World’s best set for CHI Al Shaqab challenge

Qatar’s top five riders will join Great Britain’s Olympic Games star Ben Maher and Australia’s Edwina Alexander-Tops at this week’s CHI Al Shaqab, the second successive five-star show jumping event to be held at the popular venue inside two weeks.

The 2017 LGCT Grand Prix winner, Bassem Mohammed will headline Qatar’s entries alongside Asian Games gold medallist Sheikh Ali bin Khalid Al Thani, Amir’s Golden Sword winner Faleh Suwead Al Ajami, Khalid Al Suwaidi and Sultan Salmen at the CSI5 event from March 7 to 9, organisers said yesterday.

Last Saturday, Al Shaqab hosted the LGCT season-opener when French show jumping star Julien Epaillard clinched top prize of €123,750 by winning the Grand Prix with his ride Usual Suspect d’Auge. This week Epaillard will be joined by Great Britain’s Emily Moffitt, Swiss star Pius Schwizer and Germany’s Daniel Deusser.

The home riders will feature in the 9th round of the Hathab Series set to be held on the sidelines of the three-day championships.

“This is the 6th edition of this event. We are pleased that Qatar is known for organising world-class equestrian of sports events. This is a good initiative,” Omar Al Mannai, the Commercial Manager, Al Shaqab, said yesterday.

“There are many benefits to gain from hosting of such events. The Al Shaqab brand gets more mileage. This is an international event. It boosts our capacity when we conduct such events,” Al Mannai said.

“This week we will have 91 riders aiming for glory in three different disciplines. The riders will represent 23 countries. There are more than 139 horses in all. The local riders are close to 90,” Al Mannai said.

Al Mannai said the weekend plans at the Mar 7-9 event have been finalised keeping the past traditions of creating a family atmosphere at Al Shaqab Arena.

Al Mannai said participation in the numbers of the home riders have increased manifold.

“We have an academy also. We have increased participation from the academy. More than 200 students have applied to get registered with the academy. The riders are getting to know about the rules and regulations,” he said.

“We started with a high number but in line with the vision and the sports policy of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC). We are focusing on Olympic disciplines. The riders are being groomed with that in mind,” he added.

“There is participation of senior riders at our events and that gives opportunity to Qatari young riders to learn from the best. In addition we have another activity with the department of equestrian training with officials from 14 countries. This department is doing its best to provide an excellent opportunity to spread the sport in Asia and the region,” Al Mannai said.

Ali Al Rumaihi, the former Qatari rider and now the Tournament Director, said: “I would like to thank the media for their extensive coverage last week. We are hoping to welcome back a huge crowd this week as well. This CHI event comes on the heels of LGCT’s season-opening round.”

He added: “This event will reflect positively on the riders who were in action last week. The cooperation between course designers and technical officials will be extended this week. We are preparing for the 9th round of Hathab Series. The riders who couldn’t do well in round 8 can redeem themselves this week. We are expecting riders from Oman and Kuwait. It is nice to see riders from other countries.”

When asked about the benefits of conducting the Hathab Series, Al Rumaihi said: “This has been a fruitful cooperation between Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) and Al Shaqab. We wish it continues for generations. We need to see what we can do better. This will benefit the sport overall. When the riders come and watch such an event, they see the seniors in action, they get motivated themselves. They learn about the relationship between a horse and the rider.”