(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula Online
Qatari rider Faleh Suwead Al Ajami yesterday clinched major honours in the Big Tour class at the 8th round of the Longines Hathab Qatar Equestrian Tour at Al Shaqab outdoor Arena.
The 30-year-old excelled twice in the 13-rider jump-off, first riding bay gelding Larko Denfer and later returning on bay mare Ambre De Beaufour to set the course ablaze with a faultless and swift routine in 66.83 secs.
Earlier, Ghanim Nasser Al Qadi on chestnut stallion Morocco set the pace clocking 76.51secs - easily clearing the 12 obstacle fences of 15 efforts including a double barrier succeeding a stretch of two single ones with all three in a row.
That time was first beaten by Al Ajami with Larko Denfer. The duo clocked faultless 75.04secs before Salmeen Sultan Al Suwaidi, the eventual runners-up, excelled on chestnut mare Fiori LS returning a error-free routine in 69.58secs.
Al Ajami then was the second last of the riders to go again in the jump-off riding Ambre De Beaufour and jumped high and clear keeping a good rhythm and pace on the well spread course.
Explaining his strategy which saw him succeed twice, Al Ajami said,“When I went in with the first horse (Larko Denfer) it was for the points keeping in mind the overall Big Tour annual competition so I tried to go as much as I could for a clear round, but with the second horse (Ambre De Beaufour) I could go for the class and not for the points. Hence I put my best horse in the second ride going for the kill.”
On the first outdoor competition of the season, he added,“Everyone was pushing hard to win and I think I was lucky to win it. The course was tough and well designed and negotiating while keeping a good pace was tricky.”
Earlier the Open Class Power and Skill (Six Bar) Competition (115/125cm) saw exciting action with Ghanim Nasser Al Qadi emerging best with three clear jumps.
In the class, each rider had to clear a round consisting of six barriers which were removed each time a rider cleared, and replaced.
Mohammed Al Badi astride Tom Ford finished second with 4 penalties in the third jump, while Jodie Anne Leeder on B Chelsea S was third on the podium, also with 4 penalties.
Director of Joint Services Department, The Social & Sport Contribution Fund (Daam), Yousef Mohammed Al Nuaimi awarded the Big Tour Class podium winners.
Al Nuaimi and Vice-Chairman of the Longines Hathab Organising Committee and Al Shaqab Commercial Manager Omar Al Mannai presented the trophies to the winners of the Open Class.
The Longines Hathab Qatar Equestrian Tour is an annual series of 14 legs. The best eight results and overall rankings decide the eventual champions in showjumping and dressage at the end of season – which will be in May, 2023.