A BELGIAN one-two in the 1.60m five-star Grand Prix of CHI Al Shaqab finished two weeks of jumping at the spectacular venue in Doha, Qatar.

What began with the first leg of the 2019 Global Champions Tour, CHI Al Shaqab, one of only five events worldwide with three international disciplines at one show (show jumping, dressage and para dressage in this case), took place over three days last week, where five Irish show jumpers and a para dressage team lined out.

The highlight was Saturday evening’s final Grand Prix, which carried a prize fund of €410,000. Designed by the world renowned Frank Rothenberger, the first round started with 44 combinations, including five Irish, with the top 18 going through to round two.

The triple combination at nine was the problem fence in the first round, however 10 combinations did manage to find the key and finish on a score of zero.

Ireland’s Denis Lynch was among those clear rounds with his new mount Hector van d’Abdijhoeve, however he was immediately eliminated after leaving the arena when the stewards found blood on the flank of the horse.

Speaking afterwards to The Irish Field, President of the show jumping ground jury at the show, Stephan Ellenbruch, said: “Denis had a clear round. He was leaving the arena and brought to the usual boot and bandage area. The stewards noticed blood on the flank and as you know there are clear rules so he was eliminated under the FEI rules. As there was nothing unusual in the round, there will be no follow-up action required. The rider was aware and apologised.”

The course for the second round once again posed big questions and the combination, now at fence five and going in the opposite direction, continued to be the boogie fence. The first clear came from the home nation’s Bassem Hassan Mohammed and he finished on his first round score of one time fault.

Germany legend Ludger Beerbaum, who won Friday’s big class aboard Chiara 222, also finished with a time fault and for a short while it looked like the pair would jump-off for victory. However, the final three riders into the arena – Belgium’s Nicola Philippaerts, Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano and Belgium’s Pieter Devos – produced the clear rounds the crowd were looking for, ensuring a jump-off.

Philippaerts was first to go with the 11-year-old Holsteiner stallion H&M Chilli Willi and broke the beam with nothing to add in a time of 44.42 seconds, taking the lead momentarily. The Italian was next to go with the expressive Chalou and while his time was faster, he finished with four faults.

Philippaerts was watching on nervously as his teammate Devos set sail with the wonderful gelding Espoir. Naturally quicker than Chilli Willi across the ground, the combination crossed the finish line in 42.18 seconds to secure victory and €135,300 in prize money. Her Highness Moza bint Nasser, mother of Emir (King) Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, came down from the VIP area to present the trophy to Devos.

MHS GOING GLOBAL

For Irish interests, the highlight was the wonderful Irish Sport Horse MHS Going Global finishing in sixth place under Greece’s Athina Onassis.Bred by the late Ita Brennan in Co Kilkenny and produced in Ireland by Greg Broderick, the Quidam Junior-sired 13-year-old gelding was clear over all of the fences in both rounds, finishing on a total of three time faults, to the delight of Onassis who had a smile plastered across her face.

Speaking afterwards, Devos said: “I am very happy. I was feeling my horse was jumping very well for the last two weeks. Today was three difficult rounds, Frank (Rothenberger) did a really good job. Three big rounds but horse friendly which I really appreciated, and in the end we had three clear rounds so I think it was very good sport today.”

Rothenberger added that some riders commented that the track wasn’t big enough after walking it. He predicted 10 or 11 clears, and was bang on.

“When it was walked some of the riders said it was too small, that it was much bigger last week, and I was really surprised and wasn’t really sure if it was the right decision. But I had seen the horses and for me it was big enough and it worked out very well.”

Michael G Duffy and Jaguar Vd Berghoeve jumping the 1.60m five-star Grand Prix at CHI Al Shaqab in Doha. Photo Stefano Grasso/ Al Shaqab

DUFFY COMBINATION

Both Galway’s Michael Duffy and Mayo’s Michael G. Duffy were competing at the five-star venue, and the two finished with four faults in Saturday’s Grand Prix.

Michael G. rode the eye catching 10-year-old stallion Jaguar Vd Berghoeve, but confirmed the new ride will return to Tawain show jumper Jasmine Chen, who competed the Emerald Van’t Ruytershof stallion at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon last September.

Riding under the Carl Hanley Sporthorses banner, Duffy also had the Irish Sport Horse gelding Lappucino 2 (Livello x Caberet III) at the show and they finished seventh in the 1.50m Table A on the opening day, just behind Tipperary’s Shane Breen and Golden Hawk in fifth place.