Friday was a special day for all equine enthusiasts as the horse racing community held its largest event of the year – the Kings Cup extravaganza.

The national show jumping competition got underway at 9am with the juniors out first to compete. Schoolgirl rider Aimee Keen on DJ Fleur expertly navigated the course to take home the top spot in a time of 31.52.

Although Maayof Al Romaihi on Granus registered the fastest time his four faults meant he had to settle for second place in a time of 28.04.

Ahmed Al Hashili on Horse Pride Thunderbolt produced a lovely round which put him in third place.

In Class 2, everyone watched as the youngest rider, Mustafa Dadulla on Rainsong, took home the coveted first place trophy with a time of 43.18. Competitive Keen on DJ Fleur and Al Hashili on Horse Pride Thunderbolt raced back to the winners circle again in second and third positions.

Adult 1 had an impressive 18 clear rounds with 40 competitors. But it was Ali Essa who came out victorious claiming first place on the beautiful mare Horse Pride Ravissante D Elle with a time of 31.43. Next to the podium was rider Ali Abdul Rasool Ashoor on Al Maha Chili with a time of 33.89. In a respectable third place was Ahmed Al Alawi on his horse Wanted with a time of 34.62.

Adult 2 was a two-phase competition and the fences were raised to 110-115cm. This time it was Basel Al Dosari on Al Fateh Chika in first place with a time of 24.21. There was double delight for rider Bassim Mahdi who took home not just second but third as well with horses Elessi Al Wardi and Estrella Al Wardi.

As Adult 3 got underway a growing number of spectators took to the stadium to watch the top Bahrain riders battle it out in the Grand Prix.

The competition was very fierce as the riders and their beautiful horses jumped heights of up to 140cm. After two rounds it was rider Ali Essa on Horse Pride Elcaro Van Papinglo who took first place with a time of 62.22. Junior rider Hussain Dadulla on Dilmun Arko had the fastest time of the competition but an unfortunate four faults put him in second place with a time of 54.81. Sami Ghazwan on his beautiful grey mare Miss Aalia was placed third with a time of 54.98.

The action continued on Saturday as Twin Palms hosted an open dressage show. At 9am the competition began with the juniors first competing on test Preliminary 2.

Once again Aimee Keen showed her prowess, after having a very successful day taking home four top spots at the show jumping competition; she came out again in first place on DJ Fleur. Pippa Fourie on Fine Art came second and in third place was Audrey Maingot on Loki.

The first adult class which was also tested on Preliminary 2 saw Dilmun rider Sharon Nicklin on her gelding Hero, claim first place. Gina Fourie on the stunning Andalusion Nevado took home second spot and Youlia Frolova, on the spirited stallion Romeo, took third.

The final class of the day was a mixed junior and adult class and was judged on the Novice 24 test. This time it was Frolova on Romeo who stole the show. Ali Nomdar on The Great Hawk rode a lovely test and was placed second. Gina Fourie took home her second trophy of the day on Navado in third place.

The show was adjudicated by international trainer and judge Oliver Walter, who flew in from Europe for a week to help people prepare for the show and offer tuition. He will return in April and will be giving private lessons. Walter has his own yard in Kent and one in France as well.

Results
Show jumping
Junior 1
1. Aimee Keen/ DJ Fleur/ 31.52
2. Maayof Al Romaihi/ Granus/ 28.04
3. Ahmed Al Hashili/ Horse Pride Thunderbolt/ 29.46
4. Nidhal Abdul Nabi/ Losito Foll Al Maha/ 30.09
5. Nidhal Abdul Nabi/ Wabiti Al Maha/ 45.03
6. Aimee Keen/ Rio/ 51.56

Junior 2
1. Mustafa Dadulla/ Rakheen/ 43.18
2. Aimee Keen/ DJ Fleur/ 44.18
3. Ahmed Al Hashili/ Horse Pride Thunderbolt/ 36.42
4. Aimee Keen/ Rio/ 43.41
5. Mustafa Dadulla/ Rainsong/ 39.44
6. Nidhal Abdul Nabi/ Seven Days Al Maha/ 42.85

Adult 1
1. Ali Essa/ Horse Pride Ravissante D Elle/ 31.43
2. Ali Abdul Rasool Ashoor/ Al Maha Chili/ 33.89
3. Ahmed Al Alawi/ Wanted/ 34.62
4. Ahmed Essa/ Horse Pride Alaska/ 34.71
5. Ahmed Al Alawi/ Tyson Two/ 34.83
6. Ali Essa/ Dilmun Mano Kinsky/ 35.29
7. Elyas Mohammed/ Ghayth/ 35.29

Adult 2
1. Basel Al Dosari/ Al Fateh Chika/ 24.21
2. Bassim Mahdi/ Elessi Al Wardi/ 24.92
3. Bassim Mahdi/ Estrella Al Wardi/ 25.34
4. Abbas Yousif/ Indorado/ 25.53
5. Sami Ghazwan/ Miss Aalia/ 26.57
6. Jalal Jafferi/ Horse Pride Lavino/ 27.89

Adult 3
1. Ali Essa/ Horse Pride Elcaro Van Papinglo/ 62.22
2. Hussain Dadulla/ Dilmun Arko/ 54.81
3. Sami Ghazwan/ Miss Aalia/ 54.98
4. Ahmed Al Jahromi/ Dory AKJC/ 59.68
5. Eyad Ahmed/ Barelo/ 60.65
6. Ali Essa/ Horse Pride Uup/ 60.51

Twin Palms Riding Centre Dressage
Preliminary 2 Juniors
1. Aimee Keen/ DJ Fleur
2. Pippa Fourie/ Fine Art
3. Audrey Maingot/ Loki
4. Imogen Nell/ Mojito
5. Jameela Haseid/ Rio
6. Rosa O’Neill/ Cash
Preliminary 2 Adults
1. Sharon Nicklin/ Hero
2. Gina Fourie/ Nevado
3. Youlia Frovola/ Romeo
4. Adrienne Morrison/ Onyx
5. Maggie Anderson/ Banjo
6. Kat Rushton/ Duke

Novice 24 Mixed
1. Youlia Frovola/ Romeo
2. Ali Nomdar/ The Great Hawk
3. Gina Fourie/ Nevado
4. Aimee Keen/ DJ Fleur
5. Kat Rushton/ Duke
6. Anne Koheji/ Darius

UPCOMing events
* BREEF will be hosting its Two-Day Show Jumping Championship finale on Friday and Saturday at the BDF Equestrian Centre located in Sakir. Events will start at 9am on each day.
* The Dilmun Stables will start its Pony Camp today from 10am-1pm which will run until March 31.
* The Dilmun Stables will start a new pony club semester on April 3.