Kukuk and his Belgian Warmblood sire Mumbai had earlier registered a clear round in 70.60 secs, with nine combinations making it to the jump off. “Many things came together in what was our first show of the year. I changed a few things – changed the bit, removed his shoes – and it all worked well. The horse and I are a very good match, and he can still improve more. That makes me very happy,” said Kukuk, who took home €50,325 in prize money.
Today, the final day of the 10th edition of the prestigious championship promises to be an exciting one. The dressage Grand Prix Freestyle and the marquee showjumping Grand Prix, contested over a course of 1.60m fences, with two rounds and a jump-off, will be held.
Earlier yesterday, France’s Simon Delestre, riding his 10-year-old stallion I Amelusina R won the CSI 5* Table C class, over a course of 1.45m fences. The pair stayed clear in 63.52 secs, ahead of veteran Irishman Shane Breen on Haya (63.68 secs), who had won the 1.45m Special Two-Phase on Friday. In third place was his another Irish rider Denis Lynch astride Cornets Iberio.
“I’m very pleased with this result. It’s a first win in the 5-star class for this horse. He’s always improving – I’ve developed him carefully since he was a 3-year-old. The large arena here suits his big canter,” said Delestre.
In the CDI 5* Dressage Grand Prix, the Netherlands’ Dinja van Liere emerged victorious with her 11-year-old horse Hartsuijker. The pair beat a field of 20 other combinations with a score of 75.152% – ahead of second-placed Patrik Kittel from Sweden (72.870%) riding Touchdown; and Spain’s Jose Antonio Garcia Mena (72.261%) aboard Divina Royal.
“Hartsuijker is a very sweet, very honest horse – always working hard and trying to please. He’s become a consistent Grand Prix horse, who knows when he needs to perform. And he did so well today – in an indoor arena, which is a rather different atmosphere. I’m very happy!” said Liere
Earlier, Qatar’s Ghanim Nasser al-Qadi followed up his second-place finish of the previous day with a win in the CSI 2* 1.30m Two-Phase Jumping class. Riding his 14-year-old stallion Quick Step, al-Qadi completed a clear round in 24.27 secs ahead of compatriot Sheikh Khalifa Abdulaziz al-Thani (25.04 secs) riding Serendipity, and Kuwait’s Ali al-Khorafi (25.22 secs) on Karaat.
The next class in the Outdoor Arena, the CSI 2* 1.40m Two-Phase, saw a remarkable equine performance as the 20-year-old horse Quel Homme, ridden by Qatar’s Khalid Mohamed al-Emadi, remarkably defied his age to jump to victory with a clear round in 34.19 secs. Second and third places went to the same two riders as in the earlier class – respectively Sheikh Khalifa Abdulaziz al-Thani and Ali al-Khorafi.
This was followed by a Children’s Competition over 0.8-0.9m jumps, designed to encourage young local and regional riders, as well as give them the opportunity to perform on an international stage. Of the 26 competitors, 10 achieved a ‘no faults’ clear round to share 1st place: Mariam Abdulkarim Abed (IRQ), Abdulaziz Soud al-Mutawa (QAT), Nawaf Faisal al-Obaidli (QAT), Kaltham Thani al-Sowaidi (QAT), Hadi Nasser al-Shahwani (QAT), Majed Jamaan al-Ali (QAT), Mohamed Abdulla al-Khulaifi (QAT), Abdulaziz Saoud al-Fakhroo (QAT), and Ibrahim Mohamed al-Zeyara (QAT).
Meanwhile, in the Indoor Arena, the second stage of the Para-Dressage event (CPEDI 3*, Grand Prix B) was unfolding. Competition is divided into five Grades, according to the riders’ level of disability – and in Friday’s tests, the winners were as follows: Grade I, Annemarieke Nobel (NED); Grade II, Beatrice de Lavalette (USA); Grade III, Lotte Krijnsen (NED); Grade IV, Kate Shoemaker (USA); and Grade V, Ulricke Dekeyzer (BEL).
Dutch rider, Annemarieke Nobel, was especially pleased with how well she and her horse, Doo Schufro, performed. Annemarieke recently moved from Grade II to Grade I disability status, as her physical limitations had increased. This left her unsure how her horse would cope with the Grade I tests, conducted only at walking pace. But Doo Schufro adapted brilliantly – and the pair can now move on with confidence to today’s Para-Dressage Freestyle event.
CHI AL SHAQAB RESULTS
Showjumping CSI5* -Jump Off - 1.55m
1. Rider: Christian Kukuk (GER); Horse: Mumbai; Time: 41.36 secs; Prize money: €50,325
2. Mark Mcauley (IRL); GRS Lady Amaro; 41.42 secs; €30,500
3. Kevin Staut (FRA); Dialou Blue PS; 41.59 secs; €22,875
CSI5* - Table C - 1.45m
1. Rider: Simon Delestre (FRA); Horse: I Amelusina R 51; Time: 63.52 secs; Prize money: €6,550
2. Shane Breen (IRL); Haya; 63.68 secs, Prize money: €5,240
3. Denis Lynch (IRL); Cornets Iberio; /64.45 secs; €3,930
CSI2* – Two phases special (1.40m) 1.40mm
1. Rider: Khalid Mohamed A S al-Emadi (QAT); Horse: Quel Homme; Time: 34.19 secs; Prize money: €2,720
2. Sheikh Khalifa al-Thani (QAT); Ierland VDL; 36.00 secs; €1,680
3. Ali al-Khorafi (KUW); I; 33.31 secs; €1,200
CSI2* - two phases - 1.30m
1. Rider: Ghanim Nasser al-Qadi (QAT); Horse: Quick Step; Time: 24.27 secs; Prize money: €750
2. Sheikh Khalifa a-Thani (QAT); Serendipity; 25.04 secs; €600
3. Ali al-Khorafi (KUW); Karaat; 25.22 secs; €450
Dressage CDI5* GP - Grand Prix
1. Rider: Dinja van Liere (NED); Horse: Hartsuijker; Total: 75.152%; Prize money: €7,500
2. Patrik Kittel (SWE); Touchdown; 72.870%; €6,000
3 Jose Antonio Garcia Mena (ESP); Divina Royal; 72.261%; €4,500
CPEDI3* - Grade I - Para GP B
1. Annemarieke Nobel (NED); Doo Schufro; 74.514%; €660
2. Ana Isabel Mota Veiga (POR); Convicto 62.014%; €500
CPEDI3* - Grade II - Para GP B
1. Beatrice de Lavalette (USA); Sixth Sense; 74.555%; €660
2. Fiona Howard (USA); Jagger; 73.944%; €500
3. Pepo Puch (AUT); Fuerst Chili; 71.444%; €400
CPEDI3* - Grade III - Para GP B
1. Lotte Krijnsen (NED); Rosenstolz N.O.P.; 72.222%; €660
2. Anni Meijer (NED); Istmo de Lyw; 65.000%; €500
CPEDI3* - Grade IV - Para GP B
1. Kate Shoemaker (USA); Quiana; 77.793%; €660
2. Rodolpho Riskalla (BRA); Irish Coffee BH; 71.532%; ; €500
3. Manon Claeys (BEL); Katharina Sollenburg; 71.396%; ; €400
CPEDI3* - Grade V - Para GP B
1. Ulricke Dekeyzer (BEL); Cleverboy Van d’Abelendreef; 67.939%; €660
2. Kevin van Ham (BEL); Eros Van Ons Heem 67.412%; €500
3. Camilla Christensen (DEN); Fursten; 67.412%; €400
CPEDI Teams Team
1. United States Points: 446.852
