Kurdistan’s equestrians participate in Erbil’s first hurdling competition

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Region on Friday hosted its first horse hurdling competition with the participation of 10 countries including teams from the Region.

The Nawroz (New Year) Horse-Hurdling competition was held in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, with the participation of equestrian teams from 10 countries, including the Region’s horseback riders.

According to a Kurdistan24 reporter, five Kurdish horseback riders from the Kurdistan Region had taken part in the Nawroz Horse-Hurdling event.

Other equestrians were from Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Britain, France, UAE, Turkey, and Canada.

The Erbil International Equestrian Club, opened in 2011, hosted the two-day competition under the supervision of the International Equestrian Federation and the Iraqi Equestrian Federation.

On the first day of the tournament, Hashim Zaghlul from Jordan won first place for jumping in the 100-centimeter course.

Meanwhile, Mukhtar Hamid and Mzila al-Shibani from Iraq won first place in the 110-centimeter and 120-centimeter courses respectively.

On the second day, the Kurdish equestrians Mohammed Ayad and Ali Qaralousi won the first prize in the 100-centimeter and 110-centimeter jumping courses.

Moreover, on the same day, Toni from Jordan won the 120-centimeter jumping event.

Speaking to Kurdistan24, Kurdish rider Ayad said it was not easy to win the first prize amid strong competitors from Jordan and Canada.

The construction of the Erbil International Equestrian Club’s stables and arena began in 2007 and continued in 2011.

The equestrian club was soon afterward opened as the only official one of its kind in the Kurdistan region and throughout Iraq.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany