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| Staff Writer |
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Emirati rider achieves first-ever success after four years of riding by winning the CEN 100km HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Cup on the Al Kamda Stables-owned Chevrolet RM.
Mariam Ali Karim's first-ever victory on the UAE endurance circuit was a memorable one as she dominated the CEN 100km HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Cup (Pvt Owners) field from start to finish aboard the Al Kamda Stables-owned Chevrolet RM. Despite being in her fourth year of riding on the circuit, the Emirati rider had to be alert all the way to the end to avoid her second-placed compatriot Alya Obaid Al Shamsi from taking over the summit.
Mariam's previous best performance was a 22nd place finish in last season's 101km HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Cup for Private Stables at Dubai International Endurance City in February. However, on Saturday at Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba, Mariam claimed her new best, a victory she claimed aboard her 14YO partner with a time of three hours, 29 minutes, and 37 seconds (3:29.37).
Mariam's average speed was 28.6kph, and Al Shamsi was 17 seconds adrift at the end of the first phase.
Al Shamsi reduced the deficit to 12secs during the course of the third phase and riding marginally quicker was able to shave a further 11secs off, yielding in the end by a mere second. Al Shamsi and LC Persepolis were timed at 3:29.38, but had an identical average speed of 28.6kph.