Mufta Al Dhahiri from the UAE won the first place in His Majesty The King of Bahrain Show Jumping Championship which was held at the Mounted Police Centre in Budaiya, Manama, Bahrain, from February 22 to 24, 2006. Dhahiri was riding Ikea,owned by Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He finished the competition (Two different rounds with the second round against the clock) in 1.21 minutes without any faults. Dhahiri received prize money of BD 3000. The championship was being organized by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation.

Second place in this championship went to Lebanese rider Kareem Farris who was riding Cash Only and he was followed to the third place by the Saudi Arabian Olympic rider Khalid Al Eid who was riding Salwano.

The championship in Bahrain featured top riders from Bahrain and the Arab region. The event was part of the FEI World Cup Arab League Qualifier with the top two riders qualifying for the World Championship in Kuala Lumpur scheduled to be held in June.

Another UAE rider Mohammed Al Kumeiti won the World Cup Qualifier competition held at same venue on the second day. Riding Al Mutawakel, Al Kumeiti had the best time of 61.28 seconds without making any faults to clinch the first place.

Kumeiti, who won BD800, was followed by Egyptian rider Ala'a Habash (62.13) on Karta while Ramzy Al Duhami (62.40) of Saudi Arabia on Ocelot was third (62.40). Kumeiti also clinched the fourth place on Al Bareq( 63.82).

In another event, Abdul Rahman Al Habsi of the UAE took the two-phase competition and a BD500 cash prize finishing top in 24.83 seconds on Family Du Montois with no faults.

The three-day championship was attended by Sheikh Abdullah bin Majid Al Qassimi, Vice President of the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, Hussein Mohammed Hussein, Secretary General of the UAE Equestrian Federation, Alia bint Hussein, Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Vice President of the Bahrain Equestrian Federation, Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Bahrain International Endurance Committee, several Sheikhs, dignitaries and officials.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Majid Al Qassimi, speaking during the prize-distribution ceremony, congratulated His Excellency Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman, UAE Equestrian Federation, for the success of the UAE riders and also thanked the UAE riders for being highly successful not only in the home front but in other parts of the world as well.

Hussein Mohammed Hussein dedicated the success to His Highness President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and toe UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. He praised the achievements made by the UAE riders who have already won four of the six World Cup Qualifier Competitions. Hussein took the opportunity to also thank His Excellency Dr. Sheikh Sultan for his continuous support to show jumping and he mentioned that under his directive, for the first time, junior riders were given a chance to perform along with the professional senior jumpers.

While receiving the prize, Dhahiri also dedicated the prize to the UAE President and Vice President. He thanked Sheikh Falah bin Zayed for supporting the show jumping event in the country.

A special trophy in the name of the Late Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain was also awarded during the three-day Championship. The trophy was presented to the winner of a new competition held during the second day of the event being organised for the second consecutive year.

Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation's second vice-president Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa said the new event was being held in appreciation of the support provided by the Late Sheikh Faisal to equestrian sports in the Kingdom.

Saif Omar Thabit from the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, paired superbly with Elp St. Clair to win the Class 3 B1, A2 One Round with Jump Off Show jumping competition held over the weekend at the Sharjah Equestrian Club. Second place in the same event was clinched by Hamad Al Kirbi from Sharjah Equestrian Club and he was riding Henreb.

The two-day events, featuring a total of six classes, were organized by the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation.

In another category of equal importance, Class 3-B2 (One Round Against the clock), Hamad Al Kirbi from the Sharjah Equestrian Club finished first riding Genial IV. Rashid Al Hosani from Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club finished second riding Illimane.

Other results are as follows:
Class 3-B1, A2 (One Round with Jump-Off)
3rd place: Abdel Rahman Al Kaabi, (Jeuri de La Chenee), Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Centre, (Liebe and Henreb)
4th place: Ali Al Kumaiti, (Caleeto), Ajman Equestrian Club

Class: 3 B-2 (One round Against the Clock)
3rd place: Nadia Taryam (Coralle 26), Sharjah equestrian Club
4th place: Rashid Al Hosani (Gitane du Brumans), Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club

Class: 5 A2- One round with Jump-Off
1st place: Shouq Al Nowais (Jalia de Curenncs), Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club
2nd place: Michelle Woolmer (Cartier Z) Zabeel Stables
3rd place: Sheikh Ali A. Al Qassimi, (Look at me 9), Sharjah Equestrian Club
4th place: Sheikh Ahmed S. Al Qassimi, (Millstreet), Ajman Equestrian Club.

Class: 2 C2- (One round against the clock)
1st place: Salim Ahmed Al Suwaidi (Suzuki Ratkerane) Sharjah Equestrian Club
2nd place: Rashid Al Rumaithi (Gargliano) Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club) 3rd place: Salim Khamis Al Suwaidi (Iris du Rougier), Sharjah Equestrain Club
4th place: Saif Al Tunaiji (Quartzy II), Emirates Heritage Centre)

Over 120 endurance riders are likely to participate in the Al Wathba Challenge, scheduled to be held at the Emirates International Endurance Village, Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, on Thursday, January 19, 2006.

The CEI 3-star, 120-km Emirates Challenge ride will be run in five stages of 32 km, 30 km, 24 km, 18 km and 16 km respectively. It will feature horses aged six and above and the ride is scheduled to start at 6.30 am. There is a Best Conditioned Horse Competition on the same day.

The strong field of riders includes Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who will be riding either Zaafaran or Jayel Victor, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who will be riding Garoua, Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Sheikha Madiya Hasher Mana Al Maktoum, Sheikh Abdullah bin Faisal Al Qassimi, Sultan Ahmed Sultan bin Sulayem,Yousef Ahmed Al Baloushi, Mohammed Ali Al Shafar, Jaber Bittar, Jesus Manuel Berna, Hassan bin Ali, Abdul Aziz Al Redha, Layla Abdul Aziz Al Redha, Mubarak Khalifa bin Shafya and several others.

It has been strictly notified that all horses must be presented with an original FEI passport, or an FEI approved National Passport with Recognition Card with up-to-date influenza vaccination record.

As is the case during all the endurance rides in the UAE, whips, spurs and long reins are not permitted during the ride. The riders have been requested that they make sure that their horses are sufficiently warmed-up before being taken inside the vet gate. No more than two persons and the rider will be permitted to accompany a horse inside the vet gate at any time.

The riders have also been instructed that they must wear hard type riding helmets and shoes with heels.

It is also forbidden to give water or any other kind of assistance from inside a car. Any horse that is retired after the start must be shown to an official Ride Veterinarian before it leaves and venue. Furthermore, crewing of horses is not permitted in the entrances or inside the vet gate. All the participants have been requested by the Federation to follow these rules to make the rides smooth and trouble-free.