Vinay Nayudu
Doha
On a big day of equestrian – which saw the Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day being held at the Al Rayyan Racecourse, the 8th Longines Hathab Qatar Equestrian Tour at the Longines Outdoor Arena of Al Shaqab delighted the audience in the evening on Saturday.
And it was Lekhwiya’s Faleh Suwead Al Ajami who swept the Big Tour class competition field in fine style claiming the QR60,000 Big Tour top honours.
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 66.83secs.
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 at the Karim Abid-designed course.
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.”
Al Ajami has a well worked out plan for the season and said he hopes to achieve it. “I aim to get through with the Longines Hathab rankings to stay in contention for the overall title by mid of February before the HH The Amir Sword Festival. That is my target and which has been since the beginning of this season,” he said.
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.
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.
8th Longines Hathab Tour 2022-23 Results
Big Tour | Table A, One round against the clock, Art. 238.2.1 | 130/145cm | Prize Money QR60,000
1 Rider: Faleh Suwead Al Ajami; Horse: Ambre De Beaufour; Jump-Off Faults 0; Time: 66.83secs; prize: QR16,500
2 Salmeen Sultan Al Suwaidi; Fiori LS; 0; 69.58secs; QR13,500
3 Faleh Suwead Al Ajami; Larko Denfer; 0; 75.04secs; QR9,000
4. Ghanim Nasser Al Qado; Morocoo; 0; 76.51secs; QR6,000
Open Class | Power and Skill (Six Bar) Competition, Art. 262.3 | 115/125cm | Prize-Money QR 25,000
Rank Horse Rider Faults Jump-O 1 Jump-O 2 Jump-O 3 Jump-O 4 Prize Money
1 Aslan 69 Ghanim Nasser Al Qadi 0 0 0 - - QR6,250
2 Tom Ford Ahmed Mohammed Al Badi 0 0 4 - - QAR 4,375
2 B Chelsea S Jodie Anne Leeder 0 0 4 - - QR 4,375
4 Gerlin VD Waterkant Mohammed Yousef Al Jaber 0 4 - - - QR 2,500.
