A falconer releases his falcon during a falcon contest at Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival at Sealine desert, Qatar. (Naseem Zeitoon / Reuters)
DOHA: Al Gannas Society marks the beginning of the hunting season with the third edition of the annual Isfiri Qatar Falconry Championships next week.
For falconers “Isfiri” means the start of the hunting season, during which they hunt small birds which abound through the month of October. The hunting season is eagerly anticipated by falconers in Qatar and around the region.
Khalid bin Saeed Al Sulaiti, chairman of the championship, said registration is open to Qatari falconers from October 29 to 31 from 6pm till 9pm at Al Gannas society headquarters located in Katara.
The championships will be held at Sabkhat Al Dakhira from November 3 to 5 and will include two categories. A falconer is allowed to take part with several of his falcons.
Cash prizes are at stake for the winners of the annual competition. First place will receive QR35,000; second place will win QR25,000, third QR15,000 and fourth and fifth finishers will be awarded QR5,000 each.
Inscribed on the Unesco List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, falconry has been a passion for many Qataris as an art and sport. Al Gannas Society has been at the forefront of preserving vital aspects of Qatari tradition through heritage activities and festivals it organises annually including falconry championships at the local and international levels.
Highlighting the Society’s annual calendar is the Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival which witnesses hundreds of falconers from around the region competing for big prizes in various categories.
