October 9, 2013, Paris ~ Lara Sawaya, director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, has been elected chairman of the Ladies Racing at the International Federation of the Arabian Horse Racing Authority (IFAHR), it was announced during the general meeting of the world Arabian racing body on Monday, October 7 in Paris.
Sawaya has worked tirelessly over the last few years to promote ladies races within the international organization of IFAHR under the umbrella of the festival, which includes the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship. Other races and events under her direction are the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup, the Wathba Stud Farm Cup series, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak EARS Conference and the World Arabian Horse Racing Conference,which will celebrate its fifth anniversary in London 2014 next year.
According to Sawaya, she will continue to develop and improve ladies racing aboard Arabian horses and support them through forums and conferences hosted by the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Flat Arabian Horse Racing Festival.
“The HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR has made its mark and is leaving a positive impression about the festival around the world,” she said.
“This effort and success is the fruit of the directives and endless support of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the UAE.”
IFAHR Officers Elected
Meanwhile, Sami Jassim Al Boenain was unanimously re-elected IFAHR chairman for further four-year term in office. Mrs. Genny Haynes was elected vice-chairman. Sweden’s Mats Genberg maintained his position as secretary general alongside the members of the executive council Wieger Joost de Ruiter, treasurer besides the members Yves Plantin, Mohammed Al Hammadi, Naji Chaoui and Z. A. from Turkey with Lara Sawaya, chairman of the Ladies Racing.
The executive council will meet in Abu Dhabi in November when the chairmen of the sub-committees will be elected.
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