By Duane Fonseca

Bahrain dominated proceedings at Boudheib International Endurance Village last week, winning both the individual and team honours at the 2022 CH-M-E FEI Endurance World Championship. And playing an instrumental role in that double was Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who led the Royal Endurance Team of Bahrain from the front, nailing the 160km six phase ride following a tense finish that saw him finish third being a pair of UAE riders, but get the nod as the winner after the Emiratis were eliminated on account of their mounts being unable to pass the vet examination at the end.

Heartbreak for the Emiratis, brought joy to Sheikh Nasser, who completed the ride aboard Darco La Majorie in seven hours 36 minutes and 39 seconds (7:36.39). The ride was fiercely-contested with the first three finishers a second apart from the other. Abdulla Ghanim Al Marri (Lockelea Starwood Comet) and Saeed Ahmad Al Harbi (Castlebar Cadabra), both riding for F3 Stables, finished first and second with 7:36.37 and 7:36.38 on the clock respectively. However, their mounts returned high heart rates which forced their elimination, leaving Sheikh Nasser the winner.

SECOND TO THE UAE

Finishing second was Emirati rider Salem Hamad Al Kitbi, who sat aboard M7 Endurance Stables owned Haleh. The pair were a distant third with a time of 7:52.35, and Jaume Punti Dachs of Spain third on Echo Falls with 7:55.23 on the clock. Sheikh Nasser started the day in fifth place and climbed up three spots over the second loop before returning to fifth at the halfway stage.

He held onto fifth over the fourth loop and took advantage of the pacy fifth loop to make his bid for glory sharing second spot with Al Harbi. Al Marri was fourth going into the final loop and he and teammate Al Harbi both threw the kitchen sink in a bid to win but their hard riding only produced the high rates that resulted in their eliminations.

Sheikh Nasser was thrilled after being adjudged the winner. “We are No.1,” he said, hoisting his national flag and celebrating his success with his father, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain, his children and his brother. Silver medalist Al Kitbi, the only Emirati rider to finish in the Top 10, added: “Haleh is a good horse, today was a very hard race. It was very hot and sandy on the course.

We are happy with the results. We wanted the Team first, but it was not our day. We will come back stronger!” Bahrain’s victory in the Team event was gained dramatically as well with Jaafar Merza’s fourth place finish on Bolt De Venelles edging the UAE and Spain. Riding conservatively and with its four riders finishing 11th through to 14th, France secured silver, while third place went to Portugal.