By Duane Fonseca
A battle of epic proportions ensued in last week’s Hatta Endurance Ride, with Francisco Jose Balverde emerging as the victor on a podium where the top three finished within four seconds of each other.
The four loop 101km ride saw Argentina’s Balverde snatch victory during the course of the last loop aboard SS Private Stablesowned Sol Lu, whom he rode at an average speed of 29.11kph and clocked the quickest time of three hours 28 minutes and 11 seconds (3:28:11), which was a mere two seconds quicker than that posted by Rashed Mohammed Al Mehairi aboard TNT Private Stables’ Bomec Du Sauveterre.
A further two seconds adrift in third was another Emirati rider, Khalifa Al Ameemi, who rode Al Muhalhal, also owned by SS Private Stables. Al Ameemi was timed at 3:28:15. Balverde’s Argentine compatriot Daiana Yamila Chopita took charge during the course of the 35km first loop on Al Kamda Endurance Stables’ SM Fa Juanita, with the former eighth.
The lead changed hands during the course of the second loop over 25km as second placed Saif Ahmed Al Mazrouei moved up one spot on SS-owned Hattan. Chopita traded places with Al Mazrouei and dropped a further two spots during the third phase over 21km. On the other hand, Al Mazrouei managed to do only just enough to hold on to his position at the top of the leaderboard.
Balverde managed to keep eighth during the second loop and made a move up the rung through the third phase to make his bid for glory from fifth. Balverde was :44 adrift going into the final ‘sprint’ loop spanning 20km and with plenty of horse under him he was able to rev up considerably going from 27.03kph to 34.12kph, which saw him cruise to the front effortlessly but with his nerves jangling as Al Mehairi and Al Ameemi both started to exert themselves.
However, Al Mehairi would end up finishing two seconds slower with 3:28:13 on the clock, with Al Ameemi timed at 3:28:15 after he managed to hold on to third spot during the course of the last two loops.
