DOHA: Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al Thani yesterday emerged as the top rider when he guided Anyway II to a convincing win in the FEI Art. 238.2.1 - 145cm class on day two of the Qatar International Show Jumping Championship.
Producing a faultless routine, Anyway II cleared obstacles with ease and sealed the win with a time of 60.34secs at Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC).
Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Sharbatly combined well with Andrea to take the second spot with a time of 61.30secs.
Turkey’s Omer Karaevli rode Dadjak Ter Puttenen to third spot with a time of 62.29secs.
The top prize was worth QR74,500 while second-placed Sharbatly picked up QR59,600.
Third-placed Karaevli had to be content with QR44,700.
“You can see that Qatari riders are becoming very competitive,” Karaevli said.
“They are getting the right kind of training and performing really well,” he added.
Earlier, Qatar’s Mubarak Al Rumaihi produced a flawless routine to clinch the top prize in the FEI Art 238.2.2-135cm category with a convincing ride on Vivaldi K. He clocked a time of 40.06secs as he finished ahead of Saudi rider Abdullah Albegami who was astride Silvano.
In third place was Egypt’s Saed Saad who was riding Batoya HBC.
Al Rumaihi’s victory was worth QR12,500 while second-placed Albegami walked off with QR10,000. Saad picked up the prize of QR7,500 for his efforts.
Qatar’s Rashid Towaim Al Marri yesterday walked off as the day’s first winner when he rode Lucky Lady to victory in the FEI Art 238.2.2-120cm in a jump-off at QREC.
Al Marri clocked a time of 34.36secs to seal his win that was worth QR8,750.
In second place was BMC White Nose - who was ridden by Saudi Arabia’s Meshari Al Harbi - in the 15-entry contest.
BMC White Nose clocked a time of 34.85secs. The second-place finish was worth QR7,000.
Cassander Van Het Bremhof, ridden by Qatar’s Abdulrahman Nassar, finished in third spot with a time of 38.15secs.
Action resumes today at QREC at 1:30pm followed by competitions at 3:30pm and 6:30pm.
The final piece of action - FEI World Cup Competition - Arab League - will begin at 6:00pm. The event is open to top 30 riders from competition 7.
The three-day event is sponsored by Qatar Olympic Committee, Grand Heritage Doha, Qatar Tourism Authority, Qatar Airways and Al Kass Sports Channel. The FEI series is being organised by Qatar Equestrian Federation.THE PENINSULA
