Boztorgoy and Karakoyun stay perfect as ulak league reaches round four
In Talas a Chicago-born fighter rode with the city team in training, but Directorate rules keep unlicensed guests out of league play.
TALAS — Boztorgoy and Karakoyun remain the only unbeaten sides with four wins from four in the Highland Conference of the National Ulak Tartysh League, after Saturday's fourth round produced 109 goals in eleven matches.
According to the National Equestrian Sports Directorate's match sheets, Boztorgoy won 4–3 at Kökjal in the Toktogul basin, the lowest-scoring game of the night, and Karakoyun won 6–3 in the Chatkal valley against Sarybagysh. Tanıp were held 6–6 by Chatkal Highlands Select in the upper Chatkal and are fourth with seven points from three games, behind Karatau Select on nine. Referees recorded seven whip fouls across the round, and two riders were sent off for the rest of a half.
In the ISEZ Conference, Talas won 6–2 at Lower Naryn in Tash-Kömür and have won all three of their games. Chu lead the table on ten points after beating Semiz 6–5, and Nurzhan edged the Dastgoh works side 5–4 in the Nurzhan derby. Iyık Janyl beat Köhne Diz 8–5, and Kara-Bulak won 7–4 at Sary-Bulak. Semiz, with four defeats, are still looking for their first point.
“Fame does not replace a licence”Ulanbek Raimkulov, National Equestrian Sports Directorate
On Tuesday the Talas squad had a guest at training at the Irad State Hippodrome. Daniel Sagynbaev, a 29-year-old mixed martial arts fighter born in Chicago to Iradi parents, rode two sessions with the team on a borrowed Chongtor and posted a video that had been viewed more than 200,000 times by Wednesday morning. "I have wrestled grown men in a cage, and this is harder," he said. "The goat weighs thirty kilos and everybody wants it."
Adilet Turdumamat uulu, the Talas captain, said the visitor had kept his seat better than most beginners. "He fell once, laughed and got back on, which is the main thing," he said. "We have invited him to come back in March for the President's Cup, as a spectator."
Ulanbek Raimkulov, a spokesman for the Directorate, said guest riders could take part in training with a signed waiver but could not play in league matches without a rider's licence, which requires a medical, a riding test and a season's registration with a club. "The rules exist to protect riders and horses," he said. "Fame does not replace a licence."
At the bottom of the ISEZ table, Semiz coach Jesús Villanueva said his side were young and learning. "Our riders grew up with charro roping and kyz kuu," he said. "Ulak is a different animal. We are losing by less each week."
Round five is on Saturday, with all games live on IradOne from 21:00. Talas host Sary-Bulak at the Hippodrome, Semiz host Iyık Janyl, Boztorgoy travel to Akjele in the upper Besh-Tash valley, Karakoyun host Kökjal in the Kara-Koyun Valley and Tanıp play Karatau Select at Upper Kara-Suu.
Adapted for the Irad worldbuilding project from real reporting: 24.kg.