Thursdays’ biggest class at the CSI4* Al Shira'aa International Horse Show in Abu Dhabi was the 1.50m presented by Abu Dhabi Sports Council. A total of 36 horse-and-rider combinations came to start, with only six of them clearing the first round and joining the jump-off.
Pieter Clemens (BEL) on the 11-year-old stallion Corelli (For Pleasure x Burggraaf) set the standard by clocking a time of 37,88 seconds as first to go in the jump-off. For a while it looked like the Belgian rider would walk away as the winner, but in the end he had to settle for the runner-up position as Abdullah Al Sharbatly (KSA) on the 13-year-old gelding Crazy Quick (Chacco Blue x Quick Star) shaved off nearly a second on his time taking the win with a time of 36,73. Ramzy Al Duhami (KSA) on the 10-year-old gelding Ted (Waranta x Jalisco B) took the third place with a time of 38,41 in this competition that also counted as the second Grand Prix qualification of the weekend. Mohammed Al Kumeiti (UAE) on the 12-year-old gelding Newton Abbot (Converter x Indoctro) was the best of the hosting nation, after placing fourth with a time of 38,69 seconds in the jump-off. The fifth spot went to Frederic David (FRA) on the 14-year-old gelding Equador van't Roosakker (Nabab de Reve x Chin Chin) with a time of 42,52 seconds, and Sheikha Latifa Al Maktoum (UAE) on the 10-year-old stallion Cobolt (Cellestial x Quebec) took the sixth place.
Earlier during the day, the 1.45m in two phases presented by Al Shira'aa Arabians saw a German on top. Ludger Beerbaum Stable's Philipp Weishaupt (GER) on the 10-year-old gelding Belo Horizonte (Baloubet du Rouet x Clearway) took the top honours after clocking a time of 30,62 seconds - pushing Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) on the 12-year-old gelding Artiste de l'Abbaye d'Aulne (Conquest van de Helle x Idem d'Azur) to tie for the second place with Khaled Abdulrahman Almobty (KSA) on the 15-year-old mare Dona Evita (Darco x Fleuri du Manoir), after they both crossed the finish line in 31,47. Khalid Hilal Al Khatri (BRN) on the 13-year-old mare Sierra (Silvio) took the fourth place with a time of 32,39, and the fifth spot went to Tina Lund (DEN) on the 14-year-old gelding Ziezo (Guidam x Wellington), after the pair clocked a time of 32,97 seconds.
Text and pictures © World of Showjumping