The competitions of the fifth edition of the Ras Laffan Falcons Championship concluded on Saturday, 25 November 2023.
Organised by the Qatari Society of Al Gannas, the championship took place from 17 to 25 November at Marmi in Sealine, Mesaieed and the Qatari Society of Al Gannas, under the sponsorship and support of the Ras Laffan Industrial City Community Outreach Program and the supporting companies.
The winners in all competitions were awarded at the closing ceremony on 25 November. The head of the Qatari Society of Al Gannas and the Marmi Festival, Mutaib Al Qahtani, and the social communication officer at Shell Qatar and a member of the Ras Laffan Industrial City Community Outreach Program, Saad Shaheen Al Humaidi, facilitated the awarding ceremony.
In addition, Al Qahtani presented a commemorative gift to the officials of the Ras Laffan Industrial City Community Outreach Program. Saad Shaheen Al Humaidi received the gift on behalf of Shell Qatar and as a member of the Ras Laffan Community Outreach programme.
The final day witnessed the finals of the seven categories of the falcon competitions.
The Barzan team dominated the Talaa competition, winning the first and second places, with Jaber Ali Al Marri securing the third place.
In the Talaa competition, the winner of the first place received a cash prize of QAR60,000, the second-place winner receives a prize of QAR50,000, and the third-place winner receives QAR30,000.
In the finals of Garnas Shahin, Abdullah Amer Al Kaabi won the first place, Mohammed Khabab Al Nuaimi won the second place, Mohammed Jassem Al Kuwari won the third place, followed by Ali Salem Aba Al Zammat in the fourth place and Hassan Abdullah Al Kubaisi in the fifth place.
In the finals of Garnas Al Jeer, the Laffan team won the first place and the Lusail team secured second and third place. Mohammed Khabab Al Nuaimi secured the fourth place. Hamad Abdul Hadi bin Naifah secured the fifth place.
In the finals of Garnas Har, Hamad Abdul Hadi bin Naifah won the first place, Al Sheehaniya team secured the second place, the Zubara Falcons secured the third place, followed by Ali Salem Aba Al Zammat in the fourth place, and Mohammed Jassem Al-Kuwari in the fifth place.
In the lure finals of Garnas Jeer Shahin, the Losail team won the first and second places, and the Zubara Falcons secured the third and fourth places.
In the lure finals of Garnas Free Jeer Shahin, Al Sheehaniya team won the first and third places, and the Zubara Falcons secured the second and fourth places.
In the lure finals of Garnas Free Har, Abdullah Saeed Al Marri won the first three places, the Lufan team secured the fourth place, and the Bayraq team secured the fifth place.
In the lure finals of Garnas Free Jeer, Al Sheehaniya team won the first and third places, and the Zubara Falcons secured the second and fourth places.
The first-place winner in each category of the lure competition receives a cash prize of QAR35,000, the second-place winner receives QAR25,000, and third place winner receives QAR15,000.
The results of the promising falcon competition (Tabea category) saw Mohammed Khaled Al Nuaimi win the first and third places, and Rashid Nawaf Al Nuaimi secure the second place, with Abdullah Abdul Rahman Al Kaabi securing the fourth and fifth places.
In the young falcon competition (Qarmousha category), Mohammed Mubarak bin Naifah won the first place, Ali Ghanem Al Mannai secured the second and fourth places, and Abdullah Salem Al Manaei secured the third and fifth places.
In the small falcon competition (6-10 years old), Batti Fadl Al Kaabi won the first place, Mussand Khaled Al Humaidi secured the second place, Hafiz Saad Al Misnad secured the third place, Jalallah Faisal Al Muri secured the fourth place, and Jalallah Mohammed Al Muri secured the fifth place.
Encouragement prizes were awarded to the winners in the young falcon competition (11 to 15 years old) for the first and second categories. The first-place winner receives QAR6,000, the second place winner receives QAR5,000, the third-place winner receives QAR4,000, the fourth place winner receives QAR3,000, and the fifth place winner receives QAR2,000. This is the same amount awarded to the winners in the small falcon competition (6-10 years old).
Al Qahtani expressed in a speech on the occasion that the Ras Laffan Falcons Championship in its fifth edition was successful. The falconers demonstrated their readiness for upcoming competitions, emphasising that these championships contribute significantly to encouraging falconers to adhere to the heritage of their ancestors.
Al Qahtani and his deputy Abdulwahab bin Umair Al Nuaimi, thanked the officials of the Ras Laffan Industrial City Community Outreach Program and its supporting companies for sponsoring the championship. They acknowledged the programme’s contribution, along with the association, in preserving Qatar’s shared heritage passed down from generation to generation. The Ras Laffan Industrial City Community Outreach Program was praised as a model to be followed by other government and private entities in supporting the falconry heritage.
Al Humaidi emphasised the importance of the Ras Laffan Industrial City Community Outreach Program as a key supporter of falconry heritage and Qatar’s deep-rooted customs and traditions. He highlighted the programme’s support as part of its social responsibility, and the goals and programme of the championship align with what they aspire to achieve by supporting popular heritage. Falconry is part of Qatar’s heritage passed down from ancestors, and it is a collective responsibility to preserve it.
Al Humaidi revealed that the programme will support the championship for the next three years, based on an agreement with the Qatari Society of Al Gannas. The fifth edition marks the first year of this three-year support, and he expressed the programme’s anticipation of continuing this support.
Al Humaidi praised the significant efforts made by the Qatari Society of Al Gannas in instilling the values of falconry in the younger generations. He noted the high interest of the youth in this championship, as it nurtures and teaches them many values and principles beyond just falconry.
The participating falconers in the Ras Laffan Industrial City Community Outreach Program praised the level of organisation witnessed in the championship and the support of the Ras Laffan Industrial City Community Outreach Program. They expressed their gratitude for the programme’s support for this championship.
The falconers affirmed their readiness for upcoming championships, including the 2023 Qatari Sniper Association Championship. Further details will be announced this week.
