ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)

The UAE Show Jumping Team wrapped up a strong four-day campaign at Sentower Park in Opglabbeek, Belgium, on Sunday with multiple victories and podium finishes across CSI3*, CSI1* and Young Horse classes.

Competing from September 9 to 13, riders Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi, Humaid Abdulla Khalifa Al Muhairi, Mohammad Saeed Al Ghurair and Salim Ahmed Al Suwaidi delivered consistent results as the team continues its build up to the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Omar and Biarritz Z opened the UAE’s account on Thursday by winning the international class for seven- and eight-year-old horses out of a field of 79. Salim and SS Ourania took third in the same class, while Humaid and Villon WH finished second in the six-year-old division with a clear round.

Friday brought further success. Humaid and Argentina de Kreisker Z topped the seven- and eight-year-old Young Horse competition with a clear round in 52.29 seconds.

Salim and SS Ourania placed second and Omar and Osenia third, completing an all-UAE podium. Humaid later added another win aboard Villon WH in the six-year-old 1.20m Two Phase class.

Seventeen-year-old Mohammad continued his strong form following the FEI World Championships in Aachen. He secured third place with Dark Satisfaction PS in Friday’s CSI3* 1.35m Two Phase and fourth with Ikaros in the CSI1* 1.30m.

On Saturday he and Ikaros won the CSI1* 1.35m after producing the fastest clear jump-off round in 32.90 seconds from a field of 51.

Salim closed the meeting on a high note on Sunday, partnering Pablo Escobar KJV to victory in the CSIYH1* six-year-old 1.25m Two Phase Special.

The Belgium results followed a solid showing at CSI4* Münster in Germany the previous weekend, where three UAE combinations finished in the top 10 of the Grand Prix.

Salim and Flonflon placed fifth, Humaid and Foncetti vd Heffinck sixth and Omar and BBS McGregor ninth. Omar also finished second in a night class and fourth in the Grand Prix qualifier, while younger horses produced further top 10 results.

These back-to-back European outings form part of the UAE’s preparations for the Asian Games show jumping competition, scheduled for October 1-4 in Japan.

The team aims to build on its Hangzhou performance, which delivered the team bronze and an individual silver for Omar.