Shaikh Hassan pipped to the podium

Shaikh Hassan bin Rashid Al Khalifa and the Bahraini show jumping team continued their successful start to the international UAE jumping season by placing on everyday of the Bou Thib CSI2 international show.

Shaikh Hassan led the charge by placing seventh in the GP and narrowly missed out on the kingdoms first ever CSI2 GP podium spot to sixth placed Irish international Marion Hughes by a second as UAE international Muftah Al Dhahri came in first.

The Bahraini rider had the last fence down of the Christoph Johnen designed 145cm Longines World Ranking class, which kept him out of the jump off that only saw three riders qualify for. 

But he managed to pick up more Longines World Ranking points for the second week in a row by being the second fastest four fault round, and secured his position as the Bahrain number one on the world ranking list.

Riding his mare, HBR Radio Saint Clair, Shaikh Hassan also managed to be placed eighth and 11th which kept him in the money throughout the whole tournament.

Bahrain team riders, Khalid Hilal Al Khatri and Hamad Fakhrawi also had a successful show. 

Al Khatri raced his speedy BDF owned mare Bashayer to a fifth place podium in the 135cm two phase category, while Fakhrawi was also in the money in the medium tour final when he went clear riding his mare Saba Du Bocage, only to have two down in the jump off as he pushed hard to try and win the class.

Shaikh Hassan said, “I’m very happy with all the good results this weekend and almost made Bahrain’s first podium in a two star GP. I really wanted it but we had the last down. It was a big and technical course. I’m really happy with my mare. The season has just begun, but my confidence is up, and you can be sure that I will be giving it all to be up on the GP podium soon and training hard and looking forward to the upcoming shows.”

Shaikh Hassan and the riders thanked Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF) Chairman, Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa and show jumping committee president, HH Shaikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Khalifa and everyone at BREEF for their continued support.