Second Edition of Rashid Bin Humaid Falconry Championship attracts young Falconers from all across the UAE

Hiba Khan - Writer 12:14 30/01/2018
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  • Besides being the national bird of UAE, the falcon is a totem for Emiratis and holds a special place in their hearts for ensuring their survival in the harsh living conditions of the desert for centuries.

    Even after years of technological advancements, the practice of falconry is preserved as a heritage sport and the success of the second edition of Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Falconry Championship was testament to the ever-growing popularity of this ancient sport.

    The championship kicked off on January 27 in the Al Helio region of Ajman and was held in cooperation with the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC).

    The second edition of this tournament witnessed an increase of 100 participants since last year and there was significant growth in the Juniors’ category of the tournament.

    The contest was attended by HH Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, and HH Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Head of Ajman Municipality and Planning Department, and the patron of the Championship.

    He said: “This year’s championship has witnessed an increase of about 100 participants and two new events were added for juniors.

    Every year we take the views of the participants and try to meet all their requests. We hope they will take back positive memories of their participation.”

    During races, the falcons are timed over a distance of 400 metres and fly to the Daou, who can be heard calling it out in distinct voices while vigorously brandishing a bait made of pigeon wings to lure the bird in.

    “The falcon is a tough bird to train, and we really have to baby this bird a lot in order to familiarise it with us. We need to train it night and day, so it can identify our voices, react quickly, and fly to us as fast and low as possible to get through the sensor gates and clock in the time,” said Shabeer Ahmed, one of the Daous at the championship.

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