Barcelona and Rio in store for Qatari showjumpers after Nations Cup success

The Qataris proved to be worthy winners ahead of last year’s winners Ukraine in second with Egypt coming in third, France slotting into fourth ahead of Saudi Arabia and Germany in equal-fifth spot.

Italy lined up seventh ahead of the Netherlands in eighth, but Morocco, Jordan and United Arab Emirates did not make it past the first round when only the leading eight nations returned to battle it out in the closing stages.

There was a great deal hanging in the balance as the day began since the competition in the UAE was the sole Furusiyya qualifier for the Middle East region, and it was the Saudi Arabian side that claimed the second of the two tickets to the series final in Barcelona next September.

From the field of 11 nations, only four countries - Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE - were battling for the two qualifying spots available for that final.

There was added interest for six of the teams - Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Qatar and UAE, who were all competing for a qualifying spot for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The Qatari team were convincing from the outset however, counting only single time faults from Ali Yousef Al Rumaihi (on Gunder), Khalid Al Emadi (on Tamira IV) and Bassem Hassan Mohammed (on Palloubet D’Halong) which was only added to when Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani’s 10-year-old mare, Vienna Olympic incurred a fault.

Just one horse-and-rider combination jumped clear in the first round, and that came from Germany's David Will and Colorit as the last pair to ride.

Qatar led the way with a three-point advantage over France as the second round began, as Germany carried nine faults into round two and Egypt and Ukraine were close behind with 10 faults apiece.

And the Egyptians showed their good result was no fluke when Sameh Al Dahan, produced one of the few clear rounds to start them off in the second round. This looks like the nucleus of a really competitive side, and they added just 11 more to their tally for a good finish.

Germany slipped down the order when adding 16 faults to their scoreline, but Ukraine held firm when adding just nine. When the French faltered with the addition of 17, both the Ukrainians and Egyptians overtook them.

Only three horse-and-rider combinations jumped clear in the second round - Qatar's Khalid Al Emadi (on Tamira IV), Saudi Arabia's Abdullah Al Sharbatly (on Tobalio) and Egypt's Sameh El Dahan (on Suma's Zorro), with no double-clear performances recorded throughout the duration of the competition.

It was all over by the time Qatar’s third-line rider had completed his second course however.

Al Emadi’s Tamira was foot-perfect meaning as Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani rode into the ring he was jumping for both the Olympic and Furusiyya qualifications. This he did by steering Vienna Olympic home just fractionally over the time-allowed for a single time fault.

His team’s score could now be no more than eight, but Bassem Hassan Mohammed reduced it to just three faults when negating Al Rumaihi’s single error with a fabulous jumping clear from Palloubet D’Halong for just one time fault when last to go for his side.

Abdullah Al Sharbatly led Saudi Arabia into the second round with that clear round from Tobalio. They added just eight fault to add to their first-round scoreline, meaning their final 25 faults would be good enough to secure that second slot at for September’s showpiece final.

The next leg – the third, of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2015 series will take place at Coapexpan in Mexico on Friday 24 April.

1. Qatar 5 faults

2. Ukraine 19

3. Egypt 21

4. France 23

5. Saudi Arabia 25

5. Germany 25

7. Italy 42

8. Netherlands 57

1. Qatar 100

2. Saudi Arabia 90

3. Jordan 80

4. United Arab Emirates 70