Hamdan Bin
Mohammed Heritage Center Promotes the Traditional Skills and Expertise of Falconry
among Emirati Youth
·
Youngest Competitor is
below 6 years
The Fazza Championship for Falconry has hosted a Junior Falconers Championship
over the weekend of 10th-11th January. The championship
saw Emirati youths between the ages of five and eighteen compete against each
other for a first prize of a brand new Infiniti QX60 and prize money pot
totaling AED 50,000.
Over the two days over 90 junior
falconers took part as the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center continues in its
goal to encourage young Emiratis to embrace and participate in traditional
local cultural activities and sports.
Falconers experienced strong winds
over the duration of the championship, causing the course to be rotated to
enable the birds to fly effectively. But despite the weather falconers were
able to push their falcons to score fantastic times with some falcons covering
the 400m distance considering the challenging conditions.
Many of the young falconers found the
competition to be a great experience and were pleased to take part as it helps
to strengthen their national identity and brings them closer to their families
and friends in the spirit of friendly but highly competitive competition.
Mohammed Hamad Mohammed Getami Al
Amry, a young falconer competing in the event, said: “This is my second year
participating in this event and I have all my family members here to support me.
Some are cheering me along while others are actually competing against me. I am taking part with two falcons. I love
other sports like football and swimming but this sport is special to me because
it teaches me how to hunt and predict specially seeing that I am the best out
of my friends. It gives me confidence.”
Fourteen year old falconer, Awad
Rashid Al Rozy, explained: “This year I have only got one falcon in the
competition but I’m very confident about the strength and agility of this bird.
I may only be 14 years old but believe that this I can take first place. I
understand the way falcons work so I think I have very serious advantage over
others in the Championship. I have put a lot of effort into training my falcon
so hopefully it will pay off.”
Hamad Mohammed Al Kamzy, a junior
veteran of the Championship, said: “I am returning to the Fazza Championship
for Falconry to try and win the first place prize for the second year in a row.
I have been working hard to train my falcons into the very best condition to
help be the fastest bird on the course. The prize money is a great incentive to
win but I participate primarily for the feeling of accomplishment and knowing
that you have put in a lot of hard work into this traditional sport.“
Saeed Mosalam Al Zeraay, a junior
falconer, added: “Hunting with falcons is one of my favourite past times and I
have been doing it since I was just 9 years old. My Dad would take me hunting
to teach me about how people used to live and to make sure I was well rounded
and understood the traditions of my family and my country.
“As of now, I have three falcons and I
have devoted a lot of time to training them, even though I am not taking part
this year. I am here to support my friends and family who are taking part in
the Fazza Championship for Falconry. For me, heritage sports are great and they
remind me of where I come from and where I belong.”
The annual Fazza Championships for
Falconry are being held in the Ruwayyah area of Dubai and have attracted
hundreds of falconers from the Emirates and across the region to compete in a
wide range of different categories and are already set to become the most
successful championships to date.
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