Salman clinches Amir’s Sword after Big Tour win

Salman Mohamed al-Emadi won the feature event at the His Highness The Amir’s Sword Showjumping Championship yesterday. The Qatari rider piloted his 15-year-old gelding The Toymaker to victory in the Big Tour and received the Amir’s Sword from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani at the Qatar Equestrian Federation’s outdoor arena. Al-Emadi’s victory also rewarded him with a Lexus car.
The Big Tour class was held over two rounds. Al-Emadi, who was placed sixth after the first round on Friday, put on a clinical show with The Toymaker in the second as the duo galloped the course in 60.12 seconds to trump the 145cm class.
Mubarak Yousuf al-Rumaihi finished runner-up with Casal Des Forets after clocking a time of 44.81 secs, while last year’s winner Faleh Suwead al-Ajami led Carport to third place in 46.38 secs. Both al-Rumaihi and al-Ajami registered quicker timings than al-Emadi but were undone by eight penalties they accumulated. On the other hand, al-Emadi reaped benefits for making just one mistake.
The Qatari rider said this was his most important accomplishment of his career. “My joy is indescribable. After years of attempts, I am finally able to gain the great honour of winning the sword of His Highness the Amir. This is my biggest achievement, even though I have won various championships, including at the Asian Games,” al-Emadi said.
“I was determined to win the precious sword. The competition was stronger than last year. There were many riders with the new horses so it wasn’t easy out there. I had to be at my best today and I could win only because I did conceded fewer penalties than others. In the end it was just a matter of small margins,” he added.
Al-Emadi also paid credit to his participation in the annual Longines Hathab series, which is held over 12 legs, for his improvements. “Hathab is a very rewarding series. Not just me, it has benefited all the riders as it’s held over 12 legs. This victory will only make me perform better in the future Hathab legs,” he said. 
Meanwhile, al-Rumaihi wasn’t too disappointed with runner-up finish as he was riding an inexperienced eight-year-old gelding Casal Des Forets. “I didn’t expect to win honestly as my horse is still very young and was competing in his first major championship. I was lying in seventh position after the first round, so to finish second overall is a great effort,” he added.
Defending champion al-Ajami was also happy with his third-place finish, after coming into the second round in eighth place. “It was a tough competition as there were many strong performances from the elite riders. I have been doing well on the circuit and I hope I can make it to the Qatar’s Olympic team,” he said
Results
Big Tour | Table A, Two rounds against the clock, Art. 273.3.3.1 | 135/145cm |
1. Salman Mohamed al-Emadi. Horse: The Toymaker, Rd I: Faults: 0; 0; Time:79.70secs; Rd II: Faults: 1; Time: 60.12 Prize: Lexus Car
2. Mubarak Yousuf al-Rumaihi. Casal Des Forets, Rd I: Faults: 4;0; Time: 74.40secs; Rd II: Faults: 4; Time: 44.81secs; QR11,200
3. Faleh Suwead al-Ajami. Carport, Rd I: Faults: 4; 0; Time: 77.04secs; rd II: Faults: 4; Time: 46.38secs; QR9,000.

Future Riders | Table A, One round against the clock, Art. 238.2.1 | 85/100cm
1. Majed Abdulrahman al-Awadh. Horse: Ubor; Faults: 0; Time: 41.05secs
2. Lolwa Ali Atat. Animo’s Boy Van De Dennehoeve Tat; 0; 43.57secs
3. Mohammed Ibrahim al Hor. Zaragossa; 0; 43.58secs.

Future Riders | Table A, One round against the clock, Art. 238.2.1 |70/85cm
1. Jassim Adel al-Saegh. Joly’s Arno; 0; 40.59secs
2. Fahad Abdulkarim Abed. Leslie Ann 2; 0; 41.27secs
3. Haya Khalid al-Hitmi. SITA; 0; 44.91secs