Tour 3 of the new season of Qatar Equestrian Tour – Longines Hathab Supported By The Social & Sport Contribution Fund delivered a number of thrilling performances, highlighted by Mohammed Khalifa Albaker’s maiden Big Tour victory. The third competition of Season 4 of Qatar’s premier local horse-riding series took place over two days, on November 6 and 7, at Qatar Equestrian Federation Indoor Arena.

 

Day 1

Nasser Al Ghazali rode Hurry Up to a convincing victory in the Medium Tour category, winning the 130cm class in a time of 55.88 seconds. Hamad Nasser Al Qadi, last season’s overall Big Tour champion, finished second in 55.60 seconds, astride S I E C Lonnie. Sheikha Fatima Jabor Al Thani claimed the final spot on the winner’s podium, riding Eddie to third place, in 56.88 seconds.

In the Medium Tour Team category, Business Trading Company won top honors for the second week in a row, with ExxonMobil taking second place, and Qatar Equestrian Federation third.

Omar Al Mannai, Vice Chairman, Organizing Committee, Qatar Equestrian Tour – Longines Hathab Supported By The Social & Sport Contribution Fund, awarded the Medium Tour winners in both the individual and team categories.

Earlier in the day, the Small Tour event kicked off Tour 3 action. Saeed Nasser Al Qadi maintained his fine early start to the season – he finished second in the Tour 2 Big Tour - by winning the Small Tour this time around. He rode Best of Des Forets to victory in the 110cm class, in a time of 53.22 seconds. Khalifa Abdulla Al Khaldi, astride Graffiti De Lully CH, finished second in 53.54 seconds, while Faleh Suwead Al Ajami took third on Jumbo, in 54.31 seconds.

Abdullah Al Marri, Manager of Future Riders Riding School - Qatar Equestrian Federation, awarded the Small Tour winners.

 

Day 2

It was a day of delight for Mohammed Khalifa Albaker, who rode Verona to a first-ever victory in the Big Tour 140cm class. He won the showpiece event of the second day of Tour 2 in a faultless jump-off time of 32.19 seconds. Nasser Al Ghazali followed up his Small Tour triumph on the first day by finished second in the Big Tour, astride Quel Homme, in 33.10 seconds. Salman Mohammed Al Emadi rounded out the Big Tour winner’s list, riding Toymaker to third place in 34.91 seconds.

The Big Tour winners were awarded by Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah, Chairman, Qatar Equestrian Tour – Longines Hathab Supported By The Social & Sport Contribution Fund, and Ahmed Salem Al Ali, Programs Manager, The Social & Sport Contribution Fund.

The Open Class category, meanwhile, saw an exciting display of showjumping action, with Khalid Mohammed Al Emadi eventually triumphing astride Fiji, in a winning time 61.39 seconds. Rashid Towaim Al Marri finished second on Lamm Addiction Z, in 62.41 seconds, while Cyrine Cherif ended third on Brennus Villelongue, in a time of 63.51 seconds.

Bader Al Darwish, Organizing Committee Member, Qatar Equestrian Tour – Longines Hathab Supported By The Social & Sport Contribution Fund, awarded the Open Class winners.

The Future Riders Optimum Time 90cm category saw Kian Monti claim top spot on CJ Baba Van De Roshoeve. Hamad Adel Al Saegh took second on Ballymacar Custard, and Abdulla Rashid Al Athba ended third on Florence Van De Roshoeve.

In the opening event of the second day, Mohammed Yousef Al Jaber rode Latino 291 to victory in the Future Riders Optimum Time 80cm category. Hadi Nasser Al Hajri finished second astride Galadriel Dream, while Hadi Mansour Al Shahwani took third place on Kashmir.

Ahmed Younes Bedoui, President of the Ground Jury (Show Jumping), Qatar Equestrian Tour – Longines Hathab Supported By The Social & Sport Contribution Fund, awarded the Future Riders podium finishers.

For the health and safety of equestrian fans, and in line with national COVID-19 precautionary measures, spectators were not allowed into the arena. However, fans were able to follow the thrilling action live on Al Kass TV.

Qatar Equestrian Tour – Longines Hathab Supported By The Social & Sport Contribution Fund is organized and hosted jointly by Qatar Equestrian Federation and Al Shaqab, member of Qatar Foundation. It comprises individual and team competitions over 12 legs, from October 2020 to March 2021.

Longines, ExxonMobil, and Salam International are the main partners of the Qatar Equestrian Tour, which is supported by The Social & Sport Contribution Fund (Daam).

Tour 4 showjumping is scheduled to take place on November 20 and 21, and dressage on November 28, all at QEF Indoor Arena.