Al Harmoudi wins Al Wathba Night Ride

 smNightride_2189 (2)April 26, 2013, Abu Dhabi ~ Khaled Abdullah Ahmed Al Harmoudi on the 12-yr-old mare, Ashraf Sparkling Polaris, won the 120-km Al Wathba Night Ride at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, on Friday (April 26) night.

Al Harmoudi, representing Fazaa Endurance Team  finished the 120-km ride in 4 hours 10 minutes and 37 seconds with Dana Mohammed Sharif Al Mutawa on Syferpan Cosmo just seconds behind.  Rashed Hamoud Humaid Al Junaibi on Sarah Jones Te finishing third.

A total of 166 riders took part in the 120-km event that was run in four stages of 40km, 40km, 24km and 16kms. The night ride began at 5:15 pm, the winner crossing the finish line at midnight.smPrintthis703T9510

 The joyous Al Harmoudi took home a four-wheel-drive car and a slice of the Dh450,000 ($122,000) prize money.

“I have been taking part for the last six years but this is my first ever win. It was also the first win for my horse and she was in very good shape throughout the race,” said Al Harmoudi, a 22-year-old student from Al Ain.

“ The event went off smoothly and the climate was perfect,” said Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, who gave away the trophies and awards along with Ms Lara Sawaya, Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and Head of Ladies Racing in IFAHR.

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“The top three riders of tonight’s ride will be flown to Toulouse, France  from June 4-10, 2013, where the races of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival will be held. They will be our guests and apart from watching the racing action they get the chance to attend the Fourth World Arabian Racing Conference,” said Ms Sawaya.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse  Flat Racing Festival is organized by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and co-ordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare and Fegentri with Emirates airlines as the official carrier and sponsored by Invest AD, Arabtec, Al Rashid Investment, Areej Al Ameerat, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2013, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Wathba Stud Farm and Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.

Results (top 5) of the 120-km Al Wathba Night Ride:

1.      Khaled Abdullah Ahmed Al Harmoudi (Ashraf Sparkling Polaris) 4 hrs 10 mins 37 secs

2.      Dana Mohammed Sharif Al Mutawa (Syferpan Cosmo) 4:10.39

3.      Rashed Hamoud Humaid Al Junaibi (Sarah Jones Te) 4:12.52

4.      Saif Ahmed Al Mazroui (Aldjani Safinat) 4:16.34

5.      Saeed Mohammed Khalifa Al Mehairi (Magic Glenn Galah) 4:16.35

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