By Sahan Bidappa/Doha
Abdelkebir Ouaddar’s ambition is to compete at the Rio Olympics next year. Not many have such lofty desires at the age of 53, but the Moroccan is a trailblazer for his country in Equestrian. So don’t count him out yet.
Not if Ouaddar produces a sublime show like he did in the Longines Global Champions Tour, which began at the Al Shaqab here yesterday. Ouaddar, who in 2013, became the first Moroccan to qualify for the World Championships, and was the first from his country to compete at the Global Champions Tour in Normandy in 2014, won the Table A: Against the Clock with Jump-Off CSI 5 Competition yesterday.
Ouaddar riding his French Saddle Quickly de Kreisker completed his round, while clearing the obstacle in 37.97 seconds. His winning run was almost a second ahead of Germany’s Hans-Dieter Dreher, as he pocketed 30,195 Euros for his effort.
Ouaddar, who trains in France, was delighted with his performance. “The Global Champions Tour is considered to be one of the most famous equestrian events in the world and it is of great significance in the Arab world and the gulf region in specific since it is a five star competition in which 30 of the world’s best show jumping riders compete. It also gives us the opportunity to engage with those champions gaining some of their expertise. A victory in this competition is of great significance and of great importance,” he said.
Dreher, mounting Cool And Easy, came off the blocks from the 10th draw, but could not beat the time of Ouaddar as he stopped the clock in 38.72 seconds, to take the second place and 18,300 Euros. Ireland’s Bertram Allen with Molly Malone V rounded of the podium with a time of 39.14 seconds, to take home 13,725 Euros.
Earlier in the day, the event’s opening CSI 5 Competition was won by Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano on his 9-year-old Guess. Gaudiano stopped the clock in 26.83 seconds for a prize money of 1,650 Euros to come first in the 2nd Phase Against the Clock.
Egypt’s Abdel Saïd (Luron S Z) took second spot timing 27.32 seconds, Cian O’Connor (Super Sox) of Ireland came third in 27.53 seconds.
In the afternoon session, which was exclusively open for Qatar riders, Khejaim Rashid al-Azba and Rashid Towaim Ali al-Marri emerged triumphant. In the Class N 1, Table A: Against the Clock event, Al Azba (Zenit 35) too top spot. Behind him was Ali Yousef Al-Malki and Hamad Nasser Al Qadi.
In the Class N 2 Table A: Against the Clock event, Rashid Towaim Ali Al Marri (Beyonce) came first ahead of Rashid Towaim Ali Al Marri (Kannada) and Nasser Shbbab Albagami (WKD Lexington), who finished second and third respectively.
The feature class of the show, the Longines Global Champions Tour of Doha Grand Prix will take place tomorrow at 5.15pm local time.
Results:
CSI 5 Competition:
Table A: Against the Clock with Jump-Off
1. Abdelkebir Ouaddar (Quickly de Kreisker) Morocco 37.97 seconds; Prize money: EUR: 30,195
2. Hans-Dieter Dreher (Cool And Easy) Germany 38.72 seconds. EUR: 18,300
3. Bertram Allen (Molly Malone V) Ireland 39.14 seconds. EUR: 13,725
Two Phases Special: 2nd Phase Against the Clock:
1. Emanuele Gaudiano (Guess) Ireland 26.83 seconds: Prize money. EUR: 1,650
2. Abdel Saïd (Luron S Z) Egypt 27.32 seconds. EUR: 1,000
3. Cian O’Connor (Super Sox) Ireland 27.53 seconds (750)
Class N 1: Doha 2015 Invitational 1.20/1.25m
Table A: Against the Clock
1. Khejaim Rashid Al Azba (Zenit 35) Qatar 55.32 seconds. Prize money: EUR: 1,692
2. Ali Yousef Al-Malki (Jackson 58) Qatar 55.89 second. EUR: 1,026
3. Hamad Nasser Al Qadi (Gysmo 26) Qatar 57.88 seconds. EUR: 769
Class N 2: Doha 2015 Invitational 1.35/1.40m
Table A: Against the Clock
1. Rashid Towaim Ali Al Marri (Beyonce) Qatar 60.05 seconds. Prize money: EUR: 1,269
2. Rashid Towaim Ali Al Marri (Kannada) Qatar 64.82 seconds. EUR: 769
3. Nasser Shbbab Albagami (WKD Lexington) Qatar 67.31 seconds. EUR: 577
Morocco’s Abdelkebir Ouaddar
