November 21, 2013, UK ~ Freelance journalist Liz Price was named as the winner of a competition to reward journalistic excellence promoted in conjunction with the 31st Anniversary Dubai International Arabian Race Day, at an awards ceremony held in London yesterday hosted by H.E. Mirza Al Sayegh and in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, First Secretary to the UAE Embassy.
Staged under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, and held at The Racecourse Newbury in August, the Dubai International Arabian Race Day is widely regarded as a European showcase for Arabian racing.
The journalists competition provides more than £20,000 in prize money to be shared among the winners and runners-up in three categories; UK Print Media, Open Category and Best Photograph.
The top prize in the UK Print Media category of £7,500 carries with it a charitable donation of £2,000 made to the charity or charities of the winner’s choice, and was presented to Price for the second time since the competition launched in 2009.
Announcing the awards, Abdulla Al Ansari, Chairman of the panel of judges said, “There are many different factors to consider when choosing a winner in this category. The article should be balanced, informative and well researched and be able to engage and inspire its audience. We felt that this piece of writing achieved this more than any other.”
Price, whose article was published in International Thoroughbred Magazine responded by thanking H.H. Sheikh Hamdan and the Race Day Committee for their continued support. She said, “I would like to thank His Highness Sheikh Hamdan and the Committee for this generous prize but more so for continuing with this competition because it keeps us all on our toes.
“Every year we attend the event and are challenged with finding a new angle, identifying something new to write about and in doing that we learn more about the sport. This competition promotes greater understanding of Arabian racing and I am delighted to have been chosen as the winner.”
A number of charities will benefit from Price’s success including The Injured Jockeys Fund, Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance.
The Open Category which includes international and on-line coverage was won by Geoffrey Riddle whose articles in The National, the Abu Dhabi-based English speaking newspaper, were said by the committee to have elevated the standard of reporting of Arabian Racing to a new level. Riddle collected a cheque for £3,000.
In 2012, the inaugural year of the category for Best Photograph, the judges were unable to separate Gavin James and Philip Cannings who this year won the award outright for his technically excellent shot of the closing strides in the Shadwell Hatta International Stakes, one of the Group 1 features on the day.
Representing His Highness Sheikh Hamdan, H.E. Mirza Al Sayegh said, “We value the contribution of the media and are pleased to have this opportunity to recognise the important role played by journalists, broadcasters and photographers in the success of the event. We hope you will stay with us for many more years and continue to promote the Dubai International Arabian Race Day and the sport as a whole.”
H.E Mirza Al Sayegh also confirmed to the invited audience that the 2014 renewal of the Dubai International Arabian Race Day will take place at The Racecourse Newbury on Sunday, 10 August.
The Committee used the occasion to present Special Recognition Awards to some of the event’s partners and supporters including the UAE Embassy, UAE horseracing publication Al Adiyat, The Arabian Racing Organisation, Dubai Racing Channel, The Racecourse Newbury, and event promoters, Sportsguide.
Picture caption: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum (centre) presents a cheque for £7,500 to Liz Price with (l-r) Masoud Saleh, Philip Cannings, Shadwell Estate Co. Director Richard Lancaster, His Excellency Mirza Al Sayegh, Geoffrey Riddle, Abdulla Al Ansari and Mohammed Taha.
Full List of winners:
UK Print Media Category
Liz Price (International Thoroughbred Magazine) £7,500
Stuart Riley (Racing Post Annual) £4,000
Malcolm Howe (Newbury Weekly News) £2,000
Paul Haigh (International Thoroughbred Magazine) Limited Edition Shadwell iPad
Open Category
Geoffrey Riddle (The National and Racing UK) £3,000
Deborah Burt (Arabian Magazine) Limited Edition Shadwell iPad
Best Published Photograph
Philip Cannings (Newbury Weekly News) £2,000
David Dew (Racing Post Annual) Limited Edition Shadwell iPad
Gavin James (Arabian Magazine and International Thoroughbred Magazine) Limited Edition Shadwell iPad
Photo caption: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum (centre) presents a cheque for £7,500 to Liz Price with (l-r) Masoud Saleh, Philip Cannings, Shadwell Estate Co. Director Richard Lancaster, His Excellency Mirza Al Sayegh, Geoffrey Riddle, Abdulla Al Ansari and Mohammed Taha.
Photo by: Majit
~ends