Doha: Germany’s Marcus Ehning displayed a superb show to win the Grand Prix at the prestigious Commercial Bank CHI Al Shaqab presented by Longines after a thrilling contest, yesterday.
Riders braved a tough course in the marquee event at state-of-the-art Longines Arena at Al Shaqab under lights, with 47-year-old Ehning, astride 11-year-old bay Stargold, grabbing top honours with a time of 33.98 seconds in the jump off.
The seasoned German rider bagged winner’s prize of €135,300 for his stunning victory.
As many as 42 riders competed in the feature contest of the three-day competition, with only 18 qualifying for the second round.
The second round saw only six contestants entering the title-deciding round after staying clear of the rails.
Ehning, who won a team gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, was the fourth rider to perform in the jump off and he produced a fabulous combination of speed and accuracy with Stargold to reign supreme.
“Today from the start, it was an incredible feeling. I know I have a very fast horse. He is one of my best in my career,” Ehning, who started equestrian sport at the age of seven, told a post-event press conference.
“In the jump off with this speed everything was under control. My horse was going with me with a super good speed. It was a smooth round,” the German said, before adding that he loved to compete at the magnificent Longines Arena at Al Shaqab.
“I have been coming for this event every year and I love coming here. The facilities for the horses are great and I hope to compete here next week too,” he added referring to the next weekend’s 2022 Longines Global Champions Tour and GCL opener at the same venue.
Following Ehning was Sweden’s Evelina Tovek, who clinched second position with a time of 36.51 seconds with 12-year-old bay Winnetou de La Hamente.
“I really like my horse’s swing and he did his best. We have got some rounds in the UAE before this event which was good [in our preparation],” the runner-up, who topped the second round told reporters, yesterday.
Dutchman Maikel van der Vleuten, riding Beauville Z, was third after clocking 36.73 in the jump off.
Earlier, Frenchman Simon Delestre, astride nine-year-old Dexter Fontenis Z, edged World No.1 Peder Fredricson of Sweden to win the thrilling CSI5* 1.50m.
Aware of the tough challenge, Delestre completed a flawless routine in 58.91 seconds just fraction of a second ahead of World No.1 Fredricson, who clocked 58.97 seconds with 14-year-old bay Hansson Wl for a second place.
Germany’s Philipp Schulze Topphoff, riding 10-year-old chestnut Clemens de La Lande, secured third position with a time of 59.34 seconds.
Also on the final day, Finland’s Henri Ruoste emerged as a surprise winner, riding Kontestro DB to Dressage Freestyle glory after amassing a score of 84.245%.
Sweden’s Patrik Kittel, who won the Dressage Grand Prix on Friday, was the pre-event favourite but had to settle for a second place with 10-year-old bay Touchdown after tallying 83.890%.
Dutchman Hans Peter Minderhoud, riding Glock’s Dream Boy N.O.P, secured third position with a score of 81.930%.
Ruoste praised 12-year-old Kontestro DB after his unexpected victory.
“I didn’t expect to win. My money was on Patrik. But my horse was excellent and continued to fight for me. He has a tremendous potential and is trying his best. He didn’t set a foot wrong today,” he said.
H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar Olympic Committee President; H E Abdul Rahman bin Hamad Al Attiyah, Board Member, The Commercial Bank; Gilles Robert Tissot, International Event Project Manager Longines, and Dominic Genetti, President and General Manager, ExxonMobil Qatar during the presentation ceremony of Commercial Bank CHI Al Shaqab Presented by Longines Grand Prix, yesterday.
“I am very happy with the win and it’s been a pleasure performing at this beautiful arena,” he added.
Kittel was satisfied after finishing second in the event, crediting Touchdown for his success in the event.
“My horse exceeded all my expectations yesterday and it was the same today. He has every quality to compete in the big sport,” he added.
Meanwhile, Tommie Visser of the Netherlands clinched the Special Dressage Grand Prix title with Genesis Begijnhoeve as both combined for a score of 71.787%.
Belgium’s Charlotte Defalque, astride Botticelli, was second with a score of 70.405% while Germany’s Jill Hollweg-De Ridder teamed up with Whitney to tally 70.255% for third place.
