Kevin Staut edged out French compatriot Simon Delestre to clinch Friday's feature class at the Commercial Bank CHI Al Shaqab Presented by Longines.
At the gusty Longines Arena at Al Shaqab, the 40-year-old Staut put on a flawless round with Tolede De Mescam Harcour in the jump-off to win the 1.55m class. Out of 33 combinations, only eight managed to jump clear in the first round in a course, which was challenging and technical in equal measure.
Staut was the last to start in the jump-off with Delestre and his mount Hermes Ryan’s time of 36.32 seconds to beat for the title. And Staut did just that, as he cut corners and galloped around the course with Tolede De Mescam Harcour to stop the clock at 35.87 seconds – with 0.45 second separating the two Frenchmen. Austrian Max Kuhner finished third on Vancouver Dreams in 36.84 seconds.
"I am really happy. It was a very difficult competition with eight riders in the jump-off. Then I could see my French colleague Simon Delestre riding first and he was really fast. I was jumping last so I had all the information. And what can I say, it's been wonderful two days of competition. It was a difficult Grand Prix today, I am so happy,” said a delighted Staut, who won 2016 Rio Olympic gold medal with the French team.
“I think in the first round we had so many faults everywhere. It was a difficult course and technical. It was important the riders stayed focused throughout the round,” he added.
The marquee event of the prestigious championship – Commercial Bank CHI Al Shaqab Grand Prix presented by Longines – will be held today and Staut will be one of the strong contenders for the title. “Normally in the Grand Prix, I ride Tolede de Mescam Harcour but he did such a good job today, so I will ride my other horse Visconti du Telman tomorrow. I am already happy today, tomorrow is another day. I will enjoy this evening after what happened today,” he said.
“I want to thank my whole team for coming here and to do the best as we can. I want to thank the organisers here, because it’s so difficult right now. To organise this event at the highest level it’s fantastic,” the Frenchman added.
Meanwhile, World No. 4 Peder Fredricson, the highest ranked rider in the championship, won the CSI5* against the clock 1.50m class yesterday. The Sweden rider produced a clear round with Hansson WI in 58.95 seconds.
France’s Penelope Leprevost and Verite Une Prince took second place 59.15 seconds, while Colombain Rene Lopez Lizarazo astride Kheros van't Hoogeinde finished third in 61.49 seconds.

Results
Showjumping Table A, FEI Art. 238.2.2 - CSI5* with jump-off (1.55/1.60m)
1. Kevin Staut (FRA), Horse: Tolede de Mescam Harcour, Time: 74.15 sec & 35.87 secs. Prize money: €48,939
2. Simon Delestre (FRA), Hermes Ryan, 74.12 sec & 36.32 sec, €29,660
3. Max Kuhner (AUT), Vancouver Dreams, 71.12 sec & 36.84 secs, €22,245

Showjumping Table A, FEI Art. 238.2.1 - CSI5* against the clock (1.50m)
1. Peder Fredricson (SWE). Horse: Hansson WL, Time: 58.95 secs. Prize money: €12,775
2. Penelope Leprevost (FRA), Verite Une Prince, 59.15 secs, €10,220
3. Rene Lopez (COL), Kheros van't Hoogeinde, 61.49 secs, €7,665

Dressage FEI Test Grand Prix - CDI5*
1. Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (GER). Horse: Zaire-E. Points: 77.826%, 75.435%, 78.696%, 74.348 %, 78.478%, 76.957%. Prize money: €7,500
2. Dorothee Schneider (GER), Faustus, 77.065%, 77.717%, 75.761%, 74.022%, 75.000%, 75.913%,€6,000
3. Henri Ruoste (FIN), Kontestro DB, 75.870%, 72.935%, 74.130%, 75.000%, 74.565%, 74.500%, €4,500

FEI Individual Test - Grade I - CPEDI3*
1. Ana Isabel Mota Veiga (POR). Convicto, Points: 70.179 %, 66.250 %, 68.750 %, 68.393 %. Prize money: €660
2. Magdalena Cycak (POL), Sybilla 67.857%, 64.107%, 63.036%, 65.000%, €500

Para dressage
FEI Individual Test - Grade II - CPEDI3*
1. Pepo Puch (AUT), Sailor's Blue, Points: 78.088%, 76.471%, 73.088%, 75.882%. Prize money: €660
2. Annemarieke Nobel (NED), Doo Schufro, 63.824%, 61.618%, 64.853%, 63.431%. €500

FEI Individual Test - Grade III - CPEDI3*
1. Rixt van der Horst (NED), Findsley N.O.P., Points: 73.529%, 77.353%, 76.176%, 75.686%. Prize money: €660
2. Maud de Reu (NED, Webron N.O.P.,). Points: 71.471%, 72.794%, 71.029%, 71.765%. €500

FEI Individual Test - Grade IV - CPEDI3*
1. Rodolpho Riskalla (BRA), Don Henrico, Points: 75.122%, 80.000%, 76.220%, 77.114% €600
2. Neel Schakel-Van Klei (NED), Edison, 70.244%, 74.634%, 75.366%, 73.415%. €500
3. Tessa Baaijens-Van-De Vrie (NED), Happy Grace, 70.366%, 74.146%, 74.390%, 72.967%. €400

FEI Individual Test - Grade V - CPEDI3*
1. Valentina Strobl (AUT), Bequia Simba, Points: 70.238%, 72.024%, 70.714%, 70.992%. Prize money: €660
2. Amelia White (AUS), Genius, Points: 71.786%, 71.429%, 68.095%, 70.437%. €500
3. Tamsin Addison (IRL), Donna Siesta, Points: 66.667%, 65.595%, 65.595%, 65.952%. €400


Longines Hathab showjumping
Medium Tour
1. Mohamed Said Haidan (QAT), Miss Chili, 56.84 secs, QR7,500
2. Cyrine Cherif (FRA), Brennus Villelongue, 57.82 secs, QR6,000
3. Rashid Towaim Ali al-Marri (QAT), Lamm Addiction Z, 58.51 sec QR4,500

Medium Tour Team
1. Business Trading Company
2. Limited Edition Cars
3. Exxonmobil

Small Tour
1. Mohamed Jabor al-Naimi (QAT), Naville Z, 28.44 secs, QR5,000
2. Khalifa Abdulla al-Khaldi (QAT), Dusty, 29.76 secs, QR4,000
3. Saeed Nasser al-Qadi (QAT), Best of des Forets, 30.33 secs, QR3,000
 
 
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