RIYADH, 22 May 2004 — Prince Abdullah ibn Miteb underlined Kingdom’s supremacy by winning the Class A gold medal at the close of the International Challenge Cup at the Nawaf Equestrian and Archery Center here.
When the dust settled, all but two medals had been scooped up by the host riders in the two-day event sanctioned by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).
Out of the medals on opening day, a fired up Prince Abdullah rode extremely well aboard Aldafer to put in two clear rounds on the day.
Not even the difficult technical course that was reconfigured after the first round could stop Prince Abdullah, son of assistant commander of National Guard for military affairs and owner Prince Miteb ibn Abdullah, as he logged a fast clip of 48.15 seconds on his return ride.
Mohammad Al Halabi was the day’s other gold medalist having topped Class B with Romana. The prestigious cup, symbolic of overall victory, went to Prince Faisal ibn Saud Al Shallan in Class A and Saad Said Al Shaharani in Class B. The three overall winners in each category also received FEI World Jumping Challenge certificates of achievement.
The 16-year-old Prince Faisal, riding Cheakha, had a silver medal finish to go with his gold on the first day, while Shaharani, a chief warrant officer with the Saudi Army, produced two silver medal finishes thanks to his battle plan of going for the clear in all four rounds with Al Dorah.
A 13-year-old rider, Abdulrahman Al Jeraisy, created ripples when he placed second overall in Class B on the strength of his bronze medal finish with Allahib. In fourth place was Waleed Al Otabi with Hamad and in fifth spot was Fousan Mansour Al Mokaiti with Bond.
Lebanon’s Sarry Garanoh, atop Sandman, came in Class B third overall, and including his bronze on opening-day accounted for the only medals to escape the Saudi juggernaut.
Fahad Al Joaid claimed the Class A bronze with Malaq with Yousuf Saleh aboard Batman in fourth and Egypt’s Deah Amro Bashir with Thaera in fifth.
The affable Al Joaid, who won silver on the first day, was second overall to Prince Faisal, while first day’s fourth placer Prince Abdullah took third overall. The prize distribution ceremony was attended by twin brothers Prince Naif ibn Fawaz Al Shallan and Prince Saud, avid supporters of the sport of equestrian, and Omar Siraj Ghurab, PRO of event sponsor The National Commercial Bank.
Meanwhile, Prince Naif said the equestrian season is to end in three weeks’ time with the staging of the King Abdulaziz Cup and Championship for the Saudi Equestrian Federation Shield.
