Salem Hamad Malhoof Al Kitbi secures his nation’s ninth individual crown as the Emirates dominates the 120km contest in Portugal
BARROCA D’ALVA, Portugal : Riders representing the United Arab Emirates captured both the individual and team titles on Friday at the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses, completing an authoritative sweep over 120 kilometres of challenging terrain in Barroca d’Alva, Portugal.
Salem Hamad Malhoof Al Kitbi piloted Mahiba across the finish line in five hours, two minutes, and 59 seconds, holding off a late charge by compatriot Mansour Saeed Al Farsi, who clocked 5:06:26 to secure the silver. Spain’s Rodrigo Blanco crossed third in 5:22:45 to take bronze.
The sweep marks the UAE’s third consecutive individual victory in the competition dedicated to eight-year-old endurance horses, lifting the country’s all-time tally to nine individual titles.
In the team competition, Al Kitbi spearheaded a five-rider national lineup that included Essa Abdulla Essa, Rashid Al Mheiri, Naser Al Suwaidi, and Ali Al Falasi. Their combined pace delivered the UAE its third team championship in the history of the event, finishing ahead of silver medallists France and bronze finishers Spain.
Supervised by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and sponsored by Emirates airline, the single-day championship brought together more than 100 competitors from 26 nations.
Riders set out early Friday morning across an opening 40-kilometre loop, maintaining a fierce pace on hard-packed trails before mid-day heat began to tax both horses and riders during the central 30-kilometre sections.
Veterinary checks between loops tested horse recovery, with UAE mounts consistently clearing inspection without pacing penalties. Entering the concluding 20-kilometre dash, Al Kitbi and Al Farsi broke away from the trailing group, dictating terms through the final riverbank approach to secure a one-two podium finish.
The triumph reinforces the Gulf state’s sustained dominance in international endurance equestrian disciplines, coming amid an extensive season of FEI-sanctioned continental and world fixtures across Europe.
