Sprunger steals the show

Dubai - Georgia tame beats an experienced field to win Longines accumulator

Swiss Olympian Janika Sprunger riding Bacardi VDL saved the best for last, as she swept the top prize of the Dubai Show Jumping Championship with a win in the featured Dh612,050 CSI 5*-W Emirates Airline Dubai Grand Prix.
Her win meant all three titles for Day 4 of the Dubai Show Jumping Championship were won by women riders.
Sprunger was the final rider and one of only nine of a field of 35 (four no-shows) from 22 countries, to advance to the second round. The Dubai Grand Prix is competed across two rounds, with the top 25 per cent of riders advancing for a battle against time and penalties. The Swiss world number 114's winning time of 49.96 seconds earned her Dh200,000 in prize money.  
Speaking afterwards Janika Sprunger said: "I am over-happy right now, because I have such a fabulous horse and he deserves to win. I am happy I could keep everything together to make this happen tonight. I am really happy I had a chance to come and compete here (in Dubai). The people are very nice and supportive and I feel very blessed.  
When asked about how she rated this win Sprunger replied: "This is an important win, because it isn't often that I win a 5* event. A lot of placements, but a win not so often. This one is a big one for me tonight."
Italy's Paolo Paini riding Ottava Meraviglia Di Ca' San G came in a couple of seconds behind, stopping the clock at 51.29 seconds, while third place went to Philipp Weishaupt of Germany who was quicker to complete the course than the winner - with a time of 47.85- but was penalized for a fault.
The final day of the Dubai Show Jumping Championship 2019 opened with the AED 125,000 CSI2* Meydan Grand Prix. Sweden's Charlotte Mcauley riding 10-year-old Valentino Tuliere won the class through a jump-off in a winning time of 41.54 seconds. Seven riders of a total of 27 representing 11 countries advanced after a fault-free first round. In the jump-off only the top-three managed clear rounds.
Speaking about the win Mcaulay said: "My horse was placed every day, he was second the first two days and today he won. He is a very nice horse that I bred myself, so it is even more gratifying for me to get this win."
It is a first visit to Dubai for the Swedish rider and one she has enjoyed: "The experience in Dubai has been very good, the location is fantastic and the facilities are great. It is very different from conditions in Europe, but different in a good way."
UAE's Abdul Rahman Ahmed Ameen was second, along with 10-year-old Newton Abbot, the pair stopped the clock at 43.71 seconds in the jump-off. He said: "First of all I would like to congratulate Charlotte Mcaulay for a great win, and my brother Ali Qassimi for achieving third place. This is my second show with this horse (Newton Abbot). He is a new horse for me and we are trying to build a long relationship with him, and I hope we are successful. I really enjoy coming to Dubai, the show here is always amazing."
22-year-old Georgia Tame of Great Britain, won the Dh119,000 Longines Accumulator Class with a maximum score of 65 in a time of 49.88 seconds aboard 8-year-old Z7 Caretina. In a field of 40, including riders from across 22 nationalities, seven riders completed the course with the maximum score possible of 65 (if choosing the joker).
Speaking later, the British rider said: "There was a lot of top riders in the field with a lot more experience than me and my horse, who has just turned eight a few weeks ago, and this is her first 5* event. The class was done as fast as you can in just one round and then the joker at the end caught a lot of people out. But Shane (Shane Breen -leads Z7 stables) told me to move everywhere fast, and take my time at the joker. So everywhere else we took strides out, so that at the last fence we could take a breath and slow it all down and clear that one because that is the most important one."
Ireland's David Simpson riding 11-year-old Jenson 55 had a clear plan ahead of the Longines Accumulator which he executed to finish second: "I had a plan going in, I knew what my horse could do, I knew the number of jumps and how many strides to take, and I executed that plan. I didn't think it was quick enough to win it, but I hoped, and other experienced horse-rider pairings made mistakes. It is brilliant to be on the podium."
Simson added that his experience of Dubai and the UAE continues to impress him: "This is my third time in the UAE, and I absolutely love it here, the shows are incredible people are very welcoming, and it is a pleasure to be competing here."
The Longines Accumulator is a special class, with each of a maximum ten jumps being assigned points. At the end, riders have the opportunity to choose either jump number 10 or the joker. Number ten earning them ten points, while the joker would earn twenty. Adding to the drama is the condition that if any of the fences are knocked down, the rider gets no points for the jump, except the joker, where the rider loses twenty points in the event of a knock down.
Rounding off things at the four-day event Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, General Manager, Dubai Equestrian Club said: "For me as part of the organizing committee of the Dubai Show Jumping Championship 2019, we looked to give out a very strong message about our commitment to supporting equestrian events like jumping. By hosting a five- star event we were able to showcase the top riders here in the UAE.
"This time we have included both 5-star and 2-star events and we have opened the doors for a wide range of riders with different levels of ability. This way if there are riders who can't participate in the top level, there was still an opportunity for them to compete. That apart when you have senior riders coming and competing, you give an opportunity to junior riders to learn and exchange ideas which is very important.
Commenting on the significance of hosting a 5-star event for a second year running the DEC General Manager said: "The 5-star status has allowed us to bring in the best riders and best horses from across the world to come and compete here. Also the FEI sets a high standard for hosting a five-star event, and by organising such an event we can showcase our world-class facilities and confirm our ability to host top events here at the Dubai Equestrian Club's Emirates Equestrian Centre."
The weekend saw a rich flow of families and equine fans who were able to enjoy a great day of family- friendly activities. An extensive food village offered a variety of local and international cuisine, a face painting station and pony rides for kids, all added to the festive flavour of the venue.
Meydan Pillar Partners Emirates, Longines, Azizi Developments and Gulf News returned to support this prominent international competition.