The electrifying climax saw Sweden’s world number eight, Henrik von Eckermann ride to stylish victory, in the CSI4* Grand Prix presented by Longines and Al Shira’aa Stables at the Al Shira’aa International Horse Show tonight (Saturday), on his talented bay stallion, Chacanno.
Nothing beats the exhilaration of a clear round in the jump-off. Jump the highest, turn the tightest, beat the clock and win the class. The class, which brought the curtain down on the four-day show at the Al Forsan International Sports Resort in Abu Dhabi, consisted of two challenging rounds with the fences set at 1.60m.
There were 42 riders listed on the starting orders, but only 12 of those bested the first-round course, designed by Portugal’s renowned course builder, Bernardo Costa Cabral, to earn a place in the second round.
Among them were German rider, Philipp Weishaupt and Che Fantastica, already winners earlier in the week at the Al Shira’aa International Horse Show, six-time Olympic rider and former World and European Champion and team Olympic gold medalist, Jos Lansink representing Belgium and riding Valdelamadre Clooney. Also in the group continuing in the competition were Saudi Arabia’s Olympic bronze medalist and World Equestrian Games silver medalist, Abdullah Sharbatly and Crazy Quick -another partnership that had already won at the show.
Jordan’s Ahmed M.N Mansour and Estoril de Vardag would have given the watching Al Remeithi a few uncomfortable moments with their 31.82 sec round for second place and Denmark’s multiple champion, Tina Lund was third with Payse Heutiere with a time of 32.08 sec.
“It was a hard course and there were a lot of good riders,” said Al Remeithi. “There were 26 in the jump and I went second because I couldn’t watch the rounds so it put a lot of pressure on me. “But I did the best that I could and she is a very fast mare and she really proved it.”
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