We are growing every year: Al Mannai
Meanwhile, Omar Al Mannai, Event Director, Commercial Bank CHI Al Shaqab Presented by Longines, expressed his delight over the success of the three-day event.
“I want to congratulate all the winners. It was a ninth edition and we are getting better every year. But we have a way to go and we look forward to make this event better,” he added. A total of 95 riders from 24 countries and 146 elite competition horses competed in the three-day championship, which featured three disciplines — showjumping, dressage and para dressage.
Commercial Bank CHI Al Shaqab Grand Prix presented by Longines
1. Marcus Ehning (GER); Horse: Stargold; Times: 73.65 & 68.45 secs; Jump-off time: 33.98 secs; €135,300
2. Evelina Tovek (SWE); Winnetou de La Hamente Z; 73.63 & 68.05 secs; 36.51 secs; €82,000
3. Maikel van der Vleuten (NED); Beauville Z; 76.93 & 70.09 secs; 36.73 secs; €43,050
CSI5* F&T (238.2.1) 1.50m Show jumping
1. Simon Delestre (FRA); Dexter Fontenis Z; 58.91 secs; €12,825
2. Peder Fredricson (SWE); Hansson Wl; 58.97 secs; €10,260
3. Philipp Schulze Topphoff (GER); Clemens de La Lande; 59.34 secs; €7,695
Dressage Freestyle
1. Henri Ruoste (FIN); Kontestro DB; 84.245%; €27,000
2. Patrik Kittel (SWE); Touchdown; 83.890%; €21,000
3. Hans Peter Minderhoud (NED); Glock’s Dream Boy N.O.P; €16,000
CDI5* GPS - Grand Prix Special Dressage
1. Tommie Visser (NED); Genesis Begijnhoeve; 71.787%; €5,800
2. Charlotte Defalque (BEL); Botticelli; 70.405%; €4,600
3. Jill Hollweg-De Ridder (GER); Whitney 341: 70.255%; €3,600
Para Dressage CPEDI3* Freestyle IV (IV FS)
1. Rodolpho Riskalla (BRA); Don Henrico; 82.483%; €1,200€
2. Kate Shoemaker (USA); Quiana; 77.083%; €1,000
3. Tessa Baaijens-Van De Vrie (NED); Happy Grace; 73.442%; €800
CPEDI3* Freestyle V (V FS)
1. Kevin van Ham (BEL); Eros Van Ons Heem; 74.433%; €1,200€
2. Valentina Strobl (AUT); Bequia Simba; 72.300%; €1,000
3. Camilla Christensen (DEN); Fursten; 72.108%; €800
CPEDI3* Freestyle I (I FS)
1. Jens Lasse Dokkan (NOR); Aladdin: 77.723%; €1,320
2. Ana Isabel Mota Veiga (POR); Convicto; 68.989%; €1,000
CPEDI3* Freestyle II (II FS)
1. Annemarieke Nobel (NED); Doo Schufro; 71.322%; €1,320
2. Loes Cevaal (NED); Happy Hero II; 70.878%; €1,000
CPEDI3* Freestyle III (III FS)
1. Lotte Krijnsen (NED); Rosenstolz; 74.667%; €1,320
2. Rebecca Hart (USA); El Corona Texel; 73.178%; €1,000
Longines Hathab - Big Tour - 1.45 m - One Round + Jump Off
1. Khalid Sanad Al Nuaimi (QAT); Goliat: 69.92 & 32.68 secs; QR 12,375
2. Saeed Nasser Al Qadi (QAT); Electra B; 65.87 & 31.00 secs; QR 10,125
3. Hamad Nasser Al Qadi (QAT) Nebrasco; 67.18 secs; QR7,875
Longines Hathab - Open Class - 1.25 m - Faults & Time
1. Mohamed Saeed Haidan (QAT); Miss Chili; 50.31 secs; QR6,250
2. Faris Saad Al Qahtani (QAT); Hidiene; 50.90 secs; QR5,000
3. Sultan Salem Al Naemi (QAT) Higgs; 54.71 secs; QR3,750
