UAE’s Muhairi, Marri qualify for WC; Goodin grabs Sharjah Ruler Cup
Amir Naqvi
A seasoned journalist covering major sports events around the world. Amir is Sports Editor with Gulf Today.
- Last updated: February 9, 2020 | 22:56
UAE’s Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi has qualified for this year’s FEI Jumping World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in Las Vegas from April 15-19.
The defending champion though failed in his bid to retain the title but managed to accumulate enough points at the prestigious Sharjah Ruler Cup International Show Jumping Championship CSI5*W — an Arab League qualifier for the FEI World Cup — to secure a ticket to America.
Muhairi’s team-mate Abdullah Mohammed Al Marri also qualified for the showpiece event alongside Saudi Arabia’s Olympian Abdullah Al Sharbatly.
“It’s a big relief to qualify as I don’t believe that I have performed anywhere near my best,” said Muhairi.
“There is lot of work to do to improve my performance before the Show Jumping World Cup.”
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Bruce Goodin aboard 12-year-old gelding Backatorps Danny V won the CSI5*W Sharjah Ruler Cup with a time of 34.68 seconds.
Competing against a total of 42 horse-and-rider combinations, Goodin produced a stunning performance free of penalties in the second round to bag the title at state-of-the-art Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club (SERC) and take home a winner’s purse of €49,5000.
Christian Ahlmann on the Solid Gold Z finished as runner-up after competing the round in 35.27 seconds, while Egypt’s Abdel Said on Alanine de Vains placed third with a time of 35.30.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to get this win,” said the New Zealander.
“My horse tried very hard and ran his heart out. He just gave me the feeling that he wasn’t going to do anything wrong on this day and he did not.”
Earlier, Said aboard 10-year-old Arpege du Ru displayed a flawless performance to win the CSI5* Ranking class sponsored by the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation.
With just a margin of less than a second, Great Britain’s Jack Whitaker on Scenletha finished second.
Paolo Paini aboard Ottava Meraviglia di ca’ took third spot.
The championship’s closing ceremony included awarding the winners with the grand prize by Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qassimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Council and President of the Championship, who gave away the prize to the winners in the presence of Sheikh Abdullah Bin Majid Al Qassimi, Chairman of Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club, Honorary President of the championship, Dr Ghanem Al Hajri, Secretary General of the Equestrian Federation, Sami Al Dahami, Chairman of FEI Group VII Finals, Patrick Aoun, Regional Brand Manager of Longines, and Sultan Khalifa Al Yahyaee, General Manager of Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club. Expressing delight over the success of the event, Sheikh Abdullah said: “The success achieved by the championship came as a result of the efforts of an integrated team.
“The five-star status allowed us to bring in the best riders and best horses from across the world to come and compete here.
“The success of the event confirms our ability to host top events here at the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club,” Sheikh Abdullah added.
Sultan Khalifa Al Yahyaee, General Manager of Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club and Championship Manager, said: “Every year we try to make it bigger and better and will continue to produce our best efforts over the coming years as well as raise the standard of the Ruler of Sharjah Cup.
“I was particularly pleased with the high standard of competition and of the performance of the Arab riders who were competing alongside the best jumpers from around the world,” he added.
The event wass sponsored by Longines, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, Al Shira’aa Stables, Sharjah Islamic Bank, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sharjah Sports, Sharjah Equine Hospital, Cavalor and Al Sakb Equestrian.