Riders going the distance

Equine enthusiasts at Twin Palms Riding Centre (TPRC) once more got together, captained by Idrak Alaquel, to compete in this year’s marathon relay.

The runners swapped riding boots for trainers and headed to the Bahrain International Circuit supported by the stable’s social community of family and friends. For some it was an inaugural event, for others it was a regular affair.

Some competitors were running with old injuries, new injuries, some even left their hospital beds to make it to the event. The young, the old, the expert and the novice runners all put their best hoof forward, making it a morning to remember.

The result was a 61st placing, a great improvement over the previous year’s 93rd position, but still not up there with the first placing for the TPRC’s team marathon relay placing of 35th.
This year the team’s mane (pun intended) sponsor was law firm Ahmad Ali Mohammed Al Agl.

The runners, in order of the legs they ran, were Joao Pinto, followed by Ivanca, both staying the distance to support the other runners, then Sara Al Mutawa in her inaugural marathon, followed by Guy Parker led into the fray by his wife, Sue.

Neil Holtham, who was one of the many sick on the day, still managed an immensely successful run. Jerri Taylor proved to be a very determined lady as not only was she sick, but she was also sporting a knee injury. Jerri was followed by Chris Sankey, donning stitches and on antibiotics, with Dr Waleed Al Fadhel bringing his running shoes as well as medical expertise along.

Matthew Cromecki bravely took on the longest leg and handed over to the youngest member of the team, 12-year-old Chantal Gramm. She then handed over to Baris Ural who had not only been sick in hospital on a drip, he also managed to have a nasty fall from his horse during that week. Luckily he made it round to pass the baton on to Matthew Rushton.

He was followed by Mariella Forward, also competing after taking a nasty tumble from her horse, she still managed to beat her best practice time. 

Anina Bernhardt, another resolute youngster, had juggled exams along with practice to make the day. Basim Mahdi handed the baton onto team captain Idrak who completed the challenge in a time of just over four hours.

A fabulous effort by all concerned and what’s more they were all back on their horses for the following morning’s show jumping event held at TPRC.

After all of the running about the day before, the time had come to concentrate on riding at the centre’s second Show Jumping Event of the 2012/2013 season.

The morning started with a 40cm clear round class, that saw some 14 riders take to the arena.

A very nice course to start off the day still saw a double in the paddock, along with several related distance fences, coupled with a few of ‘those’ fillers.

The majority of riders in this class went on to successfully clear rounds, many moving forward into the next 60cm clear round class.

The 60cm was a bit higher with an additional two fences. With 21 contestants in this class, over half went clear.

The third class of the morning had fences up to 80cm, if horse/rider went clear in this they moved onto the jump off. Ten horses and riders took up this challenge, with five completing a clear round. Muslim Ali riding Bailey set the standard, jumping a clear round in a time of 23.32 seconds.

A lovely round followed from Rania Hanbali with Bingo who made it clear in 24.54secs, clear again in a slower time was myself (Helen Blake) riding Loki in 26.76secs, the penultimate round was completed in 22.85secs by Kate Addison astride The Chief. However, Muslim, with his second horse Pascal, pipped her at the post in a time of 21.57secs. 

The final class of the morning was an accumulator. First in once again to set the standard was Stephane Dreyer with Angel. They flew round in a time of 48.43secs, second was Muslim Ali with Bailey, despite a truly excellent effort they could not better Stephane’s time. 

Sayeed Mohammed, rode a lovely round astride UFO, as did Kate Addison with both her mounts of the day Onyx and The Chief.

An unfortunate knock down meant that Lucy Lunt Bell with Rakard did not make the winning line-up, and the usually extremely careful Bingo also knocked, keeping himself and Rania Hanbali out-of-the-fray.

Debbie Kamal rode Aztec clear, as did I with Loki. The class came down to speed and Stephane had set a very high standard. The pair took home the prize, though there was a fantastic effort by all.

On a side note, one of the riders took a tumble. Thankfully, many of the TPRC staff and riders have been put through their paces in first aid by the expertise of Pam Kamal’s company the First Aid Box. With Pam there herself, the situation was managed brilliantly. A credit goes to her and the First Aid Box training.

This season, TPRC is having separate leagues for their Show Jumping, Dressage and Twixstead events, as well as a separate category for Best Turned Out.

TPRC will hold a Show Jumping Event this Saturday with show jumping for the junior members of the stable, fences will be set no higher than 50cm to help young riders build up their confidence.

A Treasure Hunt will start the morning off at 9.30am, followed by a Clear Round class for all aspiring show jumpers, the third class of the morning will be a mini accumulator class. The morning will finish with an obstacle challenge.

For more information, call 39566809 or email Twin.Palms.Riding.Centre@hotmail.com, alternatively visit www.Twinpalmsridingcentre.com

l Dilmun Riding Stables will be hosting the first in its dressage events on Friday. The show will start at 9am and promises to be a stunning affair.

Good luck to all those competing.

Class 3 One Round with Jump Off
1 Muslim Ali / Pascal; 2 Kat Addison / The Chief; 3 Muslim Ali / Bailey

Class 4 Accumulator with Joker
1 Stephane Dreyer / Angel; 2 Muslim Ali / Bailey; 3 Sayeed Mohammed / UFO

TPRC League Results after the two Show Jumping Events top 3 places:
Junior A category: Joint 1Bella Rushton / Red, Jamiela Haseid / Eid, Luna Dreyer / Fine Art; 2 Bella Rushton / Eid; 3 Aylana Berhman / Lime
Junior B category:

Joint 1 Lucy Lunt Bell / Rakard, Kate Addison / The Chief; 2 Rania Hanbali /Bingo; joint 3 Manon Cote / Sirocco, Kate Addison / Onyx

Adult category:1 Helen Blake /Loki;
2 Debbie Kamal / Aztec; 3 Stephane Dreyer / Angel