By Duane Fonseca -
When the going gets tough, the tough get going and Mohamed Shafi Al Remeithi managed to pull the rabbit out of the hat when he needed it as he produced a stunning ride aboard Caramba to deny Emirati compatriot Ali Hamad Al Kirbi by fractions of a second in the showpiece event of the Jumping Competition at Al Forsan International Sports Resort in Abu Dhabi.
It was one of two big wins for Al Remeithi and his mount Caramba at the event, which drew a large number of Emirati and international riders across various categories. Al Remeithi and Al Kirbi were the best of the field during the One Round with Jump Off event. The pair were among seven riders that qualified for the Jump Off after flawless first rounds, Al Karbi moving quicker over the 1.40-metre obstacles aboard Quinatano K Van’t Kattenheye in the first round as his time of 71.19 seconds showed, compared to Al Remeithi’s 72.40s, partnering Caramba.
However, Al Remeithi and Caramba were able to reverse that with a stellar performance during the Jump Off, the partnership representing Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, stepping up their act to prevail in 43.07s, which was 0.15s quicker than the 43.22s clocked by Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club’s (SERC) Al Kirbi and Quinatano K Van’t Kattenheye. Rounding off the podium spots was another UAE rider in Mohammed Hamad Al Kirbi (SERC), who rode Edelweiss De Groom across the circuit in 44.34s.
AL REMEITHI, CARAMBA SPECIAL
Al Remeithi and Caramba scalped the next big prize on the agenda as well, winning the Division 1 - One Round Against the Clock (1.40m fences) with a time of 62.46s. They were one of six combinations to ride without any fault. Second place was claimed by Al Remeithi’s Emirati countryman Abdullah Humaid Al Mheiri, whose dash aboard Coenig lasted 65.46s.
Iranian rider Farhang Sadeghi was a distant third aboard Quick ‘N’ Step with a time of 75.34s. SERC claimed the top three spots in the Children’s One Round Against the Clock category (1.05m fences) Saleh Mufrrej Al Kirbi’s landing the spoils aboard Espresso in 51.74s.
Finishing second and third respectively were Alya Adnan Al Mheiri (Douwecara, 53.92s) and Anna Lisa Cherepanova (Diamond League, 55.63s). SERC enjoyed more success on the programme when Abdulla Ahmed Al Shurafa won the One Round Against the Clock (1.20m fences) event with Viva in 56.25s.
Finishing well clear of second placed Ajman Equestrian Club rider Ali Abdulla Al Kumaiti (Ghamer, 63.83s) and third placed Wadeema Al Raisi of ADEC (Light Ivory, 65.79s). Al Habtoor Polo and Equestrian Club’s Fatima Intan Al Mulla won the Junior: One Round with Jump Off clocking 41.32s aboard Levito Z, with Mabkhout Owaida Al Karbi of SERC marginally behind on Zandocan C with 41.83s on the clock.
