Doha [Qatar], February 13: Britain's Harry Charles stole the spotlight with a razor-thin victory in the CSI5* 155cm Prix Hermes Sellier, the feature event on the second day of the HH The Amir's Sword Showjumping Championship at Al Shaqab on Thursday after prevailing in a high-quality jump-off.
Riding Casquo Blue, Charles produced a flawless double-clear round in 37.74 seconds to edge Italy's Emanuele Gaudiano and Esteban de Hus, who also jumped clear but finished just hundredths of a second slower in 37.77 seconds.
Belgium's Pieter Devos secured third place with Primo DV - recording the fastest jump-off time but incurring four faults after knocking a pole. Edwina Tops-Alexander finished fourth on Fellow Castelfield, while Khaled Almobty completed the top five aboard Qaparezzo-A.
Earlier in the CSI5* 1.45m Faults and Time class, France's Lara Tryba guided Flash de Talma to victory with a clear round in 62.41 seconds. Austria's Max Kuhner followed closely in second place on Eic Cornets Lady in 62.54 seconds, while Brazil's Marlon Modolo Zanotelli and Merciminka secured third in 63.56 seconds. Megane Moissonnier finished fourth on Kandoo Z and Kamal Abdullah Bahamdan rounded out the top five with Cascadello Boy RM. Belgium's Niels Bruynseels delivered the best national performance just outside the top five, finishing sixth with Chacco's Lando OL.
In the CSI3*-W 1.35m Special Two-Phase class, Kristen Vanderveen of the United States topped the podium with Bull Run's Mary in 31.06 seconds, ahead of Qatar's Ibrahim Yousuf Al Mahmoud on Perle Van Dorperheide and Saeed Hamad S H Juma with Wathnan Diesel in third.
Italy's Gaudiano returned to winning form in the CSI3*-W 1.45m Faults and Time class, partnering Diarouge Blue PS to a clear round in 62.02 seconds. Qatar's Faleh Suwead Al Ajami finished second aboard Wathnan Qapella, while Turkey's Hasan Senturk claimed third with Quinti Von Hof.
Egyptian riders dominated the CSI3*-W 1.30m class, with Ismail Osama El Borai winning on Incredible Z ahead of compatriot Abdallah Haitham on Consagros, while Saudi Arabia's Bader Alfard placed third with Kimberly.
Saudi Arabia's Salem Balharith topped the CSI1* 1.20m class riding Lovina, narrowly ahead of Sheikh Fahad Jassim Al Thani on Ciara LU, with Khalid Al Hadi finishing third aboard Capoen. In the CSI1* 1.10m Special Two-Phase, Abdulaziz bin Jassim Al Thani claimed victory with Gabbana M ahead of Abdulla Ahmed Al Khulaifi and Quenta van de Corsendonksehoeve.
In the National Competition 80cm Optimum Time class, Meshael Mohammed Al Thani won with Malaga, followed by Jassim Saoud Al Darwish on Janne and Bahrain's Sultan Abdulaziz Mayoof Alromaihi with Olissimo Van 'T Merelsnest.
The CDI1* Prix St-Georges dressage competition saw Qatar's Jassim Al Kuwari take top honours with Jack Sparrow on a score of 71.275, ahead of Wejdan Majed A M Al Malki riding Faisao in second and Maryam Ahmad Al Boinin with Blue Hors Touch Of Olympic L in third.
Competition continues on the final day on Friday with 10 rounds on the programme, including the feature CSI5* Grand Prix at 160cm with a jump-off for the prestigious Amir Sword. The €1.5mn Grand Prix stands as the championship's showpiece event and ranks among the most prestigious classes in global showjumping, attracting top-ranked riders from around the world and delivering elite-level competition.
The competitions will also be held for three CSI3*-W classes counting as World Cup qualifiers, two rounds for Junior and Youth riders, a national 80cm class, an international CDI dressage class.
Source: Qatar Tribune
