Abu Dhabi, Jan. 17, 2006,(WAM)--Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) today unveiled the Trophy for the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship to be held this week from Thursday January 19, through Sunday January 22, at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
The elegant silver and gold trophy incorporating a falcon, the national symbol of the UAE and of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, was specially commissioned from the renowned Britishsilversmith Edward Asprey.Weighing in at 5.3 kilos, the 69cm high trophy was completed in just seven weeks, including over 400 man hours of work.
Handcrafted at the Sheffield workshops of British Silverware Limited, the Trophy production was overseen by the company's senior silversmith, Tony Martin, who has over 40 years of experience having been involved in the making of many famous sporting trophies including the US Masters Trophy, The Grand National Trophy, The Cheltenham Gold Cup and most recently the Burghley Horse Trials Trophy. Ahmed Hussein Director of Product Development Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority commented, "The trophy is the result of superb craftsmanship bringing together the sports of golf and falconry, which has such a strong link with our national heritage." While the Trophy will remain in Abu Dhabi, the Championship winner will take away a half-size replica. The inaugural Abu Dhabi Championship, the most prestigious tournament ever to be staged in Abu Dhabi, has attracted four of the top ten players in the world, Vijay Singh, Colin Montgomerie, Sergio Garcia and Chris DiMarco together with the incomparable American John Daly, Danish Ryder Cup star Thomas Bjorn, Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez and young guns Paul Casey and Ian Poulter.
