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Al-Ahram Weekly 2 - 8 March 2000 Issue No. 471 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 2 - 8 March 2000 Issue No. 471
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Interview Features Focus Heritage Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Higher and higher
After competing over three successive weekends, Egypt showed its horsepower, sweeping the first three places in the most challenging event in the Al-Ahram International Equestrian Grand Prix.
But it was the tournament's success, both in organisation and attendance, that caught the critic's eye. No sooner had the championship ended than Egypt's federation started preparing a report on the championship, replete with organisational procedures, results and video tapes in an attempt to convince the International Equestrian Federation that the country was good enough to stage world championships. "We will also ask them to include Al-Ahram's championship in their international annual agenda," said Abdel-Fattah Ragab, head of the Egyptian Federation's Equestrian Competitions Committee and the man in charge of national teams.
An example of the logistical problems faced was the number of competitors -- more than 100 -- from Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, Italy, France, Poland, Austria and Egypt who shuttled between Cairo and Alexandria. "We intentionally held the event on different grounds because we wanted the horses, as well as the riders, to train and compete on different grounds," Ragab said. "Even in Cairo, we held it on three different tracks."
Four different courses were included in the tournament with the toughest, because it has the highest obstacles, being the First Division (A). Standing an imposing 140-150 centimetres in height, the obstacles included a fence and a water barrier. Egypt's Karim Hamdi shocked teenage champion Sameh Hatteb to take first place after Hatteb committed one technical fault. "I feel very tired after competing for three consecutive weeks," Hatteb said. "I did too much in the first two rounds. Anyway I'm glad the winner is an Egyptian. I consider it my own achievement." Compatriot Hadi Gabr was third.
Fifteen competitors took part in the First Division (B) competition which had the same number of barriers but shorter, 130-140 centimetres high. This time, Hatteb did better, taking first place from his more experienced opponents, Jordanian Hani Besharat, who finished second, and third-place winner Kuwait's Rakad Al-Zafeiri.
Horse and rider; together we're strong
photo: Khaled El Fiqi
The Second Division course, with barriers 125-130 cm in height, saw one of the largest numbers of participants, 65. Poland's Baski Brofeski was flawless in winning the top spot. Second and third places went to Egyptians Mustafa Moussa and Alaa Maisara respectively.
One hundred competitors took part in the Third Division event, the 110-115 cm high, marked by an exceptionally strong showing by junior riders. Finishing one, two, three were Egyptians Abdel-Qader Said, Ahmed Sherif and Nahla El-Sawaf.
The Fourth Division, with barriers 100 centimetres high, took forever to complete as 110 jumpers took part. All were Egyptians and, of course, it was an all-Egyptian outcome: Hesham Medhat and Ayman Fahmi in first and second place while Mohamed Sedki and Silvan Nabil shared third.
Ragab praised Al-Ahram Organisation for providing all the necessary facilities to the participants. "The event couldn't have succeeded without these facilities which put it on equal terms with international and world class championships," Ragab said. "The Egyptian Equestrian Federation couldn't have succeeded without the assistance of Al-Ahram because its budget simply doesn't allow it to organise such high-calibre events.
