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Kingdom’s Jockey 1st Saudi to Win 240km Distance Race in Abu Dhabi
Kingdom Equestrian team which is owned by HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz AlSaud has been qualified to the Equestrian World Cup through international jockey Mr. Abdulhakim AlGhufaily during the 7th Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Heritage Festival that was in Abu Dhabi. The Kingdom team participated in the 240 km distance race, divided into three days, from the 14th-16th of March 2013, with participation of more than 370 male and female jockeys from all over the globe. Mr. AlGhufaily has achieved a historic achievement in this distance race. Thus, the first Saudi to cross this distance and deservedly qualifies to the World Cup which becomes the Kingdom team’s 57 achievement.
Furthermore, Mr. AlGhufaily expressed his deep happiness for this achievement, saying: "This is by the grace of God and then the support and patronage of HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal for the team and the sport.”
Prince Alwaleed commented: “We dedicate the team’s achievement to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Kingdom Team’s series of achievements include: Mr. Abdulhakeem AlGhufaily won 1st place in the 100km International Endurance Challenge held in Kuwait, Mr. Sulaiman AlMohaimidi won 1st place in the 100km International Endurance Challenge held in Kuwait in 2012, under the patronage of Sheikh Talal AlMohamed Alsabah, Ms. Ayah Khalil winning two stars from the International Federation of endurance races in Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan endurance championship for women. Ms. Maha Jafri and Mr. Abdulhakeem AlGhufaily winning the silver medal in Wadi Rum International Equestrian endurance. Mr. Homood AlShamari winning 1st place in the Crown Prince Endurance Challenge Cup, held in Onaizah in January 2011. Mr. AlShamari has won 1st place in the Khalidiya Equestrian Endurance Challenge Cup, in January 2011 and Mr. Abdulrahman AlHawas came in 2nd place. Mr. AlShamari winning 1st place and Mr. AlHawas coming in 2nd in the Equestrian Endurance Challenge Cup held in Onaizah in December 2010. Also, Ms. Latifa AlSheikh winning 1st place in HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan 90km Women’s Endurance Championship held in Abu Dhabi in 2010, she also won 2nd place in the Women’s Endurance Championship held in 2009 Dubai, Mr. Alhawas earned the number one position in the challenge winning the Al Khalediah Prince Khaled‘s Cup Endurance Challenge 2009.
In 2008, Kingdom Team won the Alwafa’ International Championship Cup held in Damascus, Syria. The Saudi Show Jumping Jockey Mr. Khaled Aleid earned the highest points in the final Arab League qualifying for the World Cup Championship. In March 2008, Mr. Aldahami achieved 1st place in the Qatar International Championship Cup held in Doha, Qatar. In February 2008, Saudi Show Jumping Jockey Mr. Ramzi Aldahami Kingdom team member won first place in the King of Bahrain Championship qualifying for the world championship finals. Mr. Aldahami achieved 2nd place in the opening round and 3rd place for the smaller award during the International Abu Dhabi Championship that qualified him to the world cup championship held in January 2008. In January 2007, Kingdom Equestrian Team won the 2007 Bahrain Endurance Championship. The team had won 1st, 3rd and 4th place during the race which was organized by The Equestrian Royal Federation for Endurance Races, under the patronage of HH Nasser bin Hamad AlKhalifa. The team participated in the 120km race, 60 jockeys from around the world participated in the race. In February 2007, Kingdom Equestrian team won the First Crown Prince Endurance cup in Saudi Arabia. In March 2007, the team also won the King Abdullah Endurance Cup 2007 which took place in Alras town in Gassim province in north of Riyadh. In April 2007, they won the King Abdulaziz Endurance cup that took place in Hail and in November 2006, the team also won the Saudi Federation Cup.
Prince Alwaleed, continues to support and care about all athletes in Saudi Arabia and in particular equestrianism, which has received considerable funding from His Highness, who has been keen for the past decade and every year to provide at least 5 cars as prizes to the winners of races in addition to sums of money as an encouragement to the jockeys.