Bahraini royal team ready for Czech ride

Bahrain's Royal Endurance Team is set to compete in the 2013 FEI Open European Championship, scheduled to take place tomorrow in Most, Czech Republic. Leading the kingdom's riders will be Royal Endurance Team Captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa as well as Al Khalidiyah Stables leader Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa. The ride is 160 kilometres in distance and it will be divided into six stages. The first will be 31km, the second 25km, the third 35km, the fourth 31km, and the final two phases will each be 19km. Around 90 participants are entered in the event representing 22 countries. Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Khalid both arrived at the venue yesterday. They went directly to undertaking their final preparations for the event, which is set to feature many of Europe's leading endurance riders plus many from across the GCC and the rest of the globe. Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Khalid both expressed their confidence in Bahrain's riders doing well in tomorrow's ride. The team has recently been outstanding in their most recent participations across Europe, which included a fine showing in the territory of Normandy in France, where Bahraini ace Raed Mahmoud finished as the overall runner-up amongst an international field of competitors. Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Khalid added that the European ride can only be beneficial for the team as they continue to gear up for bigger global races, culminating with the world championships where they hope to be amongst the very best. Meanwhile, Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa is also in Most to attend the event. He said yesterday that the European championship is a great opportunity for Bahrain's Royal Endurance Team to showcase their abilities at a top-class event and wished the entire team, especially Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Khalid, success in tomorrow's race. The veterinary examination will take place today in Most, along with the other final preparations for the ride. Source: BNA