HH The Amir Sword International Equestrian Festival 2025 begins

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February 13, 2025
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13-February-2025

HH The Amir Sword International Equestrian Festival 2025 begins

Doha: Qatar’s Fahad Jassim HK Al Thani dazzled on the opening day of the prestigious HH The Amir Sword International Equestrian Festival 2025 at Al Shaqab on Thursday as the 25-year-old bagged two showjumping titles while the highlight CSI5* 1.50m class, under lights, was won by Spaniard Mariano Martinez Bastida before a thrilling competition saw Great Britain’s Millie Allen take the CSI5* - Two Phases - 1.45m top honours.

Fahad stood out in CSI3*-W - Special Two-Phases - 1.35m, and CSI1* - Faults & Time - 1.20m classes.He showed his mettle at the Longines outdoor arena claiming the CSI3*-W - Special Two-Phase - 1.35m class with finesse while combining with bay mare Ambre de Beaufour. Al Thani returned best times of 36.03 and 30.02secs respectively. Kuwaiti Ali Al Khorafi on chestnut mare Karaat was second clocking 39.80 and 33.10secs, while Saudi Arabia rider Abdullah Alsharbatly on bay stallion Atome des Etisses finished third (39.34secs & 33.21secs).

Dr. Eman Al Ansari, Senior Advisor to the CEO of Al Abdulghani Motors, awarded the winners.

In the CSI1* - Faults & Time - 1.20m class, Fahad Al Thani rode chestnut mare Ciara LU to return with the fastest and flawless winning routine of 51.40secs. He was followed by compatriot Faris Saad AH Al Qahtani, who excelled on dark mare Hidiene with a flawless time of 51.58secs. The third podium spot was claimed by Moroccan Achraf Oualla on bay gelding Diamant D Amour. He clocked 52.75secs.

Nasser Al Hajri, Sports Director of the event, honoured the podium winners.

Setting the tone to the day was Jassim Al Kuwari, who first claimed CDI1* - Prix St-Georges dressage event at the Longines indoor arena in the morning. He rode Jack Sparrow, a chestnut gelding, to top the CDI1* - Prix St-Georges international dressage competition with a cumulative score of 67.647, finishing ahead of Great Britain’s Jessica Megan Waldon, on bay stallion San Francisco (63.970), and the third-placed Asma Yaser of Qatar, riding chestnut stallion Qatar, and finishing with a total score of 62.353.

The winners were awarded by Omar Al Bouainain, Deputy Event Director of Doha International Tour.

Home riders also excelled in the CSI1* - Special Two-Phase - 1.10m class as Qatar’s Mohammed Yousef Al Jaber on Serendipity (a chestnut mare) clocked the best and flawless times of 28.18 and 27.41secs respectively. Saudi Arabia’s Fahad Aljuaid on chestnut mare Dushi was second (31.32 & 27.86secs), while Qatar’s Mohammed Faisal Al Marri took the third podium place riding grey mare Miss Chili and returning flawlessly in 30.70 and 28.87secs respectively.

The podium winners were honoured by Ali bin Yousuf Al Rumaihi, Board Member, Qatar Equestrian Federation.

The Future Riders’ 60cm class saw Qatar’s Salman Faisal Al Marri (riding Sita) take the top podium place with a time of 59.87secs. Tamim Fahad H Al Marri astride Peter was the runner-up (59.69secs), while Youssef Mohanna N Al Nuaimi on Mackney Buster was third in 61.47secs.

Bastida, Allen sizzle in CSI5* categories

The top CSI5* - Faults & Time - 1.50m international class of the evening saw Spaniard Mariano Martinez Bastida excel under lights on his mount Origi Van’T Geyzeven, a bay gelding, to claim the honours with a flawless and swift routine in 65.17secs and win a prize of €7750.

The second place was bagged by Austrian Gerfried Puck, riding bay gelding Equitron Ornaat V (66.48secs), while Frenchman Antoine Ermann astride chestnut gelding Floyd des Pres finished in third (70.23secs).

The CSI5* - Two Phases - 1.45m class saw some intense action with Great Britain’s Millie Allen emerging as the winner riding her mount Quick Diamant HR (a bay mare) flawlessly for a routine in 44.42 and 27.57secs. Italian Roberto Previtali on bay gelding Hachiko was second (46.18 & 28.26secs), and Portuguese Duarte Seabra third with bay gelding Van Halen Z 946.60 & 28.72secs).

His Excellency Gustavo Petro, President of the Republic of Colombia, honoured the podium winners.

Earlier, the CSI3*-W - Faults & Time - 1.45m class was won by Gerfried Puck on bay mare Equitron Melody Vd Smidshoeve (61.46secs), while Abdullah Alsharbatly on Pegasus Bandit Savoie (63secs) was second and Khaled Almobty (KSA) was third riding Davenport VDL (64.34secs). Abdulrahman Al Kaabi, Member of the Organizing Committee, honoured the winners.

The three-day HH The Amir Sword International Equestrian Festival 2025 continues till Saturday. It is organized by the Qatar Equestrian Federation, Al Shaqab, and the Qatar Olympic Committee, and is officially sponsored by Doha Bank, Al Abdulghani Motors, Zabargad Jewellery, Visit Qatar, and Vodafone, in partnership with Qatar Airways as the official airline partner, Al Kass Sports Channels as the broadcast partner, So Cast as the social media partner, and Sahil Company as the media partner.