Qatar’s Mohamed Khalifa al-Baker pipped Uzbekistan’s Okil Sobirjonov to win the Medium Tour title at the Longines Hathab Series yesterday. The national championship is being held at the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab on the sidelines of the Commercial Bank CHI Al Shaqab Presented by Longines.  
Al-Baker, astride 13-year-old mare Verona, finished their round in 65.56 seconds to clinch the 120-130cm class, which had 46 riders in the field. Sobirjonov was a close second with Quatro Junior in 65.74 secs, while another Qatari rider Alqaqa Adel Nassar finished third with Dubaii in 66.18 seconds. 
The Small Tour title was won by Abdulaziz Ghanim al-Nuaimi with ease. The young Qatari rider topped the 1.15m class with eight-year-old Birddyz in 50.46 seconds, leaving the more experienced Awad Alqahtani and Mohamed al-Ghazali behind. 
Alqahtani took the second spot with Beyonce in 51.60 secs, followed by al-Ghazali in third on Alegro 84 in 52.46 secs. 
During the first day of the competition, Qatar’s Ali Mohamed al-Marri, riding Fernhill Friendly Touch, won the Dressage Level 1, scoring 69.828 points, while Jessica Waldon, of Great Britain, on Lusso Del Castegno was placed second with 69.655 points. Qatar’s Saeed Hamad al-Rashdi, on Graffiti Delully Ch, took third place with 69.138 points. 
Today, Hathab series will continue with Open Class and Big Tour – the feature event of the championship. 
Ali al-Rumaihi, Sports Director of the Commercial Bank CHI Al Shaqab Presented by Longines, was pleased that Hathab series was being held along with international championship. “It is an opportunity for local riders participating in this tournament to compete in the presence of world-level riders, and thus gain more experience and develop their skills,” he said.

Results
Medium Tour (1.20/1.30m) 
1. Mohamed Khalifa al-Baker (QAT); Horse: Verona; Time: 65.56 seconds; Prize money: QR5000 
2. Okil Sobirjonov (UZB); Quatro Junior; 65.74 secs; QR4000 
3. Alqaqa Adel Nassar (QAT); Dubaii; 66.18 secs; QR3000 
 
Small Tour (1.00/1.15m) 
1. Abdulaziz Ghanim al-Nuaimi (QAT); Horse: Birddyz; Time: 50.46 seconds; Prize money: QR2500 
2. Awad al-Qahtani (QAT); Beyonce; 51.60 secs; QR2000 
3. Mohamed al-Ghazali (QAT); Alegro 84; 52.46 secs; QR1500

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