Tribune News Network
Doha
In-form rider Mohamed Khalifa Albaker continued his fine start to the new season as he showjumped his way to Big Tour title in the third round of the Qatar Equestrian Tour - Longines Hathab on Saturday.
Also stealing the spotlight at Qatar Equestrian Federation’s Indoor Arena was Cyrine Cherif, who took the runner-up and third place in the Big Tour after winning the Open Class.
Albaker set the fastest round on his 12-year-old stallion Lissabon 56 in a jump-off time of 33.56 seconds to win the 140cm class. Frenchwoman Cherif came second with eight-year-old gelding Obama in 34.81 seconds, before she re-emerged again with nine-year-old I’am Moerhoeve’s Princess Z to also claim the final podium position in 35.03.
Earlier, Cherif had topped the Open Class with Brennus Villelongue. The pair had registered times of 31.49 and 31.80 seconds to win the 120cm class. Mohamed Hamad Alnaimi astride Dubaii was second, while; Abdulaziz Majid Al Ghanim on Guiness was third.
Results
Big Tour | Table A, One round against the clock with jump off, Art. 238.2.2 | 130/140 cm | Prize Money: QR60,000
1. Horse: Lissabon 56; Rider: Mohamed Khalifa Albaker; Times: 65.97 & 33.56 secs; Prize Money: QR15,000
2. Obama; Cyrine Cherif; 73.58 & 34.81; QR12,000
3. I’am Moerhoeve’s Princess Z; Cyrine Cherif; 72.59 & 35.03; QR9,000
Open Class| Table A, Two phases, Art. 274.1.5.3 | 115/120 cm | Prize Money: QR25,000
1. Horse: Brennus Villelongue; Rider: Cyrine Cherif; Time: 31.49 & 31.80 secs; Prize money: QR6,250
2. Dubaii; Mohamed Hamad Alnaimi; 30.06 32.49 secs; QR5,000
3. Guiness; Abdulaziz Majid al-Ghanim; 31.71 & 33.15 secs; QR3,750
Future Riders | Optimum Time | Max. 90 cm
1. Horse: Anyway II; Rider: Abdulaziz Soud al-Mutawa; Time: 48.18.
2. Casanova S.C.H; Jassim Adel al-Saegh; 48.21 secs.
3. Inzaghi Van Molenheide; Maryam Nassir al-Mutlaq; 47.76
Future Riders | Optimum Time | Max. 80 cm
1. Horse: Kashmir; Rider: Abdulaziz Abdulla Alabri; Time: 48.25 secs
2. Whistler; Mohamed Abdulla al-Marri; 48.60 secs
3. Sita; Hassan Ali Almarhoon; 48.95 secs.