Bahrain’s Al-Hashemi wins the 2023 Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup in AlUla

ALULA: Bahrain’s Mohammed Abdulhameed Al-Hashemi emerged victorious in the fourth Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup on Saturday to claim the sport’s richest prize in the ancient desert terrain of AlUla.

Al-Hashemi won first place in the challenging endurance race after completing four loops of 120 km in a time of five hours and 47 minutes.

Despite the warm weather, a fresh Al-Hashemi told Arab News in an exclusive interview that “coming first always feels good; it is heartwarming.”

He said that winning was “addictive,” and the momentum gained from the victory was joyful. “Once you try it, you will work harder and harder to enjoy winning every time.”

The race requires significant effort by rider and horse, and Al-Hashemi’s Arabian horse, Leon, crossed the finish line first while maintaining good physical condition throughout.

The horses are vetted throughout the demanding race, and will now enjoy a rest period of three to four months to make a full recovery.

Al-Hashemi praised the efforts of his colleague, Ahmad Al-Janahi, who supervised Leon’s training.

“The training allowed Leon to defy the odds,” he said.

The Al-Hashemi team, “Victorious”, is owned by Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, who is a member of the Bahraini royal family, commander of Bahrain’s Royal Guard, deputy chairman of the Higher Committee for Energy and Natural Resources, and the head of the government’s Supreme Council for Youth and Sports.

“I am in the best team in the world, we always support each other in everything, one heart, one love.” Al-Hashemi said.

Spain’s Maria Ponton Alvarez, the highest-placed female, took second place on Bolchoi El Akim (+00:20:01), and her compatriot Omar Rodrigo Blanco, on JM El Sobrino, finished third