Renowned falconer steals the show with podium lockout at the Airplane finale of the Fazza Championship

Bin Mejren produces four-midable display in Sheikhs classification

[Dubai - United Arab Emirates, January 13, 2016] – Pilot Khalifa bin Mejren locked out the podium positions for his NAS K team in the Sheikhs classification of the airplane tournament final on Monday at the Fazza Championship for Falconry, which is organised and supervised by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC).

Bin Mejren had already secured the top three places in yesterday’s final by the time his fifth – and final – contender set off in hot pursuit of the prey attached to a detachable parachute at the back of a remote-controlled plane.

The renowned falconer need not have pushed too hard then with a dominant display and an outright victory already assured, yet he and his female flyer shot round the orange cone and crossed the line in the best time of the day overall: 1:13.976s.

Bin Mejren had achieved the 1-2-3, as well as fourth, and even some late drama couldn’t detract from a supreme showing as it transpired his first challenger was to be disqualified after Bin Mejren cut a corner around the cone.

Competition rules state that a 10-second time penalty is activated if a falcon takes a shortcut at the turn for home. However, a pilot’s transgression in that particular regard results in an automatic DQ.

Still, even that unexpected setback couldn’t take the gloss off an otherwise pristine performance from Bin Mejren and his very own ‘Fab Four.’

“I’m really pleased to have got the first four positions and that’s very good,” Bin Mejren said. “It was very difficult competing against strong birds, although the weather was really nice for the falcons. I wouldn’t say I got lucky, but some of my birds did very well today – especially the female falcon that achieved 1 minutes and 13 seconds – that’s a very good time.”

On the disqualification of one of his quintet, Bin Mejren added: “That’s fine. It was my mistake. The moment you get to the cone, it’s not easy to know when to turn. You’re coming in at 100kmph and then there’s a decision to make about when to turn. If you want to be 100 per cent sure, then you will go further out and then turn back, but I needed the best time so I turned before the cone. The falcon at least turned correctly; he turned after the cone, but I’ll learn from my mistake and the other four birds did well.”

Three interested spectators in attendance yesterday (Monday) were Oregon native and falcon breeder Brian Paul Stoddard, who is also a falconer, his father Richard and Brian’s friend Clinton Rand.

“It’s pretty exciting and really neat to see. It’s truly fascinating,” Brian commented. “The plane is a really good conditioning tool in terms of exercising the falcons and getting them into shape.”

Brian’s father Richard added: “I’m here to support my son. I’m trying to help him out and make his life better. It’s always nice if your children can do something they like and make it a job. Even though Brian is 43 and I’m 66, I’m still out there helping and supporting him.”

The qualifying round for the public in the same tournament also took place on Monday ahead of their rescheduled final tomorrow (Wednesday).

The finals of the Fazza Championship for Falconry Telwah which is organised and supervised by the Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC) get underway today (Tuesday).