DUBAI, 11th January 2017: Qatar falconers tasted a double triumph in the Fazza Championship for Falconry Tilwah organized by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC) in Dubai on Tuesday 10th January.
In what turned out to be a family affair, Mohammed Rashid Hamad Al Nuaimi emulated his cousin Nasser by winning the Shaheen Wahish Farkh (GCC) category in style recording the fastest time of 18.680 seconds. Nasser won the Hurr Wahish Jernas (GCC) event on Monday.
Bahrain contestants took first and third place in the Shaheen Wahish Jernas (GCC) category with the winner clocking 18.928 seconds and Ali Saeed Al Khambas coming third in 19.434 seconds. Mohammed Saleh of Qatar took second place in 19.061 seconds, just 0.133 seconds off the pace.
The competition intensified with GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) contestants entered the fray on Monday and Tuesday.
No less than 250 entries from GCC competed in Hurr Wahish Farkh and Hurr Wahish Jernas categories on the eighth day of competition on Monday.
The largest and most popular among the series of the Fazza Championship for Falconry, will continue until 12th January in the dedicated site in Ruwayyah area (Exit 55 off Emirates Road) with the finals of RC Planes for Sheikhs and General Public categories scheduled to begin at 7 am on Wednesday.
Ms. Suad Ibrahim Darwish, Director of Championships at HHC, said the large number of entries from GCC countries underscored the importance given to heritage sports such as falconry in the region and the organizing capabilities of the UAE.
Dumaithan bin Swaidan, Head of the Fazza Championships – Falconry committee, noted that the high number of participants from GCC nationals has also intensified the level of competition going by the timings of the winners.
Shaheen Wahish Farkh
“I trained hard for this championship for which I have been coming since the inception. My falcon achieved a great time to beat strong contestants from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain,” said Al Nuaimi who got first and third place in the Shaheen Wahish Farkh (GCC) category.
Rashid stormed into first place by clocking a winning time of 18.680 and 18.954.
“We brought 33 birds for the competition coming as a group from Qatar,” said Al Nuami.
Animal health
Dr Khalfan Kayaf, Head of Animal section of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, said they were coordinating with HHC in this championship to ensure that best practices are adhered to with regard to the welfare of all the participants.
“This is based on the ministry’s concern to meet its strategic goals which includes monitoring animal diseases and food contamination. We want to protect and enhance the safety of food products that have been imported in accordance with international norms and standards. This is just a measure to prevent entry of any animal diseases and to raise the level of safety standard of any animal or agricultural produce in the UAE and the region,” she explained.
“We are offering a mobile clinic which is well equipped in order to provide the best health care facilities to falcons that are participating and do regular check ups for falcons to ensure safety. We also conduct surveys to get the feedback of participants here and spread awareness about the importance of animal health care and ways of protecting ourselves and animals. In the process, they also get to know the best practices and procedures that are being practiced in the UAE,” she added.
Hurr Wahish Farkh
Mohammed Ali Saeed Mubarak Al Sulaiti won the Hurr Wahish Farkh (GCC) event clocking 20.381 seconds.
Qatari Nasser Mohammed Al Nuaimi emerged victorious in the Hurr Wahish Jernas (GCC) category recording the fastest time of 19.637 seconds. This is the second time he is competing in this championship, having won the event last year as well.
Armizan bin Abdullah Al Dossary came second in a time of 19.814 seconds. He was among a group of friends from Saudi Arabia, including Khalid Al Dossary who has been participating in this competition for six years.
Khalid was happy with the use of latest technology that has helped officials in delivering results in a clear and transparent manner. “That is why everyone from GCC countries keep coming for this championship,” he added.
It also attracted Musallam Sulayem from Oman participating in this championship for the first time after hearing about it from friends.
Fawaz Al Noon from Kuwait who brought four falcons was happy with the scheduling and organizing of the championships while Salman Hassan from Bahrain was surprised with the standard of competition.
“The competition has become very tough with very little difference in timings between the top contestants,” said Hassan.
The official sponsors of heritage events organized by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Center are Al Tayer Motors, Land Rover, Dubai Airports, Dubai World Trade Center, AW Rostamani (Arabian Automobiles), Global Village and Al Oula Radio.
