Crown Prince Cup to end endurance season

The CEN 120 Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup is the highlight of a weeklong Endurance festival held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council.

The prestigious ride brings to a close the endurance season in Dubai.

Organised by the Dubai Equestrian Club, and held at the purpose-built Dubai International Endurance City, the finale — the CEN 120km Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup — will be staged tomorrow, where a host of national and international star horse-rider combinations are expected to compete for the coveted title.

Shaikh Hamdan, after whom the event is named, has distinguished himself as an elite athlete in the world of endurance racing, winning several local and international titles and remains an inspirational role model.

The Crown Prince has used his enormous reach as a popular leader and supporter of equestrian sport to help motivate Emirati riders to take up endurance.

A most recent example is the 17-year-old winner of the Gamilati Endurance Cup for Mares held last month, Hamdan Ahmad Al Merri.

Shaikh Hamdan works tirelessly towards creating an extensive platform for UAE’s sporting community to compete in a variety of disciplines, with the larger objective of promoting healthy living in the country.

Mohammad Eisa Al Adhab, General Manager of DEC, said: “The Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Festival offers local riders the opportunity to compete at a high level, alongside some international riders in the sport.

“His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Shaikh Hamdan are great supporters of equestrian sport in the UAE, and we are deeply grateful to them for their enduring support.”