Dubai, January 4, 2021: Al Dhafra and Team F3 continued their dominance in the ongoing Sheikhs category of Fazza Championship for Falconry–Telwah, being organised by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Centre (HHC).

Al Dhafra team won first places in 3 races while Team F3 took the lead in two rounds that were held on Day 2 of Fazza Championship for Falconry–Telwah (lure in Arabic), which runs daily at Dubai’s Al Ruwayyah desert area.

The Sheikh’s category will continue until January 5 in the categories of Jeer Shaheen, Jeer Tebaa, Pure Jeer and Garmousha. Next will be the General Public, which will run from January 6-9 to be followed by the first round of UAE Falconers League on January 10 – 11. The General Public will continue from January 12-13 while the juniors’ category will take place on January 14.

Falconers from the GCC countries will compete on January 15-16 in the categories of Jeer Shaheen, Jeer Tebaa, Pure Jeer and Garmousha while the Fakhr Al-Ajyal Championship for Falconry-Telwah will happen from January 30 – February 16.

Vision of Crown Prince of Dubai has led to success and popularity of falconry 

The sport of falconry takes its roots back to 2,000 years ago when it was practiced by the Bedouins in the wider Arabian Peninsula as a form of hunting. Now, falconry is a traditional sport and integral part of the UAE’s heritage

The Fazza Championship for Falconry is now on its 19th year and Abdullah Hamdan bin Dalmook, CEO of HHC, noted that falconry has become one of the UAE’s oldest and most honoured heritage sports, thanks to the vision and support of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. 

“Over the years, the Fazza Championship for Falconry has grown in size, popularity and prestige and is now recognised as a highly-anticipated annual gathering of the best falconers from across the region and beyond. We are also happy with the development of the tournament in the way the results are calculated and the process of participation and competition while we provide equal opportunities among the participants.

Dumaithan bin Suwaidan, chairman of the Organizing Committee, added: “The start of the championship came in accordance with the aspirations and goals of the HHC.  We are also working to implement some modification, for the RC aeroplane category.

An exceptional edition

Fazza Championship for Falconry–Telwah offers big financial rewards. Suad Ibrahim Darwish, Director of Championships at HHC, said: “The new season will be highly competitive and challenging. In the past you could have a second or more between the birds. But today the timers and distances are so precise the birds have to be separated by thousandths of a second. This shows the strength of competition.”

“In terms of health and safety, the falconers have been carefully instructed to follow all precautionary measures to ensure safety and prevention from the Covid-19 pandemic. We also urge the contestants to complete their registrations process and convey their feedback and any new ideas that could help improve the competition,” added Darwish.