Falconers registering at the Al Gannas Association headquarters in Katara.
DOHA: Over QR2.5m in prizes are at stake at the fifth Qatar International Falcon and Hunting Festival, organisers announced on the first day of registration.
The five-day registration being held at the Al Gannas Association headquarters in Katara has witnessed big rush since it started on Wednesday.
The Mazain contest, a beauty contest for falcons, has QR500,000 for the first prize winner QR300,000 for the second place and QR200,000 for third place, in addition to honour shield.
Top three winners of Al Tala’a contest will take home QR300,000, QR200,000 and QR100,000, respectively. Tala’a contest focuses on the ability of the falcon to identify the place where its prey is hiding.
The Hadad challenge tests the shaheen falcon’s ability to hunt the dove while in flight, after landing on the ground or to guard the prey until the owner of the falcon comes. Each of the said categories carry a cash prize of QR100,000. The fastest to hunt the dove also gets a Lexus car.
The Al Da’o contest gives away a car for the first prize, QR50,000 for the second prize and QR40,000 for third prize in each of the categories including free qarnas and local free da’o, local qarnas shaheen, da’o free international category, da’o qarnas shaheen international and da’o shaheen internaional category. For the Hadad Al Saluki contest the top three winners will win a car, QR50,000, and QR30,000, respectively.
There are also the Young Saker contest for participants aged 6 to 10 years and Old Saker contest for 11 to 15 year-old participants. These categories, which will give away ten cash prize, are aimed at encouraging young children to take part in this heritage event.
Under the patronage of H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, the festival is set to witness huge participation both from Qatar and neighbouring countries with huge rush in the past two days of the registration. A number of tourists are also coming to the registration venue to see the falcons.
Mohammed Abdulatif Al Misnad, deputy chairman of the festival, said there was a big turnout of participants this year, who are happy of the organization of registration with the presence of experienced and qualified committee to screen the falcons.
“With the huge rush on the first day of registration, I expect the number of participants this year will be bigger and the competitions more exciting,” said Nasser Salah Al Ramzani, deputy chairman of the Hadad committee, adding the registration is fast, not taking more than three minutes for each because there are different committees facilitating the registration.
“This is my first time to participate in this festival and I came to register early because last year I missed the registration,” said Thani Al Mohannadi, one of the participants. Hamad Al Malkhas Al Marri, another participant, said:
“I participated many times in this festival but I expect this year’s contest will more exciting and full of surprises because this year’s festival will see experienced participants. This festival is becoming famous and it is one of the few festivals that give attention to heritage and tradition.”
“Every year participants are gaining more experience that’s why the challenge has been increasing,” said participant Jassim Al Kaabi, adding “I appreciate the role the registration committees play in simplifying registration procedures.”
Participating for the second time, Mohanna Al Shammari, said he is eyeing the first prize. “I know I will compete with people who have good experience but I gained good experience from participating in Al Da’o and Al Tala’a contests.
More and more people know about the festival and its role in maintaining heritage and many are anticipating this event; this will be followed by a large number of people from start till the end, said Mohanna Khalifa, another participant.
Saudi participant Ibrahim Al Nasser, said, “I have been keen to participate in this festival every year. I have gained a good experience on hunting and falconry through this festival and every year my performance gets better.The Peninsula
