MENAFN- The Peninsula) Hadad Challenge will start the sixth Qatar International Falcon and Hunting Festival on Monday at Sabkhat Marmi near Sealine in Mesaieed, organisers have announced.
Mohammed Abdulatif Al Misnad, Vice-Chairman, Al Gannas Association, and the festival organising committee, said the festival will start with Hadad Challenge as this category of the competition is the most anticipated and has the biggest number of participants from Qatar and neighbouring countries.
Of 1,406 who registered for the festival, 535 are participating in Hadad Challenge.
Participants have been divided into 16 groups. The first seven groups will have 34 competitors each, the second five with 33 competitors each and the last four with 33 competitors each.
To ensure transparency, draws for all categories were done electronically at Al Gannas Association headquarters in the presence of participants and the media.
The timetable and groupings will be announced on social media to inform participants about the schedule and the starting time of each competition.
Al Misnad urged the participants to come two hours before the start of a competition.
He said while finalising the schedule, they took into account the fact some Qataris would also participate in competitions abroad and will ensure that the schedule does not clash with school examinations for contestants in the young falconers category.
In preparing the schedule for the young falconers' competition, we will ensure that it does not clash with school examinations schedule," he said.
Participants whose falcons have not been seen by the committee can present them at 10am on the day of the contest at Sabkhat Marmi.
Overseas participants should present the entry visa of the falcon which must be certified by the customs authorities and the Ministry of Environment.
The panel said the festival ground has been equipped with the best facilities for competitions.
There is a sophisticated system for communication between members of various committees supervising the competitions to ensure accurate results, which will be announced directly to the public in attendance.
Other categories include Al Mazain, Al Tala'a, Al Da'o, Hadad Al Saluki, Young Saker and Old Saker.
Being held under the patronage of H E Sheikh Joan bin Hamad Al Thani, the festival which is deeply rooted in Qatar's culture and traditions, will showcase some of the most beautiful and trained falcons.
The month-long festival is considered one of the largest in the field of falcons and hunting in the region.
Promoting the preservation of wildlife, protection of falcons and maintaining falconry as an important aspect of Qatari tradition are among the objectives of the annual event.
It also aims to promote excellence in falconry and hunting and share experiences of falconers in the region.
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