Salim Al Suwaidi takes the lead in a major competition in Al Ain

Dubai, UAE, March 11, 2019:  The UAE’s Salim Khamis Al Suwaidi and 22-year-old ‘Espresso’ of the Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club led the 12th week’s main event of the Emirates Longines Show Jumping League competitions, which included 13 rounds and saw the participation of a significant number of riders of all levels from clubs and equestrian centres around the UAE. The competition was held at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Executive Council Member and Chairman of Al Ain Equestrian Club. The competitions took place last Friday and Saturday during two morning and evening phases, under the supervision of the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation (UAEERF), and under the sponsorship of Longines and Abu Dhabi Sports Council. As the competitions came to an end, Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club has fulfilled its share of hosting competitions during this jumping season, which included three weekly competitions and two international competitions - the first of which was a CSI2* show and the second was the CSI3*W Al Ain International Show Jumping Championship World Cup Qualifier, both of which were held last December.

Al Suwaidi’s victory for UAE…

Salim Al Suwaidi was successful in winning the final competition of the Al Ain National which wrapped up the club’s jumping programme for this season. The competition saw the participation of 33 Division 1 riders who were all jumping a course made of 140cm jumps. Ten riders were able to reach the final round but only nine rode without faults, led by Al Suwaidi who finished the final round with a timing of (38.88) seconds. Second place was awarded to fellow club member, Syria’s Chadi Gharib, and ‘Taiwan Du Landey’ who completed the final round in (42.71) seconds. The third place was awarded to João Maria Marquilhas and ‘Glamour ES’ of Al Hamra Equestrian Centre, who finished with a timing of (43.46) seconds.

France wins 1st Division 1 competition of One Round with Jump Off

The other Division 1 competition, a One Round with Jump Off with jumps set at 135cm, saw the participation of 26 riders, five of whom succeeded in moving onto the jump off. France’s Frederic David and ‘Levita VD Bisschop’ of Al Asayl Stables successfully rode a clear round with the best time of  (42.52) seconds and secured first place. Second place  was awarded to Iran’s Farhang Sadeghi with ‘W Piccolini’ of The Sustainable City Equestrian Club who completed the final in (43.84) seconds. Third place was awarded to young Emirati rider, Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi, and ‘Coral Beach’ of Al Shira'aa Stables who completed the round with the  very fast time of (40.47) seconds, but with four faults.

Emirati Salim Ahmed and ‘Snapp Jack’ win Division 1 Two Phases

In the Division 1 Two Phases competition with jumps placed at a height of 125cm, 20 riders participated. The two phases were completed without faults by 11 riders, led by the UAE’s Salim Ahmed Al Suwaidi with ‘Snapp Jack’ of the Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club who finished the second phase with a time of (48.78) seconds. The second place was held by Saudi’s Sulaiman Alanbar with ‘Quintella’ of Al Abadla Stables, completing the second phase in (50.52) seconds, with third going to the young Emirati rider, Humaid Abdullah Al Muhairi and ‘Gaudi Equigenne' of Al-Shira'aa Stables with a time of (51.88) seconds. 

Greece’s Natsis Wins Division 1 Special Two Phases Competition 

40 riders participated in the Division 1 Special Two Phases, which was the final class on the first day of the National (Friday. Jumps were set at 135cm and only nine riders were able to complete both phases without faults. Greek rider Dimitrios Natsis with ‘Calista De La Hart’ of the Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club, completed the second phase with a timing of (32.56) seconds and won first place with the UAE’s Mohammed Shafi Al Remeithi and 11-year-old ‘Puck’ from the Emirates Heritage Club securing second place with a time of (32.85) seconds. Third place went to Farhang Sadeghi and his horse ‘W Piccolini’.

UAE’s Al Owais wins Division 2 Two Phases with ‘VIP Delle Roane’

Emirati rider, Abdel Aziz Abdel Nasir Al Owais, won first place in the Division 2 Two Phases competition where jumps were placed at a height of 120cm. 23 riders participated, but only 14 of them were able to successfully complete the first of the two phases. 10 riders completed the second phase without faults, led by Abdel Aziz Abdel Nasir Al Owais with ‘VIP Delle Roane’ of Al Safinat Stables who completed the second phase in (28.13) seconds. Second place went to the UAE’s Mohammed Abdullah Ketait and ‘Super Trooper’ of the Emirates Equestrian Centre with a time of (30.25) seconds, with Great Britain’s Holly Ann Coward riding ‘Connor Mccloud’ from Al Ruwayyah Stable coming in third.

Riders shine in One Round competitions

In the Divison 2 One Round Against the Clock competition that took place on the first day of the show, jumps were  placed at 120cm, which Syria’s Youssef Sawas of Al Ali Stables was able to fly over with ‘Elton’ to secure first place. 

In the final Division 1 One Round Against the Clock competition held on the first day, 26 riders competed for the top positions but only 11 of were able to complete the round without faults. Denmark’s Tina Lund with ‘Payse Heutiere’ of Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club secured first place with Syria’s Hicham Gharib and ‘Ulac de Montsec’ of Al Ali Stables coming in second. Third place went to Syria’s Mhd. Osama Al Zabibi and ‘Paprica’ from Mandara Equestrian Club.

Two competitions for Juniors and Young Horses (5-6 year-olds)

Over the two days, two competitions were held for Junior riders and Young Horses (5-6 years) -the first was a One Round Against the Clock competition with jumps placed at 120cm for 5-year-old horses and Junior riders and 125cm for the 6-year-old horses. 33 Junior riders participated, but only 13 riders completed the class without faults, led by the UAE’s Eisa Omran Al Owais with ‘Code of Honour’ from Al Safinat Stables. Meanwhile, 17 riders participated with their young horses (5–6 years old) but only four of them managed to complete the round without faults. The first place was awarded to Mohammed Abdullah Al Kumaiti and ‘Moon D'eclipse’ of the Ajman Equestrian Club. 

In the second competition for Juniors and Young Horses held on the second day of the show, 29 Junior riders participated in Two Phases class with jumps placed at the same heights, but only 17 of them went on to ride in the  second phase. Eight completed the Two phases without faults, led by the UAE’s Abdulla Ahmed Amin and ‘Tigerlilly’ of Al-Shira'aa Stables. 20 riders also participated with their young horses, and Sheikh Rashid bin Ahmed Al Maktoum with 6-year-old ‘Invictus DXB’ of the Emirates Equestrian Centre came in first.

Competitions for Novices and Young Horses (4-5 year-olds)

Two competitions of One Round Not Against the Clock were held for Novices with jumps placed at 80-90cm over the two days. 37 riders participated in the first competition, and 15 of them completed the round without faults. For the second competition. 49 riders participated, and 13 of them succeeded in completing the round without faults. Additionally, two competitions of One Round Not Against the Clock were also held for Novices, Children and Young Horses with jumps placed at 110cm.  40 riders participated, but only eight of them succeeded in completing the round without faults. During the second competition, 13 riders succeeded in completing the round without faults.