Rakan Al Hasawai guides his nine-year-old gelding Dennis over an obstacle during the 145cm event on the opening day of QNB Al Rayyan International Show Jumping Champions at QEF’s Outdoor Arena yesterday.
Kuwaiti rider Rakan Al Hasawi, riding under the FEI flag, guided his nine-year-old gelding Dennis to a flawless routine to bag the biggest prize of the day, €6,150 as the prestigious QNB Al Rayyan International Show Jumping Championships got off to a flying start at the Qatar Equestrian Federation’s (QEF’s) Outdoor Arena yesterday.
The Al Hasawi-Dennis combination proved to be perfect as they completed the round in 34.26 seconds to win the feature event of the opening day, 145cm event.
Jubilant Al Hasawi, after his win yesterday, seemed pleased to have bounced back after ‘some unlucky rounds’ last week.
“It’s a good win. We’ve been having some unlucky rounds the last week, but this seems like a good beginning to the weekend here. All the best to the other riders too and I hope to get some more favourable results,” Al Hasawi said.
Cheril, ridden by Ali Al Khorafi, clocked the second fastest time of 34.91 seconds to bag a prize cheque worth €4,920. Al Khorafi is having a wonderful season following his podium finish in the feature event of last week’s QNB Qatar International Show Jumping Championships. The Al Khorafi – Cheril duo was faster than Qualidam, ridden by seasoned Russian rider Vladimir Tuganov who took 35.11 seconds to finish the routine. Tuganov, who won €3,690 in prize money, said that he saved his best for the final day of the championship and that he is targeting the biggest prize.
“I rode quite cautiously today because I want to reserve my best for tomorrow and the final day for the Grand Prix event,” Tuganov said.
On giving youngsters a run for their money, he said: “But I gave youngsters a chance to go ahead of me today. Hopefully I should go on to win the Grand Prix.
Earlier, in the 130/135cm event, Salmeen Sultan Al Suwaidi guided Guilder’s Empire Of The Sun to an easy win in 59.86 seconds to win €2,000 in prize money. S I E C Lonnie, with promising rider Hamad Nasser Al Qadi in the saddle, finished the round in 60.80 seconds to bag a cheque worth €1,600. Siec Cosmos Wijngaardhoeve Z, ridden by Mubarak Yousuf Al Rumaihi, was the third fastest in 62.21 seconds and walked away with a cash award of €1,200.
The opening event of the championship saw Wyarietus S, ridden by Uzbekistan’s Azam Tolibbaev bagging top honours after an error-less ride which lasted 29.32 seconds. Qatar’s Obaid Ali Al Sanari guided Quentin to complete the routine in 30.83 seconds while Colijn, with Uzbekistan’s Okil Sobirjonov in the saddle, finished the round in 31.44 seconds to book the remaining slot on the podium.
Today is the second day of the event which is organised by the Qatar Equestrian Federation.
