ABDULLAH AL SHARBATLY CLINCHES HH THE AMIR’S SWORD IN A SHOWSTOPPING DOHA GRAND PRIX

In tonight’s CSI5* Grand Prix of HH The Amir’s Sword in Doha, Qatar, forty-four world-class horse and rider combinations faced a formidable 1.60m challenge, navigating a two-round course with a jump-off masterfully designed by Uliano Vezzani.

Offering a substantial prize fund of 1.5 million Euros, the class served as a premiere showcase of elite athleticism and precision on the international showjumping calendar.

The initial round presented a demanding and technical test, yielding several impressive clears alongside combinations that jumped beautifully but were caught out by some of the fences. And while the second round proved slightly more forgiving, only nine combinations managed to secure their place in the much-anticipated jump-off.

As each athlete stepped forward to claim their share of the spoils, the majority opted for cautious precision to ensure a clear sheet. Belgium’s Pieter Devos and Casual Dv Z initially took command, storming into the lead with a blistering time of 39.20 seconds following two flawless rounds.

However, the atmosphere shifted perceptibly as the final two contenders entered the arena; with Khaled Almobty and Abdullah Alsharbatly left to jump, it was clear that both were prepared to go for broke.

Maintaining a silent, collected demeanour that stood in stark contrast to the roaring excitement of the Arabic TV pundits on Alkass Sports where we were watching, Almobty and Diana du Plevau Z delivered the round of a lifetime. Taking every imaginable risk, he smashed the target time to clock in at 37.45 seconds.

Yet the drama was far from over as the last to go was the ever-composed Al Sharbatly.

Riding Diriyah with incredible pace and precision, he simply let rip, tearing through the course in a sensational 36.29 seconds to snatch the Sword and the glory in a truly unforgettable finish.

--ENDS--

Full results here 

Photo by Lukasz Kowalski/DET