JEDDAH, 19 January 2007 — Saudi equestrian stars, who triumphed at the 120 km and 160 km events of Bahrain Endurance Championship 2007, now look forward to representing the Kingdom at the World Cup.
The Kingdom Equestrian team, which included both men and women riders, participated in the championship events that kicked off in Bahrain on Saturday. In all 60 jockeys from all around the world competed. The Equestrian Royal Federation for Endurance Races organized the championship with the support of Nasser Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa.
Three out of the five Saudi equestrians, who represented Kingdom Holding Company Chairman Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, ended with a triumphant note. First place went to Saudi rider Muhammad Al-Mihlisi, 30, while Noora Al-Yousuf, 30, won 3rd place and Alia Alhwaete, 25, 4th place. Also in the team were Abdulrahman Alhawas and Latifa Alsheikh.
According to the team coach and superviser at the company’s stables, Najeeb Al-Nassir, the team did wonderfully well and their handling of horses was excellent. “They proved that Saudi women could be a great jockey and excel with enthusiasm and persistence,” he said.
“I wanted to make it clear that Saudi women equestrians are not only good in the jumping events but also in the endurance events,” said Alhwaete, a resident of Riyadh. “I believe we made it clear that it (the sport) is not only for men.”
“The door opened for many Saudi women to join the field, thanks to Prince Alwaleed bin Talal who made it easier for us,” she said. “He provided us with the best trainers and horses and above all his continued support was a source of encouragement,” she said. The Kingdom Holding Company bought 12 Australian horses three months ago. The team wanted to participate earlier at the 15th Asian Games but, she said, usually the horses are trained for at least seven months and these horses were new. “We could not risk that.”
The equestrian needs to know his horse and his personality, she added. That is why she enjoys riding different horses and experiencing different personalities. “It enriches our skills and enhances our performance,” she said. The endurance event especially, she said, was “enduring and challenging” for both the horse and his rider.
The participation of Gulf women is encouraging and the number of Saudi women who are participating is increasing. “And that’s a good sign,” Alhwaete said. Al-Nassir said that since Alhwaete had set an example, many women are now sending in applications “more than ever,” and are undergoing tests to see who will qualify to represent the Kingdom.
She believes that Arab women may find themselves fit for this sport and may surprise others, as the sport took its roots here as a hobby. Thus they manage to succeed in this sport naturally because it is related to their culture and age-old heritage.
Fourteen-year-old Latifa Alsheikh, who appeared for the first time in a championship outside the Kingdom, “did a great job,” said Alhwaete. She was a great example and has a promising future, especially as she covered 85 kilometers, more than half of the race distance, and then had to stop due to “the condition of her horse.”
Speaking from the Eastern Province, Alsheikh said, “I thought the jumping events were hard, but this is way tougher. However, I really enjoyed it and learned a lot from this experience.”
Alsheikh said that she participated in many local events in the Eastern Province and that was how she was chosen. She started training when she was seven.
“The trainers here at Saudi Aramco, where we live, started to train me and even my dad, who has knowledge (of the sport), started to give me hints and tips on what to do and what to avoid,” she said.
Now, after this participation, she is willing to enhance her skills at both the jumping and endurance events.
Meanwhile, the equestrians, who participated at the Arab League at the fourth round in Dubai returned home after achieving tremendous success. Despite the participation of 15 Arab countries, first place went to Prince Abdullah ibn Miteb ibn Abdullah. This achievement now qualifies him to participate in the World Cup, which will be held in the United States, with his 69 points. Khalid Al-Eid won second place and Abdullah Al-Shurbatli third place. The equestrians were congratulated by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and the Presidency of Youth Welfare’s Prince Sultan and his deputy and president of the Saudi Equestrian Federation, Prince Nawaf ibn Faisal. According to SPA, the fifth league round will follow in Riyadh later this year. The Saudi equestrians now look forward to qualifying for the World Cup and representing their country and making it proud. And though some belong to the Saudi Equestrian Federation and others to the Kingdom Holding Company, Alhwaete concludes, “we are all here to serve the Kingdom and, at the end, we are all Saudi and proud to represent our country and wear the green flag.”
