Allen rides Clearround IL Mondo Z to CSI5* 1.55m win

The second day of the 12th edition of the CHI AL Shaqab presented by Longines on Friday saw exhilarating showjumping, dressage and para dressage action.
Stealing the showjumping limelight at the magnificent Longines outdoor arena was Millie Allen, who won the CSI5* - Prix Hermes Sellier - Jump Off - 1.55m (LR) - GP Qualifier class after a thrilling finish in the jump off. Great Britain’s Allen sizzled with grey gelding Clearround IL Mondo Z on the vast course clearing obstacles with fine control and authority to clock flawless best of 37.74secs in the jump off.
Finishing almost a second behind was German Hans-Dieter Dreher, who combining with grey gelding Elysium needed 37.81secs to make the clear round. Italian Emanuele Camilli, on mount Chacco’s Girlstar - a chestnut mare, and Spaniard Mariano Martinez Bastida (on bay gelding Jup) shared the third podium place - both finishing in 37.94secs.
As many as 45 top riders from around the world started in the class and 12 had made it to the jump off. The winners were crowned by Wissam al-Mana, CEO of Hermes Middle East; and Rashid Nasser al-Kaabi, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the championship.

Rashid al-Marri tops CSI3* - Two Phases - 1.40m class
The action began on Friday with the CSI3* - Two Phases - 1.40m class which was topped by Qatar’s Rashid Towaim Ali al-Marri, who rode bay mare Navaronne with composure to clock the best 28.20secs. The second podium place was taken by his compatriot Ibrahim Yousuf al-Mahmoud astride bay gelding Qataro van het Texelhof and clocking a close 28.35secs.
Italian Roberto Previtali on darkchestnut stallion Castlefield Rouge settled for the third place with a time of 28.59secs.The winners were crowned by Abdulrahman al-Kaabi, member of the championship’s organising committee.
Qatari riders also excelled in the CSICh-B - Jump Off - Group VII series qualifier - 1.10m competition with Sharida Nasser al-Kaabi winning with a clear round in 43.95secs while combining with his mount Proud, a bay mare. Qatar’s Mohammed Faisal al-Marri astride grey mare Miss Chili was second with a time of 36.67secs (4 penalties). The winners were honoured by Timmy Davis, Ambassador of the United States of America to Qatar, and Mohammed Jaber al-Khayarin, Event Director of the championship.

Lazarus wins CSI5* 1.45m
The CSI5* - Table C - 1.45m class title was claimed by South African Oliver Lazarus with bay mare Miss Paris clocking the best and flawless 61.53secs. French Olivier Perreau with chestnut gelding Frisky de La Fontaine stood second (63.36secs), while German Christopher Klasener astride bat stallion Cascadello Boy RM finished third (65.06secs). Nasser al-Kuwari, Director of Support Services at the event, awarded the winners.
Austrian Gerfried Puck showed fine form to win the CSI3* - Two Phases - 1.45m (LR) - GP Qualifier while combining with bay mare Equitron Melody Vd Smidshoeve returning best times of 45.77 and 27.85secs.
Saudi Arabia’s Abdulrahman Alrajhi on bay gelding Bravour claimed the second podium place (44.61secs & 28.66secs) while German Philipp Weishaupt astride grey gelding Callao L was third (47.99 & 29.24secs respectively). The winners were crowned by Khalifa bin Mohammed al-Attiyah, CEO of Al Shaqab.

Al Qaqaa take two podium places in Future Riders’ class
The Future Riders’ Optimum Time - 0.80m class saw the promising Al Qaqaa Tamim Hamad al-Thani take the first and third podium places. Al Qaqaa first rode Gridgie to return the best flawless time of 62.75secs before making another impressive clear routine with Bonysuela (59.48secs).
Saudi Arabia’s Nawal Bahamdan, riding Irbal des Marronniers, finished second (60.94secs). Saud al-Rumaihi, Director of Facilities and Logistics Support at the Organising Committee of the Championship, crowned the winners and awarded them with the prizes.
The impressive performances by Qatari riders continued as Said Mohammed al-Naimi won the CSI1* - Faults & Time - 1.10m class. Al-Naimi rode Sidney 184, a dark stallion, to register the top and flawless time of 51.12secs. Hamad Towaim Ali al- Marri astride bay gelding Chin van de Kranenburg was second (52.86secs), and Jassim al-Kuwari on brown gelding (Dorus HH) third (53.12secs). Ahmed al-Badawi, Member of the jury, awarded the winners.
Saudi Arabia’s Khaled Alhady, combining with chestnut gelding Doremi du Flot Z, won the CSI1* - Faults & Time - 1.25m - GP Qualifier clocking flawless 56.33secs. Qatar’s Jassim al-Kuwari on bay gelding Cesar des Marquets was second (59.83secs), and Mohammed Eisa Al Bukhari on bay gelding Canao du Lohic third (59.96secs).

Sysojeva tops CDI5* - dressage GP
The CDI5* - Grand Prix International dressage event was won by Poland’s Sandra Sysojeva, who excelled along with black mare Maxima Bella topping with a cumulative score of 73.413 points. Swede Patrik Kittel with darkbay mare Forever Young Hrh was second (73.239pts), and Dutch Hans Peter Minderhoud with black stallion Glock’s Toto Jr. third (72.870pts). The winners were crowned by engieer Jarallah al-Marri, Building Projects Manager.

Der Horst, Nobel, Riskalla among para dressage winners
Dutch Rixt van der Horst claimed the CPEDI3* - Grand Prix B - Grade III top podium spot combining with chestnut stallion Eisma’s Royal Fonq N.O.P. garnering a total score of 75.833 points.
The CPEDI3* - Grand Prix B - Grade I class was won by The Netherlands’ Annemarieke Nobel on black bay gelding Doo Schufro (71.875pts), CPEDI3* - Grand Prix B - Grade II was clinched by Dutch Loes Cevaal along with black gelding Happy Hero II (69.945pts), Denmark’s Pia Wulff Jelstrup stride bay mare Zafia won the CPEDI3* - Grand Prix B - Grade IV class (70.991pts), while Brazilian Rodolpho claimed the CPEDI3* - Grand Prix B - Grade V title along with bay mare Tailormade Zofie (69.912pts). The dressage champions were crowned by Nouf al-Mansour, the event’s Deputy Sports Director.