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THE equine area of Saar was full of activity last Friday as riders got down to the serious business of jumping high and looking good. The Dilmun Riding Stables held its third league show, and, as predicted, this led to a change on the leaderboards in both Junior and Adult standings as competitors took advantage of the previous leaders' absence due to holidays.
However, it is still early days, and undoubtedly this situation will change again, especially with riders such as Jenna Blakeley securing third position in the adult section in her very first show!
Green class witnessed six clear rounds, and after gaining three clears in three shows Fahad Aldosseri and Aurora Ihalainen are no longer eligible to enter and hopefully we will be seeing them try their hand at Junior 1 in the next show.
Maud Tinsley, now firmly in the running in the league, claimed first place in the Junior 1 competition, and Kathryn Spink on Spirit proved consistent in second.
Hussein Al Boosta claimed podium position in Adult 1 with Toto. An exciting accumulator class with joker for Junior 2 saw Tamara Alomary successful with Kuwait, and again Kathryn with Spirit secured second spot. Kathryn is first in the junior league section, proving consistency a winning combination. Jenna Blakeley, as mentioned earlier, was triumphant on the talented Kuwait in Adult 2, with Basel Aldosseri close on her heels.
These competitions are proving to be family affairs - Anne Dunlop competes with her two daughters, there's sister act Maud and Florence Tinsley, brothers Basel and Fahad, and a mum/daughter combination with Melanie and Kathryn Spink.
The next league event is on March 4.
Al Jazira and Twin Palms Riding Centre hosted the third of this year's show jumping events on Friday.
Classes 1 to 3 were 'clear round with jump off' and the final class an accumulator with joker. Class 1 was claimed by Megan Docherty - her first victory - with Eid.
Lucy Lunt Bell expertly steered Lime into second place, a fabulous achievement for Lime who rarely competes and appeared to thoroughly enjoy herself. Rania Hanbali brought Bingo in close on her heels. This is a very talented combination that I am sure we will be seeing regularly amongst the winning line-ups in the future.
Keshia Smith, in her first competition, did brilliantly on Apollo. Unfortunately, four faults kept her out of the jump-offs.
Class 2 saw Dawood Salman claim success with the lovely Loki. It was a big class that saw first rate riding by all.
Class 3 saw Muslim Ali claim the first of his prizes for the day, as he cleverly manoeuvred Osina to victory. In fact, the top three in the winning line-up were all mares, a simple case of girl power!
To finish off the day, Basem Madhi on the majestic UFO triumphed in the accumulator.
A brilliant day ... now riders will be preparing for the forthcoming dressage to be held on February 25.
Shakhoora Riding Centre staged a dressage event with a difference .... in fancy dress!
The outfit had to be horse themed, of course. The classes included BHS Preliminary 13, and BHS Novice 32 involved mixed Junior and Adult. There was another competition in similar style for the smaller riders.
Yulia Frolova who entered in both dressage classes had two entirely different costumes both intricately handmade featuring Joan of Arc for her Preliminary class, and an American Indian for the Novice.
The show was an overwhelming success for both riders and spectators alike - with circus riders, policewomen, princesses and knights battling it out with Indians, polo players and cowgirls for podium positions in both dressage and originality.
Shakhoora will be holding a show jumping competition in a couple of weeks time, the date is yet to be confirmed.
This week I would also like to bring you information about Stephan Dubsky, an international trainer from Germany (Pferdewirtschaftsmeister FN/ Reitlehrer FN = Fellow of the BHS) who will be in Bahrain from Sunday to Tuesday.
He will be available for tuition in all disciplines. The highly experienced rider tutors in the 'Dubsky' way - a no stress, simple, logical and classical method, combining Irish horsemanship with the German classical and methodical way of training.
He will cater for all levels, improving balance, giving jumping and dressage exercises, helping you to find the right way for you and your horse.
For more information about Stephan and booking lessons please email me.
RESULTS
Dilmun Riding Stables
Junior 1: 1 Maud Tinsley / Dilmun Nelson; 2 Kathryn Spink / Spirit; 3 Gabby Chakkos / Dilmun Nelson & Hussein Janahi /Toto.
Adult 1: 1 Hussein Al Boosta / Toto, 2 Basel Aldosseri / Lollypopp Man, 3 Jenna Blakely / Kuwait.
Junior 2: 1 Tamara Alomary / Kuwait; 2 Kathryn Spink / Spirit; 3 Aimee Keen / Sedona; 4 Gabby Chakkos / Tashan.
Adult 2: 1 Jenna Blakely / Kuwait; 2 Basel Aldosseri /Spirit; 3 Hussein AlBoosta / Toto; 4 Basel Aldosseri / Kuwait; 5 Sharon Nicklin / Lollypopp Man; 6 Sharon Nicklin / Billy.
Dilmun Show Jumping League Top 5 Placings
Junior: 1 Kathryn Spink (20); 2 Aimee Keen (18); 3 Tamara Alomary (16); 4 Hannah Van Der Eyken (14); 5 Maud Tinsley and Gabby Chakkos (12).
Adult: 1 Andrea Gowdy (13); 2 Fran Downes (12); 3 Jenna Blakeley (11 points - in her first Dilmun Show); 4 Hamad Fakhrawi & Sharon Nicklin (9).
Al Jazira & Twin Palms Riding Centre Show Jumping
Class 1: 1 Megan Docherty /Eid; 2 Lucy Lunt Bell / Lime; 3 Rania Hanbali / Bingo.
Class 2: 1 Dawood Salman / Loki; 2 Mohammed Mahmood / Muhajer; 3 Florence Finzi / MissPrint.
Class 3: 1 Muslim Ali / Osina; 2 Talib AlAlawi / Patrica-Patrizia; 3 Ahmed AlAlawi/ Chesta.
Shakhoora Fancy Dress Dressage
1 Anna Good / Mystery - as American Indian; 2 Mohd Al Riffai/ Quest - as Dumbledore/Harry Potter; 3 Aleya Al Shahri / Shakhoora Cassie - as Circus Rider; 4 Shehrazade AlShahri/Shakhoora Dumbledore - as Policewoman; 5 Olivia/Shakhoora Annie - as Princess; 6 Will/Shakhoora Kazam - as Knight; 7 Arthur Panhard/Shakhoora Milan - as American Indian.
Preliminary Junior: Ellen Goode on Maranello as a polo rider
Preliminary Adult: Yulia Frolova on Dream as Joan of Arc
Novice Mixed: Trish Fryer on Goodasgold as a Cowgirl.
