Too Hot To Trot

High jumps and thrilling competition gripped showjumping fans on Friday at the BREEF President’s Championship.

The juniors took to the arena with their trainers to walk the course for Class One – one round with jump-off.

The youngsters took to their horses and started their warm-up in the collecting ring. After the dust cleared only one could emerge as champion.

Mustafa Dadulla, taking after his older brother Hussain, on his trusty steed Rainsong, took home the top prize with a time of 29.43secs.

Close on his heels was Maha Stables rider Nidhal Abdul Nabi, on Al Maha Wabiti, with a time of 30.19, while Dilmun Stables rider Coco Desouza, on the beautiful chesnut Dilmun Tayar, grabbed her first BREEF trophy by claiming third place.

In Junior 2 the fences were raised to 95-110cm. This two-phase class consisted of 13 fences. The young riders walked the course and quickly got on their horses to take to the ring again.

This time schoolgirl Aimee Keen, on the mighty DJ Fleur, took first place with a time of 40.07 and secured the only clear round.

Mustafa, on Rainsong, took home his second trophy of the day with four faults and a time of 34.00, while in third place was Maayof Al Romaihi, on Granus, with four faults and a time of 34.19.

After a break the first adult class began with fences at a height of 95-105cm and it was a two-phase affair.

With more than 40 riders, Hussain Dadulla carried on his family’s success story by taking first place on the beautiful stallion Dilmun Arko with a time of 32.92. Ammar Mohammed from Hawar Stables, on Horse Pride Colin, took second place with a time of 32.93. And, in a respected third place, came Mohammed Al Jahromi, on AKJC Evelyn, with a time of 33.26.

Class 4 was the popular Accumulator. The fences were raised to 110-115cm with a joker fence at 125cm.

Veteran rider Basel Al Dosari, on Al Fateh Cantacino, stole the show with 44 points and a time of 35.74. Close behind him was GP champion Ali Essa, on Horse Pride Ravissante Elle, with 44 points and a time of 36.22. Mohammed Jassim on Horse Pride Alaska claimed third place with 44 points and a time of 37.57.

As the sun started to set the Grand Prix class got underway. Master course designer Mohammad Dadulla took to the arena with other BREEF officials to set up the course.

The fences were raised to 120-130cm and riders would go two rounds inspite of any faults they may have carried from the first class. With the top riders in the warm-up arena, the spectators took to their seats filling the stadium.

Sixteen riders battled it out in the first round and only five of them – Shaikh Abdulla Al Khalifa, Ali Essa, Basel Al Dosari, Abbas Yousif and Ahmed Mansoor – secured clear rounds.

In the second round the course was changed and the fences were raised to a challenging 140cm. Hussain Dadulla, on Airforce One, had the only clear round this time but because he carried eight faults from the first round he was knocked back into fifth place.

As a result, Ali Essa, who secured a clear in the first round and only four faults in the second round, came out victorious and was named grand prix champion on Horse Pride Elcaro Van Papinglo. With a clear round in the first class and eight faults in the second round, Basel Al Dosari on Al Fateh Chika, took the runners-up spot.

Third place was taken by Ahmed Mansoor on BDF Edward Du Sud who had four faults in both rounds.

The event was held under the patronage of Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa, president of the Bahrain Royal Equestrian & Endurance Federation (BREEF).

Results:
Junior 1
1. Mustafa Dadulla/ Rainsong/ 29.43
2. Nidhal Abdul Nabi/ Al Maha Wabiti/ 30.19
3. Coco Desouza/ Dilmun Tayar/ 31.40
4. Aimee Keen/ Guardian/ 31.71
5. Ahmed Al Hashili/ Horse Pride Thunderbolt/ 40.89
6. Aimee Keen/ DJ Fleur
Junior 2
1. Aimee Keen/ DJ Fleur/ 40.07
2. Mustafa Dadalla/ Rainsong/ 34.00
3. Maayof Al Romaihi/ Granus/ 34.19
4. Nidhal Abdul Nabi/ Al Maha I Trust You/ 36.40
5. Aimee Keen/ Gaurdian/ 29.05
6. Nidhal Abdul Nabi/ Al Maha Wabiti/ 29.64
Adult 1
1. Hussain Dadulla/ Dilmun Arko/ 32.92
2. Ammar Mohammed/ Horse Pride Colin/ 32.93
3. Mohammed Al Jahromi/ AKJC Evelyn/ 33.26
4. Abbas Al Ghuraifi/ Awiana/ 34.80
5. Khalid Janahi/ Napoly GZ/ 35.95
6. Sadiq Abbas/ Horse Pride Clara/ 40.00
Adult 2
1. Basel Al Dosari/ Al Fateh Cantacino/ 35.74
2. Ali Essa/ Horse Pride Ravissante Elle/ 36.22
3. Mohammed Jassim/ Horse Pride Alaska/ 37.57
4. Ali Essa/ Horse Pride Uup/ 38.09
5. Salman Faraj/ My Precious/ 38.69
6. Sayed Mohammed Khalaf/ Horse Pride Denver/ 38.89
Adult 3
1. Ali Essa/ Horse Pride Elcaro Van Papinglo
2. Basel Al Dosari/ Al Fateh Chika
3. Ahmed Mansoor/ BDF Edward Du Sud
4. Shaikh Abdulla Al Khalifa/ BDF Venus
5. Hussain Dadulla/ Dilmun Airforce One
6. Saber Salman Faraj/ BDF Bahrain

Upcoming events
* The Dilmun Stables continues to stage its pony camp this week from 10am till noon. It concludes tomorrow. The stables also resumes its popular Pony Club on Sunday which runs for six weeks. The 30-minute classes start at 4pm. Call 33309972 to book a place.

* BREEF will be hosting a National Show Jumping competition on Friday at the BDF Equestrian Centre in Sakhir. The event will start at 9am and is free for spectators.