8th edition of Longines-Hathab Qatar Equestrian Tour 2024-25 begins on Thursday

8th edition of Longines-Hathab Qatar Equestrian Tour 2024-25 begins on Thursday 

 

The Qatar Equestrian Tour - Longines Hathab, supported by The Social & Sport Contribution Fund (Daam), commenced on September 25th, 2024, and will continue until May 2025.

 An initiative put forward by HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al Shaqab, this premier equestrian tour serves as a cornerstone for the horse-riding community in Qatar. It aims to nurture the Qatar’s future international champions and promote horsemanship as an integral part of Qatar's cultural heritage.

Organized collaboratively by the Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) and Al Shaqab, a member of Qatar Foundation, and generously supported by The Social & Sport Contribution Fund (Daam), the Qatar Equestrian Tour - Hathab will feature 14 individual and team competitions in showjumping and dressage across various age categories. These competitions will be held at QEF and the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab from September 2024 to May 2025.

The 1st tour of 8^TH Qatar Equestrian Tour - Longines Hathab is scheduled from September 26 to 27 at the Qatar Equestrian & Modern Pentathlon Federation’s indoor indoor Arena. All 14 tours will take place at the Qatar Equestrian Federation and the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab.

The mandatory veterinary check for the opening three-day leg was held on Wednesday.

The highly popular annual domestic equestrian series which includes showjumping and dressage will have 14 rounds and conclude on May 10, 2025. The organising committee for the 8th edition of the Longines-Hathab has completed the arrangements for the launch of the first round.

According to the announced schedule, the competitions of the second round will be held on October 10, 11 and 12, and the rounds will continue until the 14th final round, which will be held on May 8, 9 and 10, 2025. The first round will see Future Riders, Small Tour, Amateur Class, Medium Tour, Open Class and Big Tour action for various heights from 60cm to 145cm.

This year, the championship in showjumping teams’ competition will see the participation of 9 teams for the first time, including an all-women team called Al Salam besides Famaganis, Wathnan, Lekhwiya, and the Doha Bank teams. The Longines-Hathab Qatar Equestrian Tour is one of the most prominent local championships held in Qatar in the field of equestrianism and aims to support and develop the level of equestrianism in the country by providing a first-class competitive platform that allows participants the opportunity to develop their skills and abilities as well as enhance co-operation and partnerships between local entities concerned with equestrian sports.

Longines Hathab Tour Schedule
(Jumping & Future Riders)

On Thursday: Future Riders Class 6-12 Optimum Time (60cm) 4pm; Future Riders Class 12-16 Optimum Time (80cm) 4.45pm; Small Tour: Accumalator With Joker (110cm) 7pm; Amateur: Table A, Two Phases (100cm) 4pm
On Friday: Medium Tour (Individual & Teams): Table A, Special Two Phases (130cm) 7pm.
On Saturday: Open Class: Table A, One round against the clock (120cm) 4pm; Big Tour: Table A, Special Two Phases (145cm) 7pm.

Longines serves as the main sponsor of the Longines Hathab, with Doha Bank, ExxonMobil, Salam International, and Zabarjad as official sponsors of the Qatar Equestrian Tour - Longines Hat

QATAR MOTOR & MOTORCYCLE FEDERATION AND LUSAIL INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT TO HOST 2025 FIA WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON OPENER

 

Tickets are on sale now for next spring’s 

Qatar 1812 KM - 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship race

Doha, Qatar, 12 September 2024 - Lusail International Circuit (LIC) is set to host the season opener of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) next spring, titled the Qatar 1812 KM - 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship. This thrilling event is named in honor of Qatar’s National Day.

Taking place from February 26 to 28, tickets for the motorsport spectacle are now on sale. Fans will witness multiple cars racing simultaneously across two categories: Hypercar and LMGT3, in an intense battle that will last up to ten hours. A 200 Qatari Riyal ticket valid for all three days of the event provides access to two prime viewing areas: the Main Grandstand and Lusail Hill. While the former offers an excellent view of the start/finish line and pit lane action, the latter is a dedicated elevated viewing platform located at Turn 1, providing spectators with an unparalleled vantage point of one of the most exciting parts of the track. Additionally, Children under 12 can attend free of charge, making this an exciting family-friendly event.

Now entering its thirteenth year, the WEC continues to be the world’s premier international endurance championship. In 2025, the series will span eight rounds, with races in Qatar, Italy, Belgium, France, Brazil, the USA, Japan, and Bahrain, reinforcing its status as one of the most prestigious championships in motorsport.

Following the success of the 2024 season, a minimum of 14 manufacturers are expected to compete. Among the highlights is nine-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi, who transitioned from two wheels to four, driving the BMW M4 GT3 #46 in the new LMGT3 category. Additionally, the renowned Iron Dames, a project aimed at supporting women in motorsport team, will also be participating in the event, driving their iconic Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 #83 in their distinctive hot pink racing suits. Last but not least, former Formula 1®  world champion Jenson Button will continue his FIA World Endurance Championship campaign with the JOTA Sport team in 2025, bringing his star power to the privateer British squad after their victory at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps last year.

