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His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice
President, Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai was the
champion of the Giants on February 28, 2009, when he won the
120-km Giants Endurance Challenge held at the Dubai
International Endurance Village, Seih Assalem in Dubai. |
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The Dubai Round was the culmination of the Three-round
Giant Endurance Challenge. The Round I was held in Abu Dhabi
on December 13, 2008 and Round II was held in Bahrain on
January 10 this year and Dubai hosted the final round. By
virtue of winning the second round also in Bahrain, His
Highness Sheikh Mohammed became the overall champion with the
highest number of points in his kitty. He had finished in the
fifth place in Abu Dhabi round.
In Round 3, Sheikh Mohammed riding 9-year-old chestnut gelding
Tahhan, (the same horse he partnered in Bahrain,) finished a
second ahead of Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad
bin Rashid Al Maktoum who was astride Garaman Mikado. Sheikh
Mohammed completed the ride in 4:52:31 seconds and he was
riding on an average speed of 24.61 kmph.
With his win in Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed collected total points
of 250. Abu Dhabi ride fetched him 50 points and his
subsequent wins in both Bahrain and Dubai got him 100 points
each taking the tally of points ahead of Bahrain's Sheikh
Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who finished sixth in Dubai.
Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad had finished in fourth place at round
I riding Omsura Nasrrohn in 5:13:06 seconds and got 60 points.
He got another 80 points for finishing third in round II in
Bahrain taking the total to 140. After finishing sixth in the
Dubai Round he collected another 50 points taking the total to
190 and was the second overall point earner.
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential
Affairs had finished second in round I riding Carallio and got
80 points. He got another 80 points in Round II when he
finished second and a bonus of 10 points for partnering with
the same horse, taking the tally of points at the end of Round
II to 150. Unfortunately he could not complete Round III.
Sheikh Hamdan finished second in Round III riding Garaman
Mikado in a timing of 4:52.32 seconds and got 150 points and
he, along with Sheikh Mansour shared the third overall place
in the Championship.
His Majesty the King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad bin Eissa Al
Khalifa presented the Golden Sword and the Gold Kanjar to
Sheikh Mohammed and to other winners.
"The UAE has always been supportive of endurance in other Gulf
countries. The difference between the UAE and other countries
in endurance is that the speed here is very high," Sheikh
Hamad was quoted as saying in the local media.
Sheikh Mohammad said though the ride was tough and
challenging, the UAE riders managed well as they have the
experience to ride in such conditions. There was a huge crowd
of fans cheering the participants despite the weather.
Points tally after the three rounds of the Giants Endurance
Challenge (Body Weight) ride series:
1. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum: 260 points
2. Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa: 190 points
3. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan: 150 points
3. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad Al Makotum: 150 points
Saturday's results:
1. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Tahhan, 4:52:31 secs
2. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad Al Maktoum, Garaman Mikado,
4:52.32
3.Mubarak Abdullah Al Beloushi, Estaban,5:01.06
4 Butti Mohammad Khalifa Al Marri, Aratahnes Legend, 5:06.50
5.Sheikh Mayed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Hungares,
5:07.20
6. Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Omsura Nasrohn, 5:09.38
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