Dubai, 23 December 2019 – The 3rd edition of the Sharjah Falconers Club Championship (Telwah), held under the patronage of Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, concluded on Saturday in Sharjah’s Maliha desert area. It was organised in collaboration with the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC).

The closing day competition was dedicated to the youth and all the winners in the three-day competition were honoured in a festive atmosphere that was graced by Abdullah Hamdan Bin Dalmook, CEO of the HHC and his deputy Rashid Bin Mirkhan, while Mohammed Khalifa Al Badwawi, Chairman of Sharjah Falconers Club, awarded the trophies and prizes in the presence of Abdulaziz Bin Sultan Al Ali, Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the championship and deputy chairman of the Sharjah Falconers Club.

The Championship has proven a major attraction not only for senior falconers but also for the young ones who are taking the heritage sport. 

The event likewise achieved a record in technical and competitive levels as it was held on a new track ‘Al-Sinnah’, which is the first of its kind in the world, where the falcons did not exceed the specified distance of 400 meters as they flew in a straight path.

HHC CEO Abdullah Hamdan bin Dalmook said: “We congratulate the Sharjah championship committee for introducing Al Sinnah, an innovative concept that will improve the falconry competition. We are always willing and ready to cooperate and share our best practices and experiences to achieve a common objective.”

Al Badwawi congratulated all the falconers for participating in the third edition of the championship, which was successful despite strong winds that earlier affected the flight of birds. 

Al Ali, for his part, said the success of the championship was evident in the big number of participants. “The championship, now only in its third year, has grown big from year to year. It has attracted strong participations from falconers inside and outside the UAE,” he said.

Al Ali also announced the increase in prizes for the youth category, in order to support the young falconers and motivate them to continue their path in the traditional sport and strive for excellence.

The youth competitions were known to emerge from many talents of the future that are expected to continue in the revival of the sport of falconry, and achieved first place in the category of gear, followed by a young falcon (Farkh), the bird “Khuzam” for its owner 

Young Emirati Muhammad Ahmed Al Ketbi won in the youth category for Jeer Farkh with his bird named ‘Khuzam’ that clocked in a time of 18.688 seconds,. Second place went to falconer Hamdan Khalfan Al Mazroui after his bird finished with a time of 18.971 seconds; while the owner of Matfouk, Mohammed Rashid Bin Saroud Al Mansouri, came in third with a time of 19.232 seconds.

The competitions of Pure Jeer, Jeer Farkh and Jirnas lasted for several hours due to the large number of participants who came from the UAE and GCC countries  

Falconer Rashid Saeed Ali Bin Saroud Al Mansoori continued his excellence in the championship competition, when he achieved first place in the category of Pure Jeer and Jeer Farkh with his bird “Makhoul”, who covered the race distance with a time of 18.028 seconds; while another falcon named Wadhah achieved second place with a time of 18,065 seconds; and in third place was Muhammad Musabah Abdullah bin Ghalaitah Al-Ghafli’s falcon that clocked in 18.307 seconds.

In the category of Pure Jeer and Qarmoosha Jeer (Adults), the falcon named Hashim finished first with recorded a time of 19.319 seconds, and came in second place was the bird by Mansour Ahmed Salem bin Ghadeer al-Ketbi with a time of 19.410 seconds, and third place was Ghadeer Suhail Salem Bin Ghadeer Al-Ketbi’s bird with a time of 19.479 seconds

Love for UAE heritage and honoring the falconers

The winners are also preparing for the Fazza Championship for Falconry – Telwah happening from January 2 to 18, next year at Al Ruwayyah, off Emirates Road, Dubai

Nine-year-old falconer Ahmed, who participated in the junior championship, said he was inspired by his father to achieve victories in the competition.

Ghadeer Suhail, 12, who previously won three ties said he always chooses his best falcon to win while Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Mansoori, 12, underlined that his training which started in his early childhood has helped him win in the competition.

The closing ceremony witnessed the honoring of falconers and supporters of the championship.