Event Schedule:

• February 26, 2025: Free practice sessions

• February 27, 2025: Qualifying sessions

February 28, 2025: Qatar 1812 KM - 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship

Qatar Tourism marks World Tourism Day

 Qatar Tourism marks World Tourism Day

Qatar Tourism celebrates World Tourism Day 2024 under the theme “Tourism and Peace”,

highlighting the vital role of the tourism sector in fostering peace and understanding between

nations and cultures and in supporting reconciliation process. The event, held at Heenat Salma

Farm was attended by Qatar Tourism and Visit Qatar senior staff members along with local and

regional media members where they enjoyed cultural workshops, the Qatar Olympic and Sports

Museum’s Education and Awareness Department presented an art workshop titled “Sport in

Global Paintings” which combined art and sports and highlighted the cultural value of sports on

a global scale. Attendees also had the opportunity to network and engage in important

discussions.

Exciting Third Stop of the European Match Race Circuit at Lake Iskar, Bulgaria

 Exciting Third Stop of the European Match Race Circuit at Lake Iskar, Bulgaria

The third stop of the European Match Race Circuit has come to an end in a spectacular location: Lake Iskar, Bulgaria. This lake, located just 30 kilometers south of Sofia, is the largest in the country and, interestingly, is an artificial reservoir. Created in 1949 to supply drinking water to the capital and generate electricity, Lake Iskar has also become an ideal getaway for those seeking tranquility, surrounded by mountains and forests. With its 30 square kilometers of water and depths reaching up to 75 meters, it’s easy to imagine how beautiful this place is. Beyond being a natural paradise, it has also become a perfect setting for large-scale events like the match race.

 

For four days, from the 19th to the 22nd, ten teams from various countries, including Bulgaria, England, France, and Spain, competed in the challenging racecourse of Lake Iskar. The goal was clear: it wasn’t just about winning this stop of the circuit, but also securing spots for the grand finale of the European Match Race Circuit, which will take place in Naples, Italy, from October 25th to 27th. The

lake’s conditions did not make things easy for either the sailors or the organizing committee. The shifting winds, both in intensity and direction, kept everyone on edge. However, this challenge also made the races a fascinating spectacle for the hundreds of spectators who gathered along the lake’s shores to enjoy the event.

 

Despite the weather complications, most of the program went ahead as planned, except on the final day when the first semifinals had to be canceled due to weather conditions. Even so, the thrilling competition known as King of the Castle; took place, in which the teams that did not qualify for the semifinals competed for the best placement among them.

 

This is where the Spanish team, **Cigarran Sailing Team**, stood out. This young team, which has been showing constant improvement on the European circuit, won the match and demonstrated great potential and growth in the match race discipline.

 

The overall winner of this third stop was the French team led by **Thimotte Polet**, a sailor who is not only an expert in match racing but also in ocean sailing.

 

His preparation for the upcoming Jacques Vabre 2025 is just one example of his talent and dedication. Polet and his team made no mistakes throughout the competition, leaving no doubt that French match racing remains a dominant force.

 

In second place was another French team, led by **Benoit Dijoux**, which, despite a strong fight, couldn’t surpass Thimotte. In third place was the English team led by **Cyrus Ledru**, which started with a lower performance but improved with each match, making them a team to watch out for in the Naples final.

 

The Greek team, led by veteran **Stavros Kouris**, finished in fourth place but left a lasting impression by offering to conduct a clinic at the club’s facilities, a proposal that was enthusiastically welcomed by all attendees.

As for the Spanish **Cigarran Sailing Team**, they came from the far west of Europe, specifically from the Real Club Marítimo de Baiona, in Galicia. Sponsored by “Cigarran Abogado”, Lenda, Torre de Nuñez, and supported by “Tierra y Mar Multiaventura” and “Deporte Galego”. Although they finished in fifth place, they were just a step away from reaching their first semifinals. Additionally, they won the “King of the Castle” competition, reaffirming their excellent progression in this demanding European circuit. The team experienced ups and downs: nerves got the best of them in the first match, followed by excessive aggression in another, a third match with some questionable refereeing decisions, and finally, a tactical error in the last race cost them a spot in the semifinals. However, these details do not  overshadow their overall performance, as they continue to advance and find their place in match racing.

 

Not only did they come close to the semifinals and win the King of the Castle title, but they also secured a spot in the Grand Final of the Match Race in Naples, where the 12 best teams in Europe will compete from October 24th to 28th. This achievement reflects the team’s commitment and continuous improvement, as they keep growing in a discipline as technical and demanding as match racing.

Before concluding this report, it’s important to highlight the performance of the local Bulgarian team, led by **Samuel Karadzhian**. Although they finished ninth in the first round, in the “King of the Castle” competition, they eliminated opponents until they faced the Spanish team, which blocked their path to the title.

 

Nevertheless, Samuel and his team were one of the surprises of the championship, showing much better performance than expected and putting experienced rivals in difficult situations.

 

With this exciting stop at Lake Iskar, the third stage of the **Ultramarine Match Race European Circuit** comes to a close. Thanks should be given to the organizing committee, led by **Yavor Kolev** and his team, who managed to pull off such a complex event despite the challenging weather conditions. Now, the teams are already thinking about the next stop, but above all, the grand final that will take place in Naples, where the European champion of this edition of the circuit will be crowned.

 

During the regatta, there was an important moment of social awareness thanks to the joint initiative "Plastic Race" and the "European Match Race" Volunteers, judges, sailors, organizers, and city hall staff joined forces in a cleanup effort, collecting up to 2 tons of plastic and waste. This activity not only highlighted the importance of the competition but also the commitment to sustainability and environmental care.

 

**Conclusion:**

The **Cigarran Sailing Team** has shown they have what it takes to compete at the highest level, but they are still in development. Their evolution in the circuit has been remarkable, and there’s no doubt they’ll be ready to give it their all in Naples. A true pride for sailing in Spain! The organization is already thinking ahead to 2025.