By Duane Fonseca
Great Britain celebrated success in the 1.50m Sharjah Nations Cup presented by Longines bringing to a close the CSIO4* tournament at Sharjah Racing & Equestrian Club on Sunday, the final day witnessing Shane Breen of Ireland triumphing in the UAE Equestrian & Racing Federation Cup (1.45m). A total of seven teams participated in the Nations Cup, with British riders posting the least penalties over the two rounds of competition.
The winners totalled six faults in all to win ahead of second-placed Ireland who amassed 14. The UAE team finished third with a total of 26 faults. William Funnell on Equine America Billy Picador and Donald Whitaker on Millfield Colette produced the only two double clear rounds of the competition, which helped secure the British team a fine victory.
Tim Gredley, on Imperial HBF, had the only drop score for the Brits in round one, while Joe Whitaker, with four faults in round one aboard Hulahupe JR, did not ride in the second round. Michael Duffy, Jessica Burke, Shane Breen and Trevor Breen made up team Ireland, while the UAE team comprised Abdullah Mohammed Al Marri, Mohamed Ghanem Al Hajri, Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi and Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi.
Riding Z7 Ipswich, Shane Breen sealed victory in the UAEERF Cup, with a time of 35.19s in the jump-off that was 0.07s quicker than the 35.26s clocked by German female rider Nicola Pohl aboard Arlo De Blondel. Finishing third, over a second adrift with 36.88s on the clock, were the Belgian pair of Celine Schoonbroodt-de Azevedo and her mount Deesse des Embruns.
The trio were among six riders that finished with no faults during the jump-off. UAE won the FEI Jumping Nations Youth Cup against three other Arab nations with a minimum 53 penalties. Al Marzooqi, Sultan Majed Al Awani, Ali Ahmed Al Junaibi and Sultan Al Nuaimi made up the Emirati quartet that beat Egypt’s 56 faults.
Palestine were third with 68 faults on the board. One of six faultless riders in the 1.5m Sharjah Sport Council Cup, Germany’s David Will won the event clocking 39.37s in the jump-off aboard My Prins Van Dorperheide, which was 0.01s quicker than Latvian rider Kristaps Neretnieks’ 39.38s aboard Palladium KJV. Billy Twomey of Ireland took third on Chat Botte E.D with a time of 39.71s.
Portugal’s Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida won the Against the Clock (1.4m) event clocking a faultless 58.45s on Pegasus Cekanane, while the UAE’s Moufi Owaida Al Karbi landed the top prize in the CSIYH1* Sharjah Chamber of Commerce Cup winning the jump-off with a time of 36.86s, which was 0.03s quicker than the 36.89s Duffy was timed at aboard Geniale Star Kervec.
Salem Al Suwaidi on Diamond Way won the Sharjah Equine Hospital Two Phases (1.4m) event with 27.09s on the clock, Italian rider Emanuele Gaudiano took the Sharjah Islamic Bank Against the Clock (1.45m) on Nikolaj De Music with a time of 56.74s, Al Marzooqi the Al Shira’aa Young Rider Welcome Competition (1.3m) with Concordia and Al Suwaidi the Majestiq Royal Care Welcome Competition (Two Phases) with Camille Van Overis Z.
