HM King attends IRONMAN 70.3 Middle East Championship

Manama, Dec. 7 (BNA): His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa attended today the conclusion of IRONMAN 70.3 Middle East Championship Bahrain which kicked off earlier today with the participation of 1500 competitors from 90 countries, including the Kingdom of Bahrain and the GCC member states. He was accompanied by First Deputy Chairman of the supreme Council of Youth and Sports (SCYS) and President of Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa. HM the King was welcomed on arrival by Minister of Youth and Sport Affairs Ayman bin Tawfeeq Al-Moayed and senior organisers of the race. He watched the competitions which included swimming, cycling and running. At the end of the championship, HM the King crowned HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa who clocked 29,39 (twenty-nine minutes and thirty-nine seconds) in the swimming race, 2,20 (two hours and twenty seconds) in cycling and 1,30,34 (one hour, thirty minutes and 34 seconds) in running. HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa clocked an overall time of 4,6,51 (four hours, six minutes and fifty-one seconds). HM the King also crowned the professional winners in the man category. They are Norwegian Kristian Blummenfelt who clinched first place, clocking 3,42,20, Danish Daniel Baekkegard who came second, clocking 3,43,02 and third place winner Norwegian Casper Stornes who clocked 3,43,46. HM the King also crowned the winners in the women category. They are British champion Holly Lawrence, from Bahrain Endurance Team, who clinched first place clocking 3,52,35 while second place went to British Jodie Stimpson (3,55,29) and third place to British Claire Hann (3,55,51). HM the King congratulated the winners and the competitors, wishing them constant success. He also exchanged talks with the participating athletes who expressed to him heartfelt thanks and gratitude for the kingdom’s good organisation of the sporting event. HM King Hamad congratulated HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa for the outstanding success of the championship which reflects the kingdom’s good reputation as a host of major sporting events. He commended their remarkable efforts to consolidate the kingdom’s standing in the regional, Arab and international sporting arenas. He also praised their efforts to map out plans to develop sports and support Bahraini athletes to bring about more achievements. HM the King lauded the developing youth and sport movement in Bahrain and keenness of Bahraini youngsters on mounting the crowning podiums at various sport gatherings. He commended the high level shown by Bahrain Team members in the championship, wishing them continuous success.