World No. 1 showjumper Henrik Von Eckermann won the feature CSI4* Grand Prix-Jump Off (1.55m) event of Week 2 of Doha International Tour at Al Shaqab’s magnificent Longines Outdoor Arena on Saturday. Eckermann riding bay mare Glamour Girl topped the jump-off with a flawless 32.80secs ride to win a prize of Euros 50,000. The Swede finished ahead of Frenchman Simon Delestre on black gelding Dexter Fontenis Z (33.72secs) while Austrian Gerfied Puck on chestnut stallion Equitron Naxcel V ended up as third on the podium (34.72secs).
Thailand’s Janakabhorn Karunayadhaj, who was on top before the jump-off, ended up as being fourth with chestnut mare Maxwin Kinmar Agalux clocking 37.29secs. The Grand Prix champions were honoured by Hamad bin Abdulrahman al-Attiyah, President of the Asian Equestrian Federation.
Earlier, the CSI2* Grand Prix was won by Jordan’s Ibarhim Hani Bisharat astride Harvard. He topped the jump off flawlessly in 34.55secs. Australia’s Gerfried Puck on Idiaal Special H.J. was second (35.69secs) while Qatar’s Khalid Mohamed AS al-Emadi was a close third riding Chikita O (36.01secs).
The National Competition (1.00m) was won by Hadi Nasser al-Shahwani on Al Dafna (39.44secs), ahead of Suhaim Hamad al-Yafei on Calydor (39.93secs) while Iman Arbuckle Saoud on Godete (42.15secs) claimed the third podium spot.
The third and final leg of Doha Tour will be held from January 25-27.