Al-Ajami emerges Big Tour overall champion

In what was a thrilling end to Season 6 of the Qatar Equestrian Tour – Longines Hathab, Qatari rider Faleh Suwead al-Ajami claimed the Big Tour showjumping title of the 14th and final round of the annual domestic equestrian series to emerge as the overall champion at the outdoor arena of the splendid Al Shaqab on late Saturday night.
The Lehkwiya rider rode bay gelding Crispo with aplomb returning two faultless outings of 73.99secs and 37.53secs in the Table A, One round against the clock with jump off, Art. 238.2.2 event to top the podium.
The final round victory saw al-Ajami’s overall points tally swell to 254 points. Al-Ajami also claimed the runners-up spot in Big Tour’s final round astride bay mare Ghana. Cyrine Cherif on bay mare I’am Moerhoeve’s Princess Z was third.
The overall Big Tour championship runners-up spot went to Mohamed Khalifa al-Baker, who tallied 246 points. Sheikh Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani ended up third place with a tally of 243 points.
An initiative of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, President, Qatar Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al Shaqab, the Qatar Equestrian Tour – Longines Hathab is the country’s premier equestrian competition series and is organised and conducted jointly by the Qatar Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon Federation and Al Shaqab, Member, Qatar Foundation.
Earlier in the evening, the Open Class (Table A, Two phases, Art. 274.1.5.3 | 115/125cm) event was bagged by Mohamed Abdulla Juma, who rode Hurry Up with clear rounds of 44.38 and 27.50secs respectively.
Faleh Suwead al-Ajami on his mount Steyburn was the runners-up clocking 44.75 and 27.64secs. Cyrine Cherif astride Brennis Villelongue was third with faultless routines in 43.40 and 28.18secs.
The Medium Tour individual overall honours went to Mohamed Saeed Haidan, who tallied the highest 250 points while Ghanem Nasser al-Qadi was second. The Medium Tour Team title was claimed by Alfardan (248pts), just a point ahead of ExxonMobil (247pts). Al Salam ended up as third with 219 points.
The Small Tour overall champion was rider Sultan Salem al-Nuaimi with 246 points. Mohamed Dafi al-Marri was second while Mohamed Nasser al-Qadi was third.
In the Small Tour (Under-18) category, Sultan Salem al-Nuaimi topped the standings with a score of 259 points, ahead of the impressive Haya Khaled al-Hitmi, and Mohamed Jamal III.
The Future Riders (Level 1) category top prize went to Mohamed Abdullah al-Marri, who garnered a total of 189 points while Maryam Abdulkarim Abed topped the Level 2 with 194 points.
In Dressage, Level 1, Maryam Ahmed al-Boinin emerged as the championship winner with 159 points while Azade Apa Triolet won Level 2 with an overall tally of 177 points. All the winners were awarded at a grand prize presentation soon after the finale by Bader al-Darwish, President, QEF & MP, other officials and representatives of the sponsors.

RESULTS
Overall champions
1. Small Tour: Sultan Salem Badi al-Naemi
2. Young Riders (Under-18): Sultan Salem Badi al-Naemi
3. Medium Tour: Mohamed Seed Haidan
4. Medium Tour Team: Alfardan
5. Big Tour: Faleh Suwead
al-Ajami
6. Future Riders (Level 1): Mohamed Abdulla al-Marri
7. Future Riders (Level 2): Mariam Abdulkarim Abed
8. Dressage (Level 1): Maryam Ahmad al-Boinin
9. Dressage (Level 2): Azade Apa Triolet.