Top international riders will be in action at this year’s HH The Emir’s Sword International Showjumping championship, which will be held from today at the Qatar Equestrian Federation’s (QEF) outdoor arena. The five-star event will commence today with four competitions – the first event starting at 10pm, organisers said yesterday. The Vet check was conducted for horses participating yesterday.
The hugely popular event will be run over three days for the second year in succession. Last year, the event was upgraded to the CSI5* tier level, with premier international rider participating.
Qatar team, comprising, Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani, Bassem Hassan Mohammed, Ali Yousef al-Rumaihi and Faleh Suwead al-Ajami will be in action during the three-day championship. They finished sixth at the Rio Olympics last year and will have no short of support from the vociferous local crowd.  
Sheikh Ali and Bassem have also been in good form this year, with both qualifying for the Showjumping World Cup Finals to be held in the United States next month end. The duo had secured first and third place respectively at Arab League qualifying rounds recently.
This is the first time Qatar will be represented by two riders at the World Cup Finals, which is another achievement for Qatar in equestrian.
QEF President Hamad bin Abdulrahman al-Attiyah said: “We have achieved our target. For the first time Qatar will have two riders in the finals, which is a proud moment for us.”

Schedule
Today
10:30 am: CSI2* Two Phases FEI Art. 274.5.3 | Max. 120 cm | 1 Horse per athlete | 350 m/min | 8,000 EUR
1 pm: CSI2* Table A, Against the clock FEI Art. 238.2.1 | Max. 130 cm | 1 Horse per athlete | 350 m/min | 9,000 EUR
4 pm: CSI5*Two Phases FEI Art. 274.5.3 | Max. 145 cm | 1 Horse per athlete | 350 m/min | 24,600 EUR | LR (Group D)
6 pm: CSI5* Table A, Against the clock FEI Art. 238.2.1 | Max. 150 cm | 1 Horse per athlete | 350 m/min | 61,800 EUR | LR (Group C)

Tomorrow
1 pm: CSI2* Accumulator with Joker FEI Art. 269 | Max. 120 cm | 1 Horse per athlete | 350 m/min | 10,000 EUR
3:30 pm: CSI2* Two Phases FEI Art. 274.5.3 | Max. 130 cm | 1 Horse per athlete | 350 m/min | 11,000 EUR
5:30 pm: CSI5* Speed & Handiness FEI Art. 263 – Table C 239 | Max. 145 cm | 1 Horse per athlete | 350 m/min | 24,600 EUR | LR (Group D)
7:30 pm: CSI5* Table A against the clock with Jump Off. FEI Art. 238.2.2 | Max. 155 cm | 1 Horse per athlete | 350 m/min | 61,800 EUR | LR (Group C)

On Saturday
10 am: CSI2* Table A, Against the clock FEI Art. 238.2.1 | Max. 135 cm | 1 Horse per athlete | 350 m/min | 12,000 EUR
12:30 am: CSI5* Table A, Against the clock FEI Art. 238.2.1 | Max. 155 cm | 1 Horse per athlete | 350 m/min | 91,900 EUR | LR (Group B)
2 pm: CSI5* GRAND PRIX | Two Rounds with Jump Off FEI Art. 273.3.4.1 & 273.4.4 + 273.2.2 + Annex VIII art.6 | Max. 160 cm | 1 Horse per athlete | 375 m/min | 153,700 EUR | LR (Group A)
4 pm: National Future Riders Competition
6 pm: GRAND PRIX - Table A against the clock with Jump Off. FEI Art. 238.2.2 | Max. 145 cm | 1 Horse per athlete | 375 m/min | 24,600 EUR | LR