The Fazza Championship for Falconry Telwah entered an exciting fifth day yesterday, with levels of excitement ramped up for competitors and spectators. Organised and supervised by the Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Centre (HHC), the two-week long tournament is showcasing the flying capabilities of the country's national bird and the skills of their professional falconers, with yesterday's contests devoted to the Shaheen breed of falcon in two major categories; ‘Pure Jeer Jernaas Sheikh' and ‘Pure Jeer Jernaas Public.' "The interest being shown in the Fazza Championship for Falconry is a testament to the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Centre's concerted efforts to revitalise this important heritage sport by promoting its awareness among all segments of society. Our aim is to keep the tradition relevant for the 21st century and to share its excitement with the younger generation. We hope to educate them on the importance of heritage and falconry's association with the UAE's national identity so that they can continue to keep this important cultural tradition alive," said Souad Ibrahim Darwish, Director of Tournaments, HHC.

"Spectators have enjoyed the fifth day at the Fazza Championship for Falconry, which has been dedicated to the Shaheen breed of falcons and their professional falconers. We were delighted to welcome registration from our brother competitors from across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states who will be competing on Sunday in special categories allocated specifically for them," said Dumaithan bin Swaidan, Head of the Fazza Championship for Falconry Telwah Committee, HHC.

Speaking about his experiences at the tournament, Saudi contestant Adel Bin Saleh Aeryfj said: "The Fazza Championship for Falconry is held in very high regard across the Gulf because of the excellence of its organisation, the array of prizes on offer and the sheer number of falcons and falconers competing. I had a fantastic time participating with my birds today and I am looking forward to taking part in Sunday's contests."

Local participant Ali Hussein Ali spoke about his crossbreeding of falcons and the necessity of training, saying: "The falconer must develop a strong relationship with their bird and undertake a great deal of training in order to be fully prepared to participate in competitive events. The professional falconer needs to have a unique bond with their bird so that it will respond to instructions, something especially important in live prey events. We should be proud of the fact that we have a lot of falconries in the UAE which are helping to maintain this important heritage sport."

Shaheen falcons are medium-sized birds which have been ‘hybridised' using artificial insemination. The breed is characterised by a strong physical structure and a high speed of flight, in some cases reaching 200 kilometres per hour. Sheheen falcons are also capable of reaching high altitudes. The Fazza Championship for Falconry continues up until January 15, with competitors competing in a number of different disciplines, including live prey and tether-free flying.

Source: WAM