King hails long-standing Bahrain-British friendship

Windsor, May 14 (BNA): His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland today attended the crowing of winners of the Military Showjumping Championship, which was held as part of the international Royal Windsor Horse Show. The ceremony was attended by Duke of Edinburgh His Royal Highness Prince Philip, senior guests and members of the delegation accompanying HM the King as well equestrian sport fans. The championship was held on the Cup of HM the King and the Cup of HM the Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. The British national anthem was played and the teams participating in the Military Showjumping Championship proceeded before the royal podium, including the Bahraini team. At the end of the race HM the Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom and Northern crowned the winners of the British Royal Guard race. HM the King also crowned US Jockey Kent Farrington, winner of the championship on the Cup of HM the King. HM the King then crowned UAE jockey Ahmed Saif Al Mazroui who clinched first place in the endurance race which was held yesterday. He also crowned Bahraini Royal Team horse rider Mohammed Abdulsamed and horse rider Shaikh Rashid bin Dalmouk Al Maktoum who finished second and third respectively. The BDF Military Sport team was crowned after clinching the Military Showjumping Championship. The winning team is made up of Corporal Ahmed Mansour, Sergeant Fadhel Salman and First Soldier Youssef bin Khater. HM the King’s Representative for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS) Chairman, Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) President His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa and SCYS First Deputy Chairman and Bahrain Athletics Association (BAA) Chief HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al-Khalifa honoured the winner of the HM the King’s Cup Kent Farrington, in addition second-placed Canadian Tiffany Foster and an Italian rider who finished third. HM the King thanked the British Queen for the warm welcomed and generous hospitality, hailing her keenness on bolstering deep-rooted historic relations binding the two friendly countries. "Bahrain’s participation in the race stems from deep and special historic relations binding the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Kingdom", HM the King said, hailing long-standing ties which are based on friendship, and mutual respect. He affirmed Bahrain’s keenness on participating in such glorious and highly- competitive races which attract jockeys and teams from all over the world which augurs well for the future of the endurance and equestrian races. Members of military show jumping team greeted HM the King who congratulated them on their impressive victory. He hailed the efforts of the team and the Military Sport Federation which enabled them to win the race.