Shaikha Madiya Bin Hasher Al Maktoum entered the record books when she became the first national woman to complete an international 160km endurance ride.

Shaikha Madiya achieved the feat when she finished 25 in the Abu Dhabi Arabian Nights ride in Idaho, north west of the US.

The ride was sponsored by Emirates International Endurance Village.

Karen Kroon won the event with an average speed of 19.70kph, while Susan White Hedgecock finished second in 19.66kph. Dual world champion Valerie Kanavy was third in a time of 19.43kph. Of the 55 starters, 35 completed the ride.

For the past two months, Shaikha Madiya has been training in the US with Jan Worthington and Grace Ramsey at their stables in Illinois where they have horses owned by Dubai businessman Khalid Al Gurair.

Three of his horses took part in this ride which included the mount of Shaikha Madiya, My Rainbow Jasper, who averaged 13.64kph.

During her training in the US, Shaikha Madiya successfully completed several 80km rides in preparation for her first 160km ride.

A delighted Shaikha Madiya said: "General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defence, is my inspiration. He has supported me in my ambition.

"My aim is to become a member of the UAE team and I will return to the US next April and train and compete here throughout the summer.

"I have 25 horses at my stable in Dubai and have six more coming from the US, plus another six that will stay here in training. My goal is to encourage more UAE ladies to take up endurance and to establish a team of UAE ladies who would compete internationally," she added.

At the awards presentation, Mohammad Al Sayed, Chairman of Emirates International Endurance Committee, congratulated Shaikha Madiya on her outstanding success. The scenery throughout the Arabian Nights was spectacular, as it passed through sections of the Oregon Trial.

Split into six legs of 32, 29, 26, 27, 22 and 22km, the ride started at 6.15 a.m. in the light of a full moon.

The local desert condition, over undulating sandy but occasionally rocky tracks, produced a fast ride that was the last official selection trial for the US World Championship team.

The leading international rider was Belgium's Leonard Liesens who finished 10th in 17.45kph.