Doha Tour 2024 a huge success, secures annual spot on calendar

Following the success of this year’s edition of the Doha International Equestrian Tour Championship, the tournament’s organising committee has announced the decision to continuously hold the event in the coming years starting 2025, with the participation of more quality of riders locally, regionally and internationally, and categories with different grades, multiple heights, and prize money of more than 2mn Euros.
The 2024 Doha Tour held over three rounds, by the Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) in a strategic partnership with the Qatar Olympic Committee and Al Shaqab, in as many weeks recently concluded at Al Shaqab’s Longines outdoor arena on January 27 and with stupendous success. It saw a high percentage of public attendance with more than 15,000 tickets sold. As many as 201 riders from 21 countries took part in the opening round including 93 Qatari riders and 32 from GCC countries. The second round had 248 male and female riders, including 89 internationally ranked riders. The third round had the highest participation with 265 male and female riders, including 93 internationally ranked riders.
The Tour consisted of 3 international rounds, where the first and second rounds were allocated to the two-star and four-star categories, while the third and final round was allocated to the five-star and two-star categories. The Tour also witnessed the allocation of rounds for future riders, with the Qatar Equestrian Federation providing them the opportunity to compete at international level.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Noah al-Thani, Chairman of the Supreme Organising Committee of the tournament, praised the great success achieved by the Doha Tour, stressing that this success was an impetus in taking the decision to extend the contract for organising the tournament.
Sheikh Ahmed stressed that the championship embodies one of the most important strategic goals of the QEF, which is to develop and raise the level of riders’ performance and enhance their experience, especially giving them the opportunity to interact with the best riders in the world in the sport of show jumping.
He stated: “We look forward to organising the next edition with higher financial prizes with an increase in the number of riders and the number of rounds. All of this will be after an evaluation study of the current edition by the relevant work teams of the organising committee. The Doha International Equestrian Tour has become a tournament approved on the federation’s calendar.
“The International Equestrian Club will give participating riders the opportunity to earn points that will enhance their international ranking,” he added.
It is worth noting that the Doha International Equestrian Tours reflect the efforts of the QEF, in co-operation with relevant authorities, in promoting sports tourism and Doha as the sports capital.
Saudi rider Abdullah al-Sharbatly won the Grand Prix title for the five-star category at Doha Tour 2024 after an exciting round of distinction in which four riders competed, achieving a time of 39.43 seconds. Brazilian rider Santiago Lamber had finished second place and Denmark’s Rikki Belinda Parker was third.