Two rider brothers from the Royal Family ride 360km to qualify for the World Endurance Championship 2024

Raising the Omani flag in different countries, two rider brothers from the Royal Family recently successfully completed 360km of the qualifiers for the World Endurance Championship in 2024.

H H Sayyid Loay bin Ghalib al Said and H H Sayyid Ali bin Ghalib al Said won the third round of the qualifiers in the Buch Endurance Festival, in Germany, for the World Endurance Championship which will be held in France in 2024.

The third round was organised under a numerable of FEI Endurance World Championships. The victory achieved by the two riders now marks a significant milestone in their journey towards the World Cup finals.

In the Buch Endurance Festival, Sayyid Loay showcased remarkable prowess by securing first place in the race of 140km (three stars category). Outshining a field of 70 participating knights from Europe across various distances, his exceptional performance earned him well-deserved recognition.

Moreover, his brother also demonstrated his skill and determination by clinching victory in the challenging 140km race (two stars category) which was divided into two days.

While Sayyid Loay has only one race remaining to secure a spot in the finals, Sayyid Ali faces three qualifying races.

Speaking to Muscat Daily Sayyid Loay, said, “One more race is left for me to make it to the World Endurance Championship in France in 2024. The qualifiers include four stages – 100 km, 120 km, 140km and 160 km. We succeeded to across the third stage so far.”

Sayyid Ali explained that the race qualifiers in the German Strohn race were for a distance of 100km and featured the participation of international jockeys from different parts of the world.

“In April 2023, we successfully completed the Samorin Endurance Race over a distance of 120km in Slovakia and competed in the third endurance race in the German city of Buch – that was a 140km race in June,” he said.

Talking about challenges, Sayyid Loay said “The race in Slovakia was one of the toughest stages of the race, so far. The terrain we crossed during the race was thick forest and we experienced chilly weather with temperatures going down to 4 degrees. We also experienced rain, making the track slippery and we had to be safe with our horses. This race forced us to wear more than five jackets to face the severe cold,” he added.

Reaching the finals required immense concentration and determination, Loya said, adding that he prepared for the championship by training daily and studying the tracks of each race before participating.

“We will participate in the final stage on August 28 in in the Munbareez race, in France, which is allocated for a distance of 160km. This stage of the race is considered an international trial before participating in the World Cup,” said Loay.

He added, “We are keen to continue representing the sultanate at world meets and raising the Omani flag in different countries.” He also urged Omani youth to practice horse riding and walking, as these activities build confidence and enhance their personality.

Sayyid Loay also expressed gratitude for H H Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, for his unflinching support. “It gave us the courage to take on the challenge. We also thank the Oman Equestrian Federation and technical team for their support as they prepared us to compete in next year’s world championship.