Mohammad Hamad Al Kabi with his bird at the Registration Centre.
DOHA: Registration for the Fourth Qatar International Falconry and Hunting Festival 2013 ended yesterday and that for Mazain Championship will continue until the end of this month.
Schedule of competitions for all participating falcons will be prepared through raffle system, said the head of the Organising Committee, Ali bin Khatam Al Muhshadi (pictured) in a press release.
The raffle will be held tomorrow at 5pm at Al Burqa Hall, Katara, in public to make the competition transparent and the results of the raffle (the schedule of the competition) will be sent through SMS to all participants, said Al Muhshadi.
Qatari citizens can participate with same falcons in the local and international competitions, said Jasim Mohammad Al Hudayfi, head of Al Dau Committee. People can participate in a competition with more than one bird because the fees for participation depends on the number of birds not person, said Al Hudaifi.
An 11-year-old Qatari boy Mohammad Hamad Al Kabi who came with his falcon to register for junior falconry competition was very enthusiastic.
“My falcon belongs to the type of Qarnas Hurr. It has been with me for three years, said Al Kabi. I am training it and the same time I am learning this traditional hobby and in free times I am going with my father for hunting birds with the help of my falcon, he added. My father and grandfather are encouraging me on this hobby and my family is trying to keep alive this tradition,” he said.
The Peninsula
Qatari boys with their dogs in front of the Registration Centre for Saluki competition at Katara.
