Longines 2012 Endurance Cup in Dubai

Longines presents the 2012 His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup:
Dubai (UAE), 14th January, 2012 – The elegance of Longines was discernible at the elite His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance cup that was held on Saturday 14th January 2012. In its fifth year, the prestigious Cup was organized and hosted by the Dubai Equestrian Club and presented by Longines, the official timekeeper for all equestrian events at Meydan Group, subsequent to their latest partnership. The winner of the cup, 17 year old Abdulla Ghanim Al Marri of the UAE, was awarded the beautiful Longines Column-Wheel Chronograph Gold timepiece, a true epitome of precision and might, much like the Endurance cup itself.

The Endurance Cup saw 121 riders hailing from 18 different countries, contend against each other in a fine test of resilience, fortitude and perseverance. Commencing at 7.00 am, the event that is one of the major highlights of the Dubai Racing season, was held for horses over the age of seven and featured five loops which were; 40 km, 36 km, 33 km, 32 km and 19 km, thus covering an overall distance of 160 km.

The Endurance cup was won by 17 year old Abdulla Ghanim Al Marri of the Nad Al Sheba Stables. The youngest winner in the history of the event took his mount ShardellAlaadeen to a 27 second victory over Bahrain’s Ahmed Abdulla Al Hazza. Dubai’s Crown Prince, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who last month successfully guided the UAE Endurance team to a thrilling Gold Medal Victory at the Pan Arab games in Qatar was among the participating riders, along with other prominent names such as Sheikh Saeed Bin MaktoumJuma Al Maktoum, Sheikh Rashid Bin Dalmook Al Maktoum and Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, graced the occasion from start to finish, mingling with the visitors and eventually bestowing the winners with their accolades. Guests and attendees of the Endurance Cup were able to witness the action firsthand as vehicles provided for this intent took them into the desert, placing them in the midst of an exhilarating race that saw riders pitted next to each other, with the winner triumphing by mere seconds.

Source: Press release