Alkass Digital
Doha, Qatar - The fifth round of the hugely popular Hathab Equestrian tour concluded at the Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) Arena on Saturday with Qatari rider Khalid Mohammed Al Emadi capturing the top honours with an impressive ride on Fiji.
Jaber Rashid Al Amri guided Jousts in three flawless routines to seal the top spot in the Open Class while Hussain Saeed Haidan emerged victorious astride Belucci Van ‘T Vleminkhof in the Medium Tour category.
A promising young Qatari rider, Mohammed Al Ghazali sealed the Small Tour win before Power Steel won the team event on the opening day of the round.
Omar Al Mannai, Commercial Manager of Al Shaqab and Deputy Chairman of the Organising Committee, was over the moon following the success of the fifth leg of the series as well as the impact that the Hathab Tour has made in the local equestrian scene.
“The competitions between the Qatari riders have increased, both individually and in teams. Everyone is looking forward to the championship at the end of the tournament,” Al Mannai said after the event.
“Hathab series is of very high value for up and coming riders, especially the young riders from Al Shaqab Riding School who are learning to become future stars. In the meantime, the series also aims to increase the cultural values among the masses, develop the media interest in the sport, and groom young Qatari riders for their future appearances in local and international tournaments,” Al Mannai said.
A brainchild of H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, the President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, the Hathab Series was formed in partnership with the Equestrian Federation and Al Shaqab. The equestrian series provide incentives for the outstanding and talented riders in all categories, helping them grab the attention of national selectors and sponsors to take their careers to the next level.
Al Mannai pointed out that with the success of the Hathab championship, they will organise more and more competitions in future.
He also praised all the official sponsors of the championship, Al Salam (main sponsor), ExxonMobil, Al Kass, Al Shaqab, QNB, Lusail and Power Steel. Al Mannai also noted that Qatar can win medals in international competitions, in the continental level or regional level with more and more attention turning towards equine sport. “One of the most important outcomes of the Hathab Series is that it has caught the attention of a number of female competitors in different age groups and it keeps on growing. It helps take Qatar’s equestrian sport to the next level and they must be provided with all the elements of encouragement, so that they will be able to represent the country at international events.
The next edition of the Hathab Tour will be its halfway mark and Al Mannai said that there will be a 20-day break after the sixth round. According to him, the organisers will evaluate the first half of the Tour and will take required measures to turn any negative points into positives. The riders will also be allowed to switch to other teams according to their wishes.
“I expect these measures will increase the volume of competition between the individuals and teams who are battling to grab points,” Al Mannai said.
The event is conducted jointly by Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) and Al Shaqab .