Hamcho claims two trophies in two days
dubai — Ahmed Hamcho from Syria has been the standout performer at the Dubai Show Jumping Championship so far, following up his Emirates Airline Two Phases win on Thursday, with success in the Gulf News Cup on Friday.
With prize money of Dhs 98,000 on offer the class had 44 entries, but just 36 riders, with a few including the winner Ahmed Hamcho, choosing to ride two horses each in the class.
Ibrahim Bisharat of Jordan was in second, clocking a time of 59.69 riding Bowie Z, in third was the Russian pairing of Vladimir Tuganov and Sinfonie 168.
Another rider with his eye firmly on the FEI World Cup is Sheikh Ali Al Thani of Qatar, the current leader of the Arab League standings. Al Thani finished 12th aboard Come Soon but says he is not disappointed with the result.
In the second event of the day the Class 4 Longines Speed Stakes Andres Penalosa, a runner-up in the Emirates Airlines Two Phases Class on Thursday secured top spot aboard Barcelona in a time of 54.39.
Noemi Oggioni of Italy became the first woman with a podium finish in the 2017 Dubai Show Jumping Championship, guiding her horse Payse Heutiere to second in 56.64 seconds, while Jean Grancois Rondux gave France a win completing the course aboard Triomphe de Riverland in 58.59 seconds.
The final class of the day, the Emirates Equestrian Centre Six Bars, was won by the entry from Puerto Rico, Maria Victoria Perez on Iber.
The schedule for Saturday’s two classes will be the Longines Accumulator at 11:30 am followed by the Emirates Airline Dubai Grand Prix FEI World Cup Qualifier at 3pm. Gates open at 11 am and admission to the show jumping is free.