November 29, 2013, Abu Dhabi ~ The HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance Cup- for Arab Countries Only CEN has attracted top lady riders from the UAE and the rest of the Arab world at the Emirates International Endurance Village at Al Wathba for Saturday, November 30.
The CEN-90km event will be contested over four stages as the young Arab lady riders skirt the sand hills in the heart of the desert under the early rays of the sun to battle it out to the wire in the Dh500.000 prize-money, a Rolex watch to the winner, and other top items.
Lara Sawaya, director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and Chairman of Ladies Racing Committee in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) said:
“This sports demonstration in which the UAE women take part will eventually contribute to the development of the women sports movement within the country. I would like also to thank HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan and HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak for their generous support to promote the equestrian sport.”
Regarding the first ever running of the H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies CEIO ** 120k endurance race which was proposed to be held in conjunction with the upcoming fifth World Arabian Horse Racing Conference London 2014, Sawaya said the venue has been shifted from Newbury, UK to Italy.
“Further details will be released shortly. But, for the time being, and for unforeseeable reasons, the race will be held within the FEI 120km World Championship for Young Horses, Garda Endurance Cup at the Garda Lake in Italy, on September 28, 2014, under the flag logo of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival.”
“The festival has also concluded a partnership with the University of Liverpool. A special research entitled ‘Loss of weight’ without extra effort or side effects will be conducted for the jockeys. The logo of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan will be also placed at the University,” she confirmed.
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 Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), Invest AD, Arabtec Holding PJSC, Al Rashid Investment, Areej Al Ameerat, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, 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, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah and the Racing post.