Too Hot To Trot

With new jumps adorning a freshly smoothed-out paddock, the Dilmun Stables kicked off its first showjumping event of the season at the weekend.

The Dilmun Stables’ team was also excited about opening up the facilities to outside competitors. With four classes to compete in, spectators watched as new and old showjumping enthusiasts battled it out for victory.

Class One was a clear round event which had 27 competitors striving for success and nine picked up medals. It was a great day to see both children and adults who had never competed before receive their prizes.

The second class was a thrilling Pairs Class, in which the competitors need teamwork. With two jumping at the same time, the first must not jump again until the second rider has completed the earlier fence, or they will be eliminated.

With fences up to 60cm the crowd watched with anticipation. The team to secure victory consisted of Kat Rushton on Duke and Lauren Van De Merne on Silver.

In second place, rider Martine Vanbelleghem on Guardian and partner Gina Fourie on Bingo produced a lightning fast round of 56.66 secs. It was double joy for Vanbelleghem considering it was her first showjumping competition and she left the arena with a huge grin on her face. I’m sure we will see more of her soon.

Junior riders Bella Rushton on No Trix and Imogen Nel on Mojito proved it didn’t matter what age you were to find success by securing third place.

The fences were raised to 80cm for the third class of the day, a one-round speed class. In total 24 competitors took to their trusty steeds for the challenge.

With some very fast and exciting riding only one could come out on top. New showjumper Kumail Al Mallah on his mare, Fairooz, stole the show with an amazing round of tight turns and accuracy.

He secured first place with a time of 32.73. It was great to see a new junior rider take home the title, proving once again that Bahrain is full of young, talented riders eager to succeed.

Another up-and-coming junior rider, Pippa Fourie on Bingo, showed determination to take second place. But the one everyone watched in awe was youngster Quasin Abbas on his feisty horse Sedona. Being the youngest rider in this class, he quickly snatched up third place.

The favourite class of the day was the Accumulator in which the fences were raised to 100-110cm with an option to jump a 120cm fence for double points.

With only two clear rounds in the class it proved how challenging the jump was. Out on top was YahYah Ahmed on his lovely gelding I Trust You. Claiming second spot and close on his heels was Jordanian rider, Fatan Al Masri on the magnificent gelding, Dilmun Airforce One. Third place was a tie with Kumail Al Mallah on Fairooz, claiming his second prize of the day, alongside an equally impressive Abbas Yousif on Indorado.

At the end of an exciting day, the Dilmun Stables thanked all the riders who participated in the competition and the spectators who cheered them on. A special mention was made of the volunteers who gave up their free time to help with the running of the show.

Results
Pairs 60cm
1. Kat Rushton/ Duke and Lauren Van De Merne/ Silver
2. Martine Vanbelleghem/ Guardian and Gina Fourie/ Bingo
3. Bella Rushton/ No Trix and Imogen Nel/ Mojito

80cm speed class
1. Kumail Al Mallah/ Fairooz
2. Pippa Fourie/ Bingo
3. Quasim Abbas/ Sadona
4. Bella Rushton/ No Trix
5. Pippa Fourie/ Gaurdian
6. Coco Desouza/ Sky

Accumulator 100-110cm/ 120cm joker
1. YahYah Ahmed/ I trust you
2. Faten Al Masri/ Airforce One
3. Kumail Al Mallah/ Fairooz
3. Abbas Yousif/ Indorado
4. Hussain Dadulla/ Arko
5. Megan Daughtry/ Rainsong

***

The Bahrain National Arabian Horse Show will be held on December 23 and 24 at the BDF Arena at Rashid Equestrian Club.

The show details were announced during a preparatory meeting with support of the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation and amongst members of the Bahraini Committee for Arabian Horses.

The organising committee is co-ordinating with international judges and will follow strict aesthetic rules highlighting the foundations of the Arabic identity, namely head and neck, body and topline, legs and movement.

The show will also be subject to the provisions and laws of the European Conference of Arab Horse Organisations (ECAHO) with registration and documentation, including veterinary requirements.

The show will be open to the public. For further inquiries, contact Ali Jaffar on 33744110.

Upcoming events

* Twin Palms Riding Centre
Twin Palms Riding Centre (TPRC) will host a showjumping competition this Friday starting at 9am featuring eight classes. The opening four will be held at TPRC and the last four at Al Jazeera Stables. The deadline to submit entries is today at 6pm.

* BDF Equestrian Centre
The BREEF showjumping committee will be sponsoring a competition at the BDF Equestrian Centre at Sakhir on December 11 starting at 9am. Please take note that all sponsored BREEF showjumping competitions will now take place on Fridays.