Mohammed Albaker dazzles on Verona to claim his first Big Tour title of the season

RIDER Mohammed Khalifa Albaker served notice of his improving skills as he claimed his first Big Tour title of the new season of the Longines Qatar Equestrian Tour Hathab supported by The Social & Sport Contribution Fund 2020-2021 at the indoor arena of Qatar Equestrian Federation on Saturday.

Albaker just seemed to y on his dark black 13-yearold mount Verona as the duo showjumped awlessly and with all elegance in the Table A, One round against the clock with jump off, Art. 238.2.2 130/140cm class.

Albaker needed only 32.19secs to top the jump-off. The super effort not only won him the top Big Tour place and valuable points but also a prize of QR11,250.

In the event, he edged the in-form Nasser Al Ghazali, who claimed the Medium Tour on Hurry p on Friday.

This time, Al Ghazali was only 0.91secs late and had to be content with the second place on the podium. Riding Quel Homme, he finished in 33.10secs.

The third spot was claimed by the seasoned Salman Al Emadi, who took 34.91secs to ace the jump-off on his favourite mount The Toymaker.

Hamad Nasser Al Qadi was fourth on SIEC Lonnie clocking 34.92secs.

Earlier, the Open Class action (One round against the clock, Art. 238.2.1 115/120cm) also saw thrilling action with a whopping start list of 49 riders.

As the showjumping closed in towards the end, it was all about beating the clock at 61.39secs set by Khalid Al Emadi, who confidently rode Fiji.

Rashid Towaim Al Marri looked like making the challenge on Lamm Addiction Z but ended up with a time of 62.41secs to settle for the runners-up spot.

Cyrine Cherif then did herself proud as she made her horse Brennus Villelongue race against the clock and managed to pip Salmeen Sultan Al Suwaidi’s time to finish on the podium.

While Cherif clocked 63.51, Al Suwaidi clocked 63.90 on Guilder’s Empire Of The Sun to end up as fourth.

In the morning, the Future Riders’ class saw Kian Monti and Mohammed ouself Al Jaber emerge as best in the Optimum Time 90 and Max 80cm events.

Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah, President of Qatar and Asian Equestrian Federations, and Ahmed Salem Al Ali, Program Manager, after awarding the Big Tour podium finishers of the third round of Season 4 of the Longines Qatar Equestrian Tour Hathab supported by The Social & Sport Contribution Fund at QEF’s indoor arena on Saturday.

Big Tour winner Mohammed Khalifa Albaker in action astride Verona on the second and final day of the 3rd round of Longines Qatar Equestrian Tour Hathab 2020-2021 season at QEF’s indoor arena on Saturday.

Future Riders (Level 1) winner Kian Monti astride CJ Van De Roshoeve at Qatar Equestrian Federation’s indoor arena on Saturday.

Omar Al Mannai, Event Director, Longines Hathab, awards Open Class winner Khalid Mohammed Al Emadi.