Qatar Reaches for Tops

By Paula Parisi August 16, 2013

Dutch Olympic Gold medalist Jan Tops has been working his magic for the Qatari riders as their coach on the Longines Global Champions Tour.

In Estoril, Portugal, Faleh Suwead Al Ajami made history for his country as the first rider to qualify for a GCT grand prix jump-off on July 6. The 27-year-old Al Ajami placed fifth in that 1.60m 5* Estoril class, earning €17,100 ($22,800) aboard Zorro Z, a 12-year-old Zangerscheide gelding.

Prior to Estoril, the top grand prix placing for a Qatari rider was Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani’s 12th place finish on Eurocommerce California at the preceding GCT stop in Monte Carlo.

In eight GCT grand prix to date, the Qatari five have five in-the-money-placings among them, and the stars seem to be aligning as they head to the series final Nov. 23, when they will compete under their national flag at the Al Shaqab Equestrian Centre in Doha, Qatar.

In recent years, the Middle Eastern nations, long top contenders in the equestrian sport of endurance, have in a big way stepped up to support show jumping. Last year the GCT series final was held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, the culmination of a quest that began in Qatar.

Jan Tops competed in four consecutive Olympics, representing his native Netherlands, beginning in 1988 and culminating with his team gold win show jumping win aboard Top Gun in Barcelona in 1992. To advance the sport of show-jumping, Tops founded the glitzy Global Champions Tour in 1996, and has seen the circuit grow in popularity, prize money and media attention.

Speaking about Al Ajami making it into the jump off, Tops said, “I was very proud of him. That gives a lot of motivation for the whole team and the whole region.”

The Qatari contingent also includes Bassem Hassan Mohammed, 26, who had a fourth place finish aboard Cantinero in a 1.45/1.50m GCT class in London on June 6. Also the brothers Al Rumaihi ―Ali, 32 and 29-year-old Mubarak, who had a seventh-place finish in a 1.45m speed class at the most recent GCT stop in Chantilly, France.

Mubarak Al Rumaihi and Castiglione L were also the top-placed Qatari finishers in the Grand Prix of Chantilly, landing 28th with only a single rail to show for their trip around what was unanimously proclaimed to be one of the most difficult first-round GCT courses ever (courtesy Italian course designer Uliano Vezzani).

The Al Shaqab Equestrian Centre in Qatar features two international competition arenas, seating for 8,000 spectators, stabling for 300 horses, a veterinary hospital, a riding school, an equine museum and a clubhouse. It was designed by Leigh & Orange Architects, which also designed Hong Kong’s racecourse and jockey club (venue for the equestrian portion of the 2008 Olympics).

The Centre also features a riding academy, offering lessons for all skill levels, for 6-year-olds and up. “Our role is as a  community asset for Qatar,” a spokesman for the facility said. “Our role is to educate and promote horsemanship as part of the country’s famous equestrian heritage.”

Although the Centre was established primarily as a showcase for Arabian horse sport, it will host a wide variety of disciplines.

Among the luxurious amenities is a 100-meter long “equine exercise pool” designed by Aqua Media Engineering that is three-meters deep and features anti-slip rubber mats at the entrance and exit.

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