Hathab Finale: Rising star Al Ghazali guides Quel Homme to Big Tour win

DOHA: Popular rider Nasser Al Ghazali yesterday guided Quel Homme to a spectacular win in the Big Tour competition, taking home the biggest prize with a flawless routine on the last day of the 12th round of Hathab Series at Al Shaqab Arena.

Quel Homme clocked a time of 76.13 seconds as Al Ghazali - who won numerous events in the series - picked up the top prize of QR 16,800 in the 130/140com class.

Al Ghazali also topped the overall standings with 177 points from 12 rounds of the Hathab Series.

Hamad Nasser Al Qadi, astride St Lucia, finished in second place in a time of 72.71 seconds (8 faults). Al Qadi won QR 13,500. Gerlin VD Waterkant, who had Cyrine Cherif in the saddle, clinched the third spot in a time of 78.63 seconds (8 faults). Cherif won QR 10,500.

Salmeen Al Suwaidi (Cantaro 32, 72.77 (12 faults), QR 7,500) and Hamad Towaim Al Marri (Chin Van De Kranenburg, 77.64 (12 faults) QR 4,200) completed the top five at what was the final round of show jumping in the hugely popular Hathab Series.

Omar Al Mannai, Commercial Manager of Al Shahab and Deputy Chairman of the Organising Committee, presents the gold medal to Mohammed Al Ghazali, the winner of the Small Tour.

“I want to thank my parents and my family for their support,” Al Ghazali said yesterday.

“It was a great season for me. I got to learn so much this season,” the young Qatari rider added. “It was a challenging season with many ups and downs. The competition level was very tough. I look forward to coming back stronger for the next season,” he said.

Al Qadi said he was happy with improvement he made over the course of the last few months.

“I got to learn so much. I may have finished second but it has been a great result,” Al Qadi said yesterday. “I went about doing well in a step-by-step fashion. I intend to keep up the good work next season also,” he said. “This is a great series for riders like us who want to be part of the Qatar national squad in the future,” Al Qadi said.

In the Medium Tour, Ahmed Mohammed Al Badi sealed the deal with Wadi Rum D D H, claiming the top honours. Wadi Rum D D H clocked a time of 36.44 seconds (4 faults) as Al BAdi won QR11,000 in the 120/130cm class. Jaber Rashid Al Amri, astride Jazly, won the second spot in a time of 41.95 seconds (4 faults). Al Amri won QR 9,000.

Sheikh Abdulla bin Nasser Al Thani (Dollar Van De Zuuthoeve, 69.34 (4), QR 7,000) secured the third place in the penultimate event of the day at Al Shaqab Arena. Mohammed Said Haidan (Apple Bee, 70.64 (4), QR 4,000) and Mohammed Khalifa Albaker (Carport, 65.82 (8), QR 2,800) completed the top five out of field of nine riders.

Earlier in Small Tour battle for supremacy, Mohammed Al Ghazali guided Michael Jackson to a smooth rider to clinch the honours. Michael Jackson clocked a time of 28.04 seconds as Al Ghazali picked up the top prize of QR 6,250.

Ghanim Nasser Al Qadi, astride Daydreamer EC, finished in second spot in a time of 29.61 seconds. Al Qadi won QR 5,000 for his efforts. Al Qadi also secured the third spot. Khalifa Abdulla Al Khaldi (Dusty, QR 2,500) and Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi (Jalieny Diamant Z, QR 1,750) completed the top five out of 19 riders.

Earlier in the level 2 dressage competition, Mennatallah Hesham Mourad produced a neat routine with Quick Dance to bag the top honours. Mourad managed a score of 67.500 to win QR 1,400. Maryam Ahmed Alsemaitt (Jana, 63.750, QR 1,150) secured the second place while Aisha Ahmed Al Ahmadi (Juste D’Adaelle, 61.667, QR 875) took the third place.

Maha Matar Al Kuwari (Fokke Van Orshof, 61.250, QR 625) and Sheikh Mohammed bin Talal Al Thani (Carful-Loma, 53.750, QR 475) completed the top five.

The Podium winners of the medium Tour (Round 2) pose for a photograph with officials during the presentation ceremony at the Al Shaqab Arena in Doha yesterday.

In the level dressage competition, Ali Mohammed Al Marri won the contest with a score of 67.500 as he guided Fernhill Friendly Touch to a neat routine. Al Marri won QR 2,800. Jessica Waldon (Lusso Del Castegno, 66.071 QR 2,300) secured the second place. Saeed Hamad Al Rashdi (Graffiti De Lully CH, 65.000 QR 1,750) sealed the third place.

Amna Ahmed Al Saffar (Rhythm, 64.821, QR 1,250) and Hassan Al Nuaimi (Leslie Ann 2, 64.821, QR 950) completed the top five.

The series successfully completed 12 rounds with a few competitions held at QEF’s Outdoor Arena during the season.

Omar Al Mannai, Commercial Manager of Al Shahab and Deputy Chairman of the Organising Committee, said yesterday: “I want to thank all the riders and staff people who contributed to the success of this great series. This was a highly successful championship as we managed to get some new bunch of exciting riders.”

He added: “We have studied carefully where we could do better in the next season. We shall be honouring all those who contributed to the success of this series at a special ceremony on Monday evening. We will also honour our sponsors who played a great role in helping us put together this new show jumping series.”

Al Mannai said: “I am convinced we will have another fantastic series when we return next season. Everybody deserves praise for their role in promoting this series.”

Ali Al Rumahi, the Tournament Director, said yesterday: “I am impressed the way young riders stood up to the challenge of competing in front of the fans. There were struggles but there were so many stories of success as well. Qatar riders hold a lot of promise.”

Al Rumaihi added: “It is important that we keep backing the young riders by continuing to stage this series. It has been a wonderful experience of bringing the riders together to build their sense of competition. The media too contributed immensely during the first season of the Hathab Series.”

He said: “At the start this was just an idea but we managed to get everybody involved and now we have a grand series to look forward to in the next season. We have many ideas to promote this series in a better way next season. We shall implement our ideas the right way, come next season.”