Marmi Festival continues to attract falconry enthusiasts at Sealine

Tribune News Network Doha The activities of the 13th edition of the Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival (Marmi 2022), being held under the pat...

Tribune News NetworkDohaThe activities of the 13th edition of the Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival (Marmi 2022), being held under the patronage of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani in Sabkhat, continued at Sealine on Saturday as the qualifiers for the Al-Tala’a Championship were held for groups from 36 to 40, in addition to the 10th group in the postponed groups of the Al-Tala’a Championship.The competitions resulted in the qualification of falconers Sultan Ahmed Al Nuaimi, for Group 37, and Mubarak Mohammed Al Mohannadi for Group 38.Muhammad bin Mubarak Al Ali, head of the organising committee, said: The eighth day’s competitions in the pollen championship were delayed due to the fog, but with the clarity of vision, the groups in the competitions began, resulting in the qualification of two falconers, bringing the number of those qualified in the pollen to 17 competitors so far, stressing the committee’s keenness to provide an atmosphere suitable and equal opportunities for all to be qualified.During the evening period, the event continued with challenge, excitement, evasion and speed between Al-Shawaheen and the carrier pigeon in the Hadad Challenge Championship, in which the sixth group competitions with Al-Shawaheen winning the Saturday’s round after failing in the previous three rounds.The people of Al-Shawaheen were able to outpace their competitors. Four Al-Shawaheen groups - Sheikh Nasser bin Mohammed Abdullah Al Thani, Umm Al Zbar team, Abdullah Mohammed Al Marri and Ahmed Abdullah Al Khater have qualified, bringing the number of qualifiers in Hadad Challenge to eight falconers so far, where the qualifier will receive a financial reward of QR100,000.Muhammad bin Abdul Latif Al Misnad, vice-president of the Al-Gannas Association and vice-chairman of the Organising Committee of the Marmi Festival, said: Today, we are pleased with the return of the Al-Shawaheen, its strength and its ability to compete strongly, which makes the festival more fascinating, whether for the contestants or the public who are keen to visit the festival site and follow it closely.Misnad added that the festival has succeeded in becoming outstanding in the world of falconry and has welcome a wide range of audience, whether in Qatar or abroad, and attracts new falconers every year.He said the Al-Qannas Association has a database of Qatar falconers who are increasing annually thanks to the interest of young people who have become ambassadors of the world of falconry and have gained great experience over the previous years.He said the association plays an educational role in paying attention to falconry so that there is no encroachment on the environment, pointing out that the people of Qatar in the old days, after the end of the hunting season, would release a number of falcons to return them to nature. Misnad added the association promotes a culture of sustainable development and a love of the environment. “The association’s role is to balance the preservation of this heritage, while at the same time emphasising the preservation of the sustainable development of the bird world. The association has made great efforts in this area,” he said.The Organising Committee of the Marmi Festival 2022 has also announced of the winners of the Young Falconer Championship. They are: Muhammad Al Kubaisi, Abdullatif Khaled Al Hamidi, Butti Fadl Al Kaabi, Amer Abdullah Al Kaabi, Khalifa Ali Jamila, Rashid Hamad Al Buainain, Mubarak Hamad Al Buainain, Musnad Khalid Al Hamidi, Muhammad Abdul-Hadi Al Jarboui and Mubarak Salem Al Jarboui.One of the qualifiers in the challenge on Saturday Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khater expressed his happiness to compete for the grand prize in the challenge, which is a Lexus car, stressing that he was interested in training his falcon and that the falcon has great capabilities.He praised the efforts of the Al-Qannas Association for supporting falconers and giving them an opportunity to preserve this Qatari and Gulf heritage.On the eighth day, the festival welcomed a large audience of Qataris, Gulf nationals, Arabs and foreigners. Said Bannoura, one of the visitors to the event, said: “I am a fan of birds and their owners, and I am keen every year to attend the festival. I participated in the invitation championship in a previous edition, but with my busy work schedule, it was difficult for me to continue training the birds. When I find time, I am keen to attend this unique event.”For his part, Saeed Ghanem Al Khayarin said, “I participated in the festival in the Al-Ghad group, and I came today to follow the race and competition.”Khaled Hussein Al Jaber said, “ every year, I am keen to attend the festival with my children, who have become falcon enthusiasts and have become familiar with their types and the differences between them, as well as the types of competitions, because I love birds, racing and challenges, as they are an important sport for us. I appreciate the efforts of Qatar and the Al-Qannas Association in preserving this heritage, which expresses part of our ancient history and the lives of our fathers and grandfathers.”He pointed out that his children’s interest in falcons allow them to spend time in a useful hobby. Falah Saadoun Al Azmi from Kuwait said, “I came to watch the festival today and I am happy to participate in it. I have two falcons, in this festival that I participate in for the first time.”