Simon Delestre claimed the feature class on the opening day of the Doha International Equestrian Tour Championship at Al Shaqab’s Longines Outdoor Arena on Thursday.
The Frenchman and 10-year-old bay Olga van de Kruishoeve won the CSI4* 1.50m class with a flawless show in 65.86 secs. Austrian Gerfried Puck, astride Equitron Melody Vd Smidshoeve was second with a time of 66.31 secs while another French rider Jeanne Sadran also secured a podium finish after clocking 69.54 secs with Unforgettable Damvil.
Meanwhile, Brazil’s Santiago Lambre partnered with Chacco Blue II to win the CSI4* (1.45m) while Frenchman Antoine Ermann clinched CSI4* (1.40m) victory with Odin Van ‘T Hanegoor. The national and CSI2* competitions also took place on the opening day of the Doha Tour which be held over three rounds comprising three days of action. Qatar’s Mohamed Dhafi al-Marri (1.20m) was also among the winners on Thursday.
Chairman of Doha Tour’s Supreme Organising Committee Sheikh Ahmad bin Nooh al-Thani lauded the strong start to the event. More than 115 showjumpers representing 20 countries are taking part in the Doha Tour carrying a total prize purse of more than €2mn. The second day of the opening round will also feature CSI4* and CS12* category events today.
France’s Simon Delestre celebrates with his 10-year-old bay Olga van de Kruishoeve after the pair won the feature class on the opening day of the Doha International Equestrian Tour Championship.
CSI4* 1.50m class winner Simon Delestre, runner-up Gerfried Puck and third-placed Jeanne Sadran pose on the podium at Al Shaqab’s Longines Outdoor Arena on Thursday.