Shaikh Hassan claims podium in Monaco GCT

DT News Network

Manama 

Bahrain Showjumping Team Captain Shaikh Hassan bin Rashid Al Khalifa

secured a historic fifth place podium finish in the medium tour of the

Monaco Global Champions Tour (GCT) final.

Riding his own 13-year-old gelding, HBR Versace, Shaikh Hassan

qualified for the jump off by clearing the testing first round course

situated in the picturesque Port Hercules of Monaco, just metres from

the street's where the Formula One race takes place.

Shaikh Hassan raced around the jump off course and finished in a time

of 34.20 seconds which secured him podium as he made history for

Bahrain by being the first Bahraini rider to claim a podium in the

Monaco GCT.

“I’m extremely, proud, and honored to make history for Bahrain and get

this podium finish in Monaco. The series is very competitive and the

quality of horses and riders is the best in the world. I came here to

compete against them and prove that I can compete on the biggest stage

of the sport,” Shaikh Hassan said.

Shaikh Hassan is Bahrain’s highest ranked rider on the Longines World

Ranking list and has recently partnered up with former world number

one and current Olympic team gold medalist Ben Maher who won at the

London 2012 Olympics.

He says, “In the beginning of the year I made a decision to train with

the best and that decision has paid off big time”. The duo are aiming

to capitalise on the current success by competing in the biggest show

jumping events of the world and hope to continue getting results on

the world stage for the Kingdom.

Next stop for Shaikh Hassan is the Global Champions Tour of Paris. He

added, “I will continue to learn the system with Ben. We will be

competing in a few more stops of the GCT this year. We are looking to

increase our horse power and we will continue to aim and win the most

prestigious show jumping events of the world. I would like to thank

Chairman of Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF)

Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa and BREEF Show jumping president

Shaikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, and BREEF for their continued