The champion riders of the second edition of the Hathab Equestrian Tour pose for a photograph with Hamad Abdulrahman Al Attiyah, President of the Qatari and Asian Equestrian Federations, and QEF and Al Shaqab officials yestertday.
Popular Qatari rider Saeed Nasser Al Qadi emerged as the Big Tour winner of this season’s Hathab Equestrian Tour while Al Salam secured the team title after 12 rounds in the championships.
Al Qadi accumulated a total of 194 points to top the overall standings as the six-month long competition came to a conclusion yesterday.
Hamad Abdulrahman Al Attiyah, President of the Qatari and Asian Equestrian Federations, expressed his pleasure as chairman of the joint organising committee after another successful season of the popular series.
“The series has helped promote equestrian sport, thanks to the efforts of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, who took the initiative to launch the series,” Al Attiyah said.
“We have learned a lot from another season which was successful throughout all legs,” he added.
Meanwhile, Al Qadi’s closest opponent, Faleh Suwead Al Ajami won the final leg of the series yesterday, but fell 11 points short of champion Al Qadi in the overall points tally.
French show jumping star Cyrine Cherif was placed third in the standings with 181 points after finishing fourth yesterday at the Al Shaqab Indoor Arena.
Qatari rider Jaber Rashid Al Amri sealed the Medium Tour title with a brilliant win on Canavaro De Muze (ET), adding 30 points to take his tally to 197. The Qatar Equestrian Federation-owned stallion clocked a time of 64.08 secs to win yesterday’s second round of the Medium Tour, Two rounds with jump off (120/130cm) event, as Al Amri bagged QR5,000 following his final win of the Hathab Series this season.
Al Amri’s closest rival Khalid Mohammed Al Emadi was faster than the winner yesterday (58.24), but his 11-year-old gelding Colibri 19 made four errors on his way to complete the routine. He was placed second behind Al Amri on the last day of the final leg but fell seven points shy of the champion rider.
Big Tour champion Al Qadi booked the third place on the podium after clocking a time of 61.59 secs (four errors) on Daydreamer EC.
Mohammed Sultan Al Suwaidi, the rider who excelled in the final round of the Hathab Series with back to back Big Tour wins on Friday and the penultimate day, was placed fourth on Numero Uno - T, and that lifted him to the third spot in the overall points table in the Medium Tour.
In the Small Tour, Mohammed Al Ghazali, another promising Qatari rider, could not book a podium spot in the final round of the Series, but he collected 22 points to finish at the top of his class in the overall standings. Al Ghazali had won on five occasions throughout the Hathab season and had collected 199 points after 12 rounds.
Yesterday’s Small Tour winner Khalifa Abdulla Al Khaldi was four points behind the champion in the points table. Mohammed Nasser Al Qadi, with 176 points, was placed third in the overall rankings.
Team champions Al Salam had secured 197 points after competing in 11 rounds and their season was studded with four wins. Team Al Shaqab were placed second with 194 points while Power Steel won the third place in the overall standings with 183 points.
Jessica Waldon won the Dressage - Level 1 while Mohammed Al Marri emerged Dressage - Level 2 champion of the hugely popular series.
Qatari youngster Fahad Abed and Mutlaq Al Hajri emerged Future Riders Level 1 and 2 champions in the 12-leg series which was jointly organized by the Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) and Al Shaqab.
