DOHA: Saeed Nasir Al Qadi, Sheikh Ali bin Khalid Al Thani and Khjaim Faraj Al Athba produced flawless routines for Team Al Khor to win the Qatar Cup for teams on the first day of the H H The Emir’s Sword festival yesterday.
Representing Team Al Khor, Al Qadi, Sheikh Ali and Al Athba produced the winning time of 35.25 seconds to seal the top prize of QR60,000 at the Qatar Equestrian Federation’s (QEF) Outdoor Arena here.
Team Al Rayyan’s Nasser Jassim Al Ghazali, Salman Mohammed Al Emadi and Maryam Mubarak Al Ali finished in second spot with a time of 36.65 seconds in the 135cm “not against the clock” class.
The second place winners got QR45,000.
Team Doha’s Ali Yusuf, Sheikh Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani and Hussain Saeed Hidan sealed the spot with a score of 38.26. Team Doha won QR 30,000.
Earlier in accumulator with joker class, Jaber Rashed Al Amri guided What A Lady to a convincing win in the 110cm competition at the Outdoor Arena.
Al Amri rides for Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF). He clocked a time of 54.48 seconds to nail his win ahead of Saeed Nasir Al Qadi, who was riding Orlando. Al Qadi clocked a time of 55.42 seconds.
Ali Yusef Al Malki, riding Jackson 58, secured the third spot with a time of 56.83 seconds.
Mohammed Ali Al Athba rode Wilco to fourth spot with a time of 65.48 while Cyrine Cherif galloped with Enjoy 71 to grab the fifth spot.
Also yesterday, Abdullah Hazzam scooped the top spot in the Optimum Class when he guided Casanova to win with a time of 77.90 seconds.
Meteb Ali Al Saaq, riding Bel Rose, finished in second spot with a time of 74.30 while the third place was secured by Mohammed Nasir Al Qadi, who was astride True Friend.
Al Qadi finished with a time of 74.02.
Today, Qatar’s famed quartet of Ali Yousef Al Rumaihi, Khalid Al Emadi, Bassem Hassan Mohammed and Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani will feature in the Emir Sword competition.
Last month, the four riders won the second leg of the Furusiyya 2015 series in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to seal a berth at the 2016 Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janiero.
The organisers of the two-day event have arranged for a kids area besides ensuring a special ring where children can enjoy horse rides.
A certain section of the Outdoor Arena is reserved for heritage village, organisers said yesterday.
Today’s first competition, Juniors Cup 2015, for under-18 riders will start at 3.30pm. This will be followed by the Emir Cup which starts at 6pm.
The feature event of the day — the 2015 Emir Sword contest — starts at 7.30pm.
Khaled Safar Al Hajri, Secretary General of QEF, said: “There’s going to be intense competition because Emir Sword title is always keenly fought for by the riders.”
Abdullah Abdulghani and Bros are the title sponsors whereas UDC, Qatar Airways and Qatar Tourism Authority are the co-sponsors of the prestigious festival.
QEC will organise Armed Forces Endurance Ride on March 14 at Marathon Village, Sealine, Al Hajri confirmed.
Competitions will be held in four classes — Endurance Ride 110km CEI** for seniors, 90km CEIYJ* for juniors, 80km for novice riders and 40km for young riders.
The competitions will be staged in four categories over the 110km course.
Today’s event is broadcast live by Al Kaas Sports channel.
THE PENINSULA
