RIYADH, 15 January 2007 — The Kingdom Holding team has won 1st, 3rd and 4th places in Bahrain Endurance Championship 2007 held in Bahrain. The Equestrian Royal Federation for Endurance Races organized the championship with the support of Nasser Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa.
“We’re delighted at the result and proud to support Saudi women jockeys who have achieved spectacular results in the race,” Kingdom Holding Company Chairman Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal said in his congratulatory message.
The Kingdom team included Alia Alhwaete, Mohamed Al-Mihlisi, Noora Al-Yusuf, Abdulrahman Alhawas and 14-year-old Latifa Alsheikh, the youngest of the participants.
The team took part in the 120 km endurance race, with Mihlisi taking 1st place, Noora Al-Yusuf 3rd place and Alhwaete 4th place.
In all 60 jockeys from around the world competed in the race.
King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa received the Kingdom team and congratulated them on their achievement and extended his congratulations to Prince Alwaleed.
The Kingdom team received training under the supervision of veteran coach Najeeb Barjes for a few months in Riyadh prior to their trip to Bahrain where they were trained for 10 days with the support of the prince. The Kingdom team has returned home to a hero’s welcome.
Prince Alwaleed first sponsored Alhwaete, the first Saudi woman jockey, in 2005. She took part in the 120 km World Endurance Championship for the Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge Cup in Seeh Al Silm, near the Dubai International Village, on Dec. 22, 2005.
Some 90 jockeys from around the world participated in the race in which Alia emerged in 7th place. “She is already a winner regardless of results,” Prince Alwaleed had said of Alhwaete. The prince gave her full support to pursue her ambition and represent Saudi Arabia as a pioneer woman equestrian.
Prince Alwaleed has been supporting and encouraging women to excel in all fields. In fact, the prince has already announced that women who shine in their respective fields of interest should come forward and he would fund their interests. “The goal is to break new ground and launch novel opportunities for women in general.”
Like first Saudi woman pilot Captain Hanadi Hindi, also sponsored by the prince, Alhwaete has led the way for future generations of Saudi women in equestrian sports.
