By Chris Hoover/Doha
| Brazilian rider Alvaro De Miranda Neto takes a lap of honour on his horse AD Ashleigh Drossel Dan after winning his maiden title in the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Qatar at the outdoor arena of the Qatar Equestrian Federation yesterday |
In the jump off Miranda sped to a timing of 42.53 to take the first place, while Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer astride Carlina finished with a timing of 43.35 to take the second place ahead of Meredith Michaels Beerbaum of Germany who clocked 45.13 on Shutterfly-Hann.
| QEF president Rashid al-Mansoori is seen with the winners of the GCT Grand Prix of Qatar yesterday |
"This is the best horse I’ve ever had in my life. So it’s a pleasure to have won with him. I’m just pleased about his performance in Doha,” Miranda added.
Pius Schwizer who had the best timing in the first round was happy to have taken the second place in such a top class competition. "Doha is a great place to be in. Second place in such a tough competition is simply brilliant and I am quite happy with it. The competition was very well organised. The stables were very good and the jumping conditions were also very good and I am looking forward to coming back next year.”
Beerbaum was quite happy with his performance and was looking ahead to go into the other rounds with much more confidence. "My horse is 18 and is almost like a part of the family. It was a wonderful performance and I’m very happy with the third place finish. Miranda had a great jump-off event and he did very well. I will go into the next few rounds with much more confidence..
Qatar Equestrian Federation president Rashid al-Mansoori expressed his happiness at the way the event was organized. "I would like to congratulate everyone for the great organisational efforts they put in. It was important both for the GCT and the QEF to start off the GCT from Doha. We’re very happy have hosted such a high profile event in Doha.”
The QEF president was also elated with the number of local riders take an interest in the sport. " The last two years has seen a growing number of riders and private owners are also showing an interest in show jumping. This is a very important development as our riders are improving year after year. There are quite a few riders who are already in the top level.”
GCT president Jan Tops said. "This is not our first time in Doha. We started off GCT in the region with Doha. The sport has developed in the five years since we started. The riders really prepared their horses well for the event. The horses and riders performed at very high levels. The final course was more difficult than the final of the World Championship as well as the Olympic Games.”
In the afternoon session, Simon Delestre won the final 1.45-1.50 metres event. Swiss rider Janiker Sprunger, set a smart pace with a time of 61.27 on Margaret Kahny’s JL’S Komparse. Guy Williams on his speedy mount Torinto Van de Middlestede, who had previously won a similar class on Thursday evening, rounded up her time clocking 60.85 seconds. Simon moved the Selle Francais bred horse Orphee De L’illon over slightly tighter lines and bettered Williams time by 1.34 seconds.
Delestre was delighted with his performance. "This is a very nice show here in Doha, one of the best in the world. In the big arena the horses have really jumped fantastically right from the beginning of the show. In this class there were many very good horses jumping and I am happy to have won here.”.
"I was early to go and knew there were many top class horses to follow me. The mare felt good and had already placed on Thursday. I decided to go fast but not that crazy as I was early in the draw. She has won 14 ranking classes in 2010. This type of show where the surface is great and in an open space she is fantastic at this level and I think the best performed in this type of class in the whole GCT events.”
Delestre was keen to participate in all the GCT events this year. "I will go to all the GCT events. I have two horses that I can jump in the Grand Prix’s. The GCT shows are the best in the world, all with very nice venues in the most beatuiful cities. It is great to be a part of such a fantastic tour.”
Earlier, Gulf region riders were in the spotlight in the two star event in the indoor arena in the 1.30metres against the clock event. The final indoor event of the Global Champions Tour in Doha was filled with adrenaline. Watching some of the regions strongest riders race against the clock clearing jumps of 1.30m left the crowds holding their breath. It was an exciting finish to the indoor classes.
Even though the riders in the top three places have been dominating the podium over the weekend, all riders rode valiantly and it was a joy to watch them all competing. Bassim Hassan Saif clinched first place (54.87 seconds) on his horse Galderzicht’s Ulerma and was extremely happy with his result. "We rode very well. Yesterday my horse was not having a good day but he is having a much better day today which has made me very happy.”
March 20, 2011 | 12:00 AM