UAE riders take top honours on day one

Sheikh Ali Abdulla Al Qassimi exhibiting his talent during the show jumping event.

The four-day Dubai Show Jumping Championship CSI5* W (World Cup Arab League) opened on Wednesday featuring an impressive 41 riders from 15 countries.
Twenty-seven years old Sheikh Ali Qassimi aboard 13-year-old Saga De La Roque, finished top of the leader-board. Speaking later he said: "It is always a good feeling to win and be on the podium, Dubai Show (Jumping Championship) is very special to me personally, I have really good memories here in the arena, so I always have this winning feeling and winning spirit when I cross this gate here. I am really happy, it is the first class of a long weekend of jumping and I am really happy I could start with a win."
The internationally acclaimed Dubai Show Jumping Championship (DSJC) is a CSI5*W event; the topmost category of competition in show jumping worldwide, with the prize money pool worth Dh2 million.
Mohammed Shafi Al Remeithi completed a UAE sweep for the day with a dominant win in the Dubai Equestrian Club - Against the Clock - Class. Riding aboard Puck, the 37-year-old was the final rider of a total of 27 competitors from 12 nations reflecting the truly international environment of the Dubai Show Jumping Championship. The top 10 riders from this Class have qualified for the CSI2* Meydan Grand Prix on Saturday.
Speaking after his win, Al Remeithi said: "I am very thankful for this won. I was last as per the start list, and as I watched the riders ahead of me I could see they were not very fast. My horse is naturally fast and in the end both my horse and I did the job. We came first. I am now looking ahead and I hope that we will get a similar result in the Grand Prix on Saturday (CSI2* Meydan Grand Prix).
Apart from scintillating show jumping action, the four-day equine festival offers fun-filled days of activity for the family at the purpose-built Emirates Equestrian Centre. The venue offers an outstanding food and entertainment village, which includes stalls and food trucks offering a variety of local and international cuisine. An excellent entertainment program has been arranged including a thrilling horse show from Z7 and much more.