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BAHRAINSPORTS DECEMBER 2013 RESPECTABLE FINISH Shaikh Nasser celebrates as he nears the finish line to claim third place. Inset, Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Khalid, partially blocked by trees, ride down a steep slope as they compete amongst other riders. Shaikh Nasser also received congratulations from Al Khalidiyah Stables leader Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who also competed in yesterday’s ride but could not finish due to an injury to his horse, and Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa, who attended the event and watched Shaikh Nasser’s fine performance from the sidelines. Shaikh Nasser was in close contention for the overall victory but in the end Sheikh Rashid was in superb form en route to claiming the victory for the UAE. Riding his horse Yamanah, Sheikh Rashid completed the ride in a total time of seven hours 24 minutes 44 seconds. He was nearly 20 minutes faster than the rest of the field, as Al Jahouri claimed second place on his horse Farak in 7:42:19. Shaikh Nasser, riding his horse Dhab, had his own brilliant outing, completing the event just eight seconds behind Al Jahouri in 7:42:27. The race was divided into six stages. The first phase was 31km in distance, the second was 25km, the third 35km, the fourth 31km, and the final two phases were 19km each. Shaikh Khalid was forced to withdraw from the event after the fourth stage as his horse Moro Famayev sustained an injury. Four other Bahrain Royal Team riders took part, including Ghazi Al Doseri riding Pegase d’Altus,