DOHA: It was a clean sweep for Qatari falconers winning first, second and third places in the second edition of the Fazza Championship for Falconry in Dubai.
Nearly 200 falconers from the GCC joined the closely-fought contest which culminated in Qatari falconers winning the top three places.
This year, the championships has seen a tremendous increase in the prize money, with a record number of luxury cars being awarded to winners over two months.
The winning Qatari falconers walked away with cars, including a Range Rover, a Lexus SUV and off-road pick-up vehicles.
Runners-up were awarded cash prizes of AED10,000 each.
Ali bin Khatem Mohamed Al Muhashadi, President of Qatar Al Gannas Society and Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival, said: “The scale and magnitude of this championship has grown exponentially since the past few years.
“We have been calling for the establishment of a GCC Union of Falconry and for a different country in the GCC to host these prestigious championships every year. The UAE has been playing a key role in unifying the GCC and an initiative of this kind would be hugely beneficial to the sport.”
Qatari poet and falconer Hamad Al Jamila who took part in the championships, said the competition had evolved beyond his expectations. “I thank Fazza for his support and involvement in the championships. Not only have they encouraged competition and interaction between falconers, but the championships are also reviving the market for falcon trade in the region.”
The Peninsula
