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Shakhoora Riding Centre held the second of its league dressage competitions on an absolutely beautiful Friday morning.
The show, once again sponsored by Gulf British Drilling, saw a host of new riders take to the fray, providing a huge influx into the league.
The prizes in the first class, Beginner Junior Preliminary, were won by completely new competitors and a special mention must go to Tory Cowx who was placed twice riding Sultan, a young and inexperienced horse.
Apart from first place, the Beginner Adult Preliminary accolades were also predominantly taken by first time competitors, just how superb is that!
In my opinion, it gives all newcomers to the sport something to really aim for and know high achievements can and are made. Well done everyone, keep up the brilliant work.
Mother, daughter combination Valerie and Manon Puls managed to really keep it in the family as they took home joint first in the Novice class as well as claiming first and second place in the top class, the Elementary.
Show results are as follows:
Beginner Junior Preliminary – All new first time competitors:
1 Aaliah Al Shahry /Shakhoora Cassie; 2 Sheherazade Al Shahry /Shakhoora Dumbledore; 3 Mohd Al Riffai / Quest
Beginner Adult Preliminary: 1 Jerry Taylor /Airforce One; 2 Ashling Donnolly / Shakhoora Chamlan (first time competitor); 3 Layal Saeed / Udrekus (first time competitor); 4 Aysha Almoayed / Shakhoora Wallflower (first time competitor); 5 Tory Cowx / Sultan / (young & inexperienced horse)
Preliminary: 1 Sara Al Mutawa / Bart; 2 Jerry Taylor / Airforce One; 3 Yulia Frolova / Dream; 4 Tory Cowx / Sultan
Novice:1 Valerie Puls / Pippa and Manon Puls / Koma; 2 Zain Al Thawadi / Glasur; 3 Sara Al Mutawa / Bart; 4 Yulia Frolova / Dream
Elementary: 1 Valerie Puls / Pippa; 2 Manon Puls / Koma; 3 Zain Al Thawadi / Glasur
Best Turned Out Junior: Shehrazade Al Shahabi
Best Turned Out Adult: Yulia Frolova
Best Junior in Show: Aleya Al Shahabi
Best Adult in Show: Ashling Donnolly
There are currently three in-house leagues in progress , each unique in its own right, although all are exceptional simply due to the fact that these stables are continuing to keep their riders horses interested in maintaining a competitive spirit through these difficult climes.
Shakhoora Riding Stables has its league split into two separate sections – Show Jumping and Dressage. The league is a horse/rider combination, with the dressage being split into categories.
The Dilmun Riding Stables has its own well-established Show Jumping League.
Twin Palms Riding Centre’s league is an overall combination of Show Jumping, Dressage, Gymkhana and Eventing and is also a horse/rider combination.
The horse/rider combination means simply that a rider gains points on a specific horse. That rider could, of course, ride another horse in the competition but that second combination would have to gain its own points. Hence you could possibly see the same rider winning the league on one horse and potentially coming runner-up, or being placed in the top 10, on another horse.
All in all, it makes for very exciting riding.
The individual stables will have their own specific awards at the end of the season – league winners in Junior & Adult sections alongside trophies for Best Rider, Best in Classs, Best Turned Out, Best Newcomer, plus a host of others.
There is plenty to compete for and accolades will run high. As 2012 and the season progresses I will let you know how all of these leagues are progressing.
To start 2012, the top three line-ups for all stables/leagues are:
Dilmun Stables Show Jumping League Juniors:
1 Aimee Keen; 2 Hannah Van der Eyken; 3 Tamara Alomary
Adults: 1 Hamad Fakhrawi; 2 Fahad Aldosseri; 3 Manal Fakhrawi
The Dilmun Riding Stables next show is currently scheduled for January 20.
Shakhoora Riding Centre Show Jumping League:
1 Ashraf Atabani / Uno; 2 Sara Al Mutawa / Bart; 3 Ashraf Atabani / Udrekus
Shakhoora Riding Centre Dressage League Beginner Preliminary Juniors:
1 Mohammed Al Riffai / Quest; 2 Aaliah Al Shahry / Shakhoora Cassie; 3 Sheherazade Al Shahry / Shakhoora Dumbledore
Beginner Preliminary Adults: 1 Jerry Taylor / Airforce; 2 Tory Cowx / Sultan; 3 Ashling Donnolly / Shakhoora Chamlan
Preliminary: 1 Sara Al Mutawa / Bart; 2 Yulia Frolova / Dream; 3 Tory Cowx / Sultan
Novice: 1 Valerie Puls / Pippa; 2nd Zain Al Thawadi / Glasur; 3 Trish Fryer / Asgoodasgold
Elementary: 1 Valerie Puls / Pippa; 2 Zain Al Thawadi / Glasur; 3 Manon Puls / Koma
Shakhoora Riding Centre will host its second show jumping competition of the league on January 20.
Twin Palms Riding Centre Combination League - Junior A Category (Juniors up to 12yrs): 1 Luna Dreyer / MissPrint; 2 Weiling Morris / Bling; 3 Paula Conseco / Aramis
Junior B Category (Juniors 13 to 18yrs)
1 Lucy Lunt Bell / Rakard; 2 Manon Cote / Sirocco; 3 Anina Bernhardt / Onyx
Adult Category (18+yrs): 1 Idrak Al Aquel / Ecco; 2 Jan Hodgson Cash; 3 Helen Blake / Loki
Twin Palms Riding Centre will be holding its second of this year’s combination competitions on Saturday.
The show will commence at 1pm with the Dressage classes, to be followed at 1.30pm with the start of the Show Jumping classes.
All horses and riders are automatically judged for Best Turned Out, which carries full points for the winners and is an integral part of the competition.
Both Dressage & Show Jumping Classes are mixed, however they are all pointed according to category.
Dressage Classes are Working Equitation A & Working Equitation B, Preliminary A & Preliminary B, Novice & Elementary.
Show Jumping Classes are Clear Round, followed by a mixed One Round with Jump Off against the clock. The final class will be One Round with Jump Off against the clock. Details of the final class may differ on the day.
Twin Palms will be hosting its third show for this year on January 27 and more details will follow. However, the stable is also hosting its very own TWIXTEAD on February 17. This will be a combination show, comprising of dressage, show jumping and cross country.
So, that’s it for this week, a very exciting start to 2012 with everyone extremely busy with their in-house league events it will be interesting to see how those top three tables change over the coming months and who’s victorious at the end .
However, you have to be in it to win it, so to all those competing at whatever level or stage a massive ‘well done!’ for the support you are showing to your stable.
