Two podium spots for Bahrain Royal Endurance Team

Manama, Sept. 28 (BNA): HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of Bahrain Olympic Committee and Captain of Bahrain Royal Endurance Team commended the latest achievement of the riders of the team Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa and Fahad Al Khatery, who respectively won the second and third places at Mansoor bin Zayed Endurance Race in Italy yesterday. HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa stated that the victory shows the team’s readiness to compete in the approaching World Youth Endurance Championship in Chile. HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa was constantly following up on the team’s status with the head of the Bahraini delegation to Italy and the Director of the team Dr. Khalid Ahmed Hassan, who conveyed the technical directives of HH Shaikh Nasser to the members of the team, resulting in their victorious performance in the race. The team announced that the bad weather conditions deprived Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa from finishing first, as there was a high percentage of humidity after the heavy rainfall the town witnessed yesterday. In the race, Shaikh Mohammed fell off the stallion in the final stages of the race because of the wet ground. HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa affirmed that participating in the race benefitted the team members who have been taking part in different competitions in Europe during the past period as part of their preparations for the world championship in Chile. The team captain appreciated the efforts paid by each team member to win the first places and reserve many spots for Bahraini endurance on podiums of international events. The race witnessed tough competition between Bahraini and Emirati riders especially in the final stage which was dominated by Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa before he fell off his stallion 500 metres before the finish line, making way for Emirati rider Saeed Al Muhairi to win the race. Al Muhairi finished the race in 3:57:07 time, while Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa finished in second place within 3:58:45. He was followed by Bahrain Royal Endurance Team rider Fahad Al Khatery who completed the race in 4:01:33 time. As for the women category, Amy Lewis finished first in 3:55:08 time followed by Tuqoid Latitia who finished in 4:02:49 and Erin Epitappelli who came in third place, finishing in 4:22:50. On his part, Director of Bahrain Royal Endurance Dr. Khalid Ahmed Hassan appreciated the never-ending support and technical instructions of HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa which contributed in the success of the team members. He commented that Mansoor bin Zayed Endurance Race was a successful event on all aspects, adding that the team’s latest achievement is the result of the riders’ commitment to serious training and their insistence to represent the Kingdom of Bahrain in the best picture. The director of the team underlined that the team will continue participating in international championships as part of the team’s plan to prepare for the world championship in Chile.