Sharjah 24: Michael Pender of Ireland qualified for Grand Prix 2 as the 24th Sharjah International Show Jumping Championship's top rider.
Pender won the inaugural Longines-sponsored Sharjah Grand Prix qualifying race, riding the horse "HHS Fortune."
Fortunately, riders from the United Arab Emirates filled the top four spots in the two-star category. Ali Hussain Jassim Nasser Al Nuwais, riding "Celine 267," won the special stages, which had obstacles as high as 115 cm. His time was 30.68 seconds.
Syrian rider Laith Gharib and his horse "Good Luck" won the two-star point accumulation competition after an unprecedented tie for first place in the "Joker Round," which Sharjah Equine Hospital sponsored.
Mohammed Hamad Al Kerbi, a young Emirati rider on the horse "Chantal," won the first qualifying competition for young riders from the seventh regional group with obstacles that were 130 cm tall.
In the second youth qualifying round, Salih Mufarraj Al Kerbi and two other horses tied for first place in the equitation round with a total timing of 27.20 seconds, an unparalleled result.
In the seventh regional group, the competition also saw the return of the final rounds for young horses (6-7 years old), with various obstacle heights for each age category.
The finals, with obstacles ranging in height from 125 to 135 cm, will take place on Sunday, as will the Sharjah Grand Prix competition, with obstacles ranging in height from 145 to 145 cm.
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