Mohamed al Temtam al-Marri and Abdulhadi al Mahran al-Marri won the first round of the Tala’a event yesterday morning at the sixth Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival at Sabkhet Marmi in the Sealine area of Mesaieed.
Fahed al-Musaifri entered the final round of the Hudud al Tahaddi challenge in the afternoon, after his falcon cornered the homing pigeon causing it to land. The Tala’a event and Hudud al-Tahaddi challenge will continue today.
The Tala’a event tests the falcon’s speed and ability to identify the location of its prey, and involves an electronic Habari bird (or bustard) which is placed at a distance of one kilometre. The qualifying time is then counted from the moment the falcon is released.
In the Hudud al Tahaddi challenge, falcons seek to obstruct the flight of homing pigeons especially trained to fly away, and instead causing them to land.
Ibrahim al-Nasr, a member of the Shura council, underlined the important contribution of the festival in supporting the sport of falconry, an important part of Qatar’s national heritage.
He highlighted the festival’s effectiveness in bringing amateur falconers together and motivating them to adhere to their traditions, thus raising a generation with an interest in their heritage. He also commended the organisers.
Mohamed bin Mubarak al-Ali, head of the Tala’a organising committee explained that 100 contestants were subdivided into four groups of 25 each, with one group competing each day, with the top 10 participants in the event qualifying to compete in a final round.
The festival is being organised by the Gannas Society under the patronage of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.
Tala’a event’s first round winner Mohamed al-Temtam al-Marri with his falcon. Right: Abdulhadi al Mahran al-Marri
