Omani team wins equestrian competition

(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) The sultanate's first equestrian endurance competition, Gallops of Oman, concluded on Friday with Omani teams Al Safinat and Al Adiyat finishing first and second respectively.

The competition, in which 22 teams of five had to cross Sharqiyah Sands, covering 180km over five days, concluded at Qudaymah.

A press release said trophies were awarded under the auspices of H E Sheikh Saad bin Mohammed bin Said al Mardhouf al Saadi, Minister of Sports Affairs. The third position was secured by Team Khasab of France.

Abbas bin Abdullah al Bahrani, head of financial affairs, Royal Court Affairs, and chairman of Gallops of Oman Committee, said, ''I am glad that Gallops of Oman was a success and many nationalities took part in it. The event allowed them to get a feel of Oman's rich heritage and warm hospitality. The riders got a warm reception from people across Sharqiyah.''

The winning team, Al Safinat comprised Mahmood al Fori, Fatima al Manji, Ahmed al Hamadani, Hisham al Farsi and Azhar al Wardi, and Team Al Adiyat comprised Asaad al Saidi, Hiba al Rahbi, Mezoon al Wadhahi, Ayoob Issa al Zakwani and Ammar al Balushi




The French team, which won the bronze, comprised Xavier Allemandou, Heloise Allemandou, Thibault Allemandou, Rachid Haddouche and Vincent Meynier. The team said that it was a tough week with a lot of challenges. ''We love adventure and feel extremely privileged to have ridden Arabian horses. We have a lot of respect for their power and stamina and the way they move across the dunes. The 30km beach ride on Friday gave a beautiful ending to a brilliant ride, and we were amazed by the support from people who turned up to cheer us on. Gallops of Oman has been an unforgettable experience.''

Brig Abdulrazak al Shawarzi, commander, Royal Cavalry, and CEO of Gallops of Oman, said, ''The Royal Cavalry congratulates the teams for their fine performance over the past five days. The ride has tested the stamina of all the 110 horses and riders. Passing through the heart of Sharqiyah Sands and overcoming challenges of the terrain require both determination and team work.

''Every team must be congratulated for their horsemanship and the partnership they built with the horses. The ride itself is an achievement to be proud of, and we would like to thank everyone who has contributed in making the event a success.''

Mezoon of Al Adiyat said, ''The last week has been a fantastic experience. We are grateful to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said for giving his blessings to the event. We enjoyed the riding as well as the camping, and our team worked together to produce a good result. We are very happy to have participated.''

Many riders said travelling through Oman, which has a rich and distinctive culture, has been fascinating. The five-day competition allowed them to experience the Bedouin lifestyle. George Costa of Coudreau-Heclor, another team that took part in the event, said, ''I have travelled through the Camargue for 16 years and ridden in Botswana, but Gallops of Oman brought a completely new dimension to my riding experience. Moving our camps daily across the desert was no easy feat. We would like to thank Oman and its people for being such wonderful h