A view of Al Shaqab Arena in Doha. One of the world’s best equestrian venues, Al Shaqab Arena is hosting the six-day Al Shaqab International Equestrian Competition beginning today. Besides vaulting, competitions have been scheduled in endurance, dressage and show jumping, Fahad Al Qahtani, President of Al Shaqab Arena, said.
by Rizwan Rehmat
DOHA: Double world and European pas-de-deux champions Jasmin Lindner and Lukas Wacha will introduce vaulting to fans in Doha today when the two kick off proceedings at the six-day Al Shaqab International Equestrian Competition.
Also known as gymnastics on horseback, vaulting is one of the four competitions to be held at the imposing Al Shaqab Arena which has attracted world champion riders and Olympic stars for the high profile equestrian gala.
Besides vaulting, competitions have been scheduled in endurance, dressage and show jumping.
Barbara Toro, the vaulting discipline manager, said yesterday: “We are going to see history in the making. Vaulting will be held in Doha for the first time. We have been able to get Jasmin Lindner and Lukas Wacha, two of the best in business.”
Toro added: “There was a vaulting demonstration from Team Neuss at last year’s event at Al Shaqab Arena. That demonstration went really well with the fans. Now we are ready to showcase this spectacular beat in a major way.”
The vaulters will be competing for a total prize of 60,000 Euros, Toro said. The vaulting competition is split into male individual, female individual, squad and Pas de Deux categories.
In show jumping events, around 40 Qatari riders will take part in hopes of winning part of the 985,000 Euros being offered as total prize money in 12 competitions. Ali bin Khalid AI Thani, who took part in last year’s event and will return this year, said: “CHI Al Shaqab is a treasure of experience for local riders, trainers and organisers. Qatar has acclaimed global attention, thanks to its ambitious vision in the field of sport.”
According to details, the endurance racing will take place at Mesaieed with riders competing over a distance 120kms.
The riders will compete for a prize bag of 200,000 Euros.
The dressage riders will hope to scoop a share of the 200,000 Euro prize money which is split between the Grand Prix, the Grand Prix Freestyle and the Grand Prix Special competitions.
“Last year, we saw a fantastic display with Princess Nathalie Zu Sayn Wittgenstein wowing the judges and taking the top spot in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix freestyle on Digby. She will no doubt be hoping for a repeat performance this year,” Patrik Kittel, the returning rider, said of last year’s competition.
“The competition is fantastic and the hospitality is really great and luxurious”, Carlos Lopes, the dressage discipline manager, said.
Describing the Gulf’s top equestrian event as ‘a special stopover on the world calendar’, Al Shaqab Arena’s President Fahad Al Qahtani said: “Qatar has an illustrious equestrian heritage and we have always placed the highest value on great horsemanship. Al Shaqab is honoured to welcome some of the world’s finest riders to what we anticipate will be a magnificent event.”
The annual event is sponsored by ExxonMobil Qatar and Qatar Airways and remains the only CHI-level competition in the Middle East and Asia with jumping, dressage, vaulting and endurance competitions.
“As a member of this community, we believe we have a responsibility to Qatar and its people to support events of cultural and traditional significance that highlight as well as preserve Qatar’s unique heritage, while drawing attention to Doha and all that it has to offer,” Bart Cahir, President and General Manager of ExxonMobii Qatar Inc, said in a statement.
The horses, among them Olympic winners, arrived via two special flights by Qatar Airways, the official partner airline of CHI Al Shaqab 2014.
Omar AI Mannai, Event Director of CHI Al Shaqab, said the riders had arrived and show organisers were working around the clock to ensure the event runs smoothly and provides an enthralling experience for all involved.
“This year, around 160 of the world’s greatest riders and almost 200 horses will compete before royalty, VIPs and 10,000 spectators at the Gulf’s most prestigious equestrian venue,” Al Mannai said at a news conference yesterday.
THE PENINSULA
