BAHRAIN’S number one showjumper Shaikh Hassan bin Rashid Al Khalifa claimed fourth place in the CSI1 Grand Prix at the Longines Global Champions Tour – Longines Paris Eiffel Jumping.
It was a seven-horse jump off that brought out the very best of the international riders who were clear and in the final speed round of the CSI1* Grand Prix of ‘City of Light’.
The seven athletes pushed their horses as fast as they could over the stunning course in front of a packed crowd and buzzing VIP tent, which included the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Salma Hayek.
Shaikh Hassan was one of only four riders out of 25 starters who managed to keep a clean sheet and go double clear over the large 145m GP course set by Uliano Vezzani.
With the Bahraini flag imprinted on either side, the Kingdom’s team captain raced his trusted partner HBR Vance through the finish line in a streak of red and white in 42.41 seconds, missing out on third place by just eight hundredths of a second.
The podium finish was Shaikh Hassan’s crowning moment of a successful weekend as he claimed a double podium in the big tour 140m-speed class on the opening day, making it a triple visit to the winners’ circle.
Flashy
HBR Vance placed sixth while the speedy and flashy mare HBR Radio Saint Clair helped secure fourth place in the opener finishing in times of 61.73 and 60.00 seconds respectively.
The Longines Global Champions Tour is the world’s premier five-star show jumping event with a highly competitive one or two-star supporting series.
It brings together international riders, including the top 30, to compete in prestigious locations for unprecedented prize money.
The 15-event tour offers some of the most explosive and exciting competition of any equestrian series
“This was big! It was a very special podium, in a very special setting, and a very special achievement for the Kingdom. I’m so proud to represent Bahrain and be able see our flag waving amongst the winners of this amazing event,” Shaikh Hassan said.