Text © World of Showjumping
The Sharjah Equestrian Racing Club hosted a CSIO4* this week in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, with the highlight being the 1.55m Sharjah Nations Cup presented by Longines on Sunday.
While Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, Qatar, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, Brazil and Italy were invited, eventually seven nations – Great Britain, United Arab Emirates, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Brazil – lined up for the competition.
With a team total of five, it was Great Britain that took the top honours with a team consisting of Joseph Stockdale on Billy Santorini (Billy Mexico x Billy Congo), Georgia Tame on Be Golden (Golden Hawk x Namelus R), Lily Attwood on Johnnie Walker (Harley VDL x Numero Uno) and William Funnell on Equine America Billy Picador (Billy Mexico x Animo) – with the last pair producing a double clear for the team.
The team from the United Arab Emirates slotted into second with a team total of eight penalties, with both Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi on Chacco Bay (Chaccato x Heops) and Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi aboard Chacolu (Chaccomo x Baloubet du Rouet) jumping double clear alongside their teammates Humaid Abdulla Khalifa Al Muhairi on Foncetti vd Heffinck (For Pleasure x Concetto) and Abdullah Mohd Al Marri on BBS McGregor (Cardento x Mark Twain).
With only three horse-and-rider-combinations competing, Belgians completed the podium, with Abdel Said on Quaker Brimbelles Z (Quicksilver St Simeon x Hickstead), Celine Schoonbroodt-De Azevedo on Jacarta Equigenne (Lord Z x Epilot) and Constant van Paesschen on Zahara (Balou du Rouet x Zenturio) collecting a total of 16 penalties.