(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Doha: Seasoned rider Cyrine Cherif bounced back with a Big Tour triumph in Round Six of the popular Qatar Equestrian Tour - Longines Hathab at the outdoor arena of Qatar Equestrian Federation yesterday.
The brilliant win on a tough expansive course saw the 29-year-old Cherif, who's been riding for a good 21 years, end the first part of the 14-leg long season with all smiles.
In what was a three-way jump-off, the rider combined superbly with her 10-year-old chestnut stud Brennus Villelongue to sail over the barriers in the Table A, One round against the clock with jump off, Art. 238.2.2 | 130/140cm class on a day when three of the finest horse on tour refused to finish the routine including Hamad Nasser Al Qadi's mare Gibria B. Al Qadi had to suffer an elimination along with Mohammed Saeed Haidan (on D Saucedo) and two other riders.
Given the challenging course, Cherif also picked up four faults in the jump off but was still the fastest in 44.37secs.
Speaking of her winning finish, Cherif said,“I was really running out of luck the last two shows so I had to have this mental strength to keep going. My horse was ready, I was ready but all the time we had been running out of luck or missing something and I was really looking forward to winning this weekend and I was thinking today is the day, I need to win!
“My attitude was about winning and I am really happy that it worked. It's a great reward. I want to thank all the people around me and my trainer because they were really supporting me as I was a bit down the last two shows.”
On the competitive nature of the course, she said,“The course was a good course but technically not big enough I'd say but tricky with the water around and the triple combinations and the double barriers. Also, the last hurdle was bit wider and needed a lot of force as well, so it's challenging and we have to ride it.”
Mubarak Yousuf Al Rumaihi, another accomplished rider, finished as the runner-up astride his gelding Casal Des Forets in 46.24secs. And was glad with the result.
“I am really happy that my horse did well,” he said.
“Now, this is the 6th round of season and the diffculty levels are rising. This competition, the course was akin to that of an international five or four-star competition and hence very challenging both for the rider and the horse. I have showjumped at international competitions, and I feel this one today was quite similar in fact more challenging especially in the national competition. But this is very good for the riders and Team Qatar,” he added.
About the course, Al Rumaihi said,“The course designer also added more water bodies and plants around the barriers which adds to the difficulty levels for horses as they see more around them. It was challenging and exciting and we as riders feel lucky to have such facilities and competitions.”
Earlier in the day, Khalid Sanad Al Nuaimi riding Green emerged the winner in the Open Class| Ride & Drive | 115/120cm event, ahead of Saeed Hamad Jumaa on Jirocco Blue and Ghanim Nasser Al Qadi on Dino BB Z.
Abdul Salam Issa Abu Issa, Member of the Board of Directors and CEO of Salam International Company, the official sponsors of Longines Hathab, and Lieutenant-Colonel Abdullah Nasser Al Nuaimi, Cavalry Company Commander, Lekhwiya, awarded the winners.
The annual and now 14-leg series will be back in action on the first of January in the New Year with the 3rd round of Longines Hathab Dressage at QEF's outdoor arena while the 7th round of Longines Hathab Tour will be held from January 7 at Al Shaqab.
Longines Hathab (Round Six) Results
Big Tour, Table A, One round against the clock with jump off, Art. 238.2.2, 130/140cm, Prize-Money: QR45,000
1. Rider: Cyrine Cherif; Horse: Brennus Villelongue; Faults: 0; Time: 71.51secs; Jump Off Faults: 4; Time: 44.37secs
2. Mubarak Yousuf Al Rumaihi; Casal Des Forets; 0; 74.28secs; 4; 46.24secs
3. Faleh Suwead Al Ajami; Ulano; 0; 76.64secs; 8; 42.33secs
Open Class| Ride & Drive | 115/120cm | Prize-Money: QR25,000
1. Khalid Sanad Al Nuaimi; Green; 0; 50.47secs; 0; 65.62secs
2. Saeed Hamad Jumaa: Jirocco Blue; 0; 54.14secs; 0; 70.00secs
3. Ghanim Nasser Al Qadi; Dino BB Z; 0; 54.42secs; 0; 72.33secs
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