) 4:52.06, 4. Madeya Ahmad Mohammad of UAE (Kohnray Cedar) 4:53.26, 5.Afra Khalifa Al Suwaidi of UAE (Kasalo) 4:58.14.
Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup for Juniors 120km Two-star ride: 1. Rashed Ahmad Al Beloushi (Otiste) 4:38.17: 2. Mohammad Sulaiman Rashid Al Marboui (Bevolin Races The Wind) 4:38.18; 3. Mohammad Juma Ali Al Muhairi (Perdeberg Cobra) 4:38.26; 4.Shaikh Hamed Dalmook Al Maktoum (Colonial Boy) 4:42.27; 5. Mansour Saeed Mohammad Al Faresi (Laouenn De Kerpont) 4:49.29.
