The iron self-discipline of the team cracked visibly into broad grins of joy as their final round confirmed their place. As one of the 15 equestrian teams to take part in the games, they confirmed their position in the top level of world show jumping.

The Group F (Africa and Middle East Region) FEI Select Olympic Qualification event held in the Qatari capital of Doha saw the team finish in the gold medal position, more than enough to secure their qualification. News of officially qualifying for the Olympics follows earlier success in Doha: The Saudi Equestrian team claimed the coveted Nations Cup and Abdullah Al Sharbatly won the Grand Prix. It is the third time that Saudi Arabia has reached the Olympics in show jumping.

“This is a milestone for Saudi Equestrian and our country. We are all thrilled that the years of preparation have paid off,” said Saudi Equestrian’s managing director, Ziyad Abduljawad, himself a former show-jumper. “There are impressive and formidable show jumping teams lined up for the 2012 Summer Olympics and Saudi Arabia is proud to have the opportunity for our nation to compete on the world stage,” he concluded Although the team secured its Olympic place in grand style, the joy of gold was not unalloyed. In a tense Qatar’s Ali Al Rumaihi filched the gold in the individual show-jumping event to the delight of his Doha home crowd at the 12 Pan Arab Games that ended on December 23 and preceded Friday’s Olympic Qualifier.

Saudi Equestrian’s Kamal Bahamdan cleared the jump-off clocking 47.97s, with only the experienced Asian Games gold medalist Al Rumaihi left to jump. He proved well up to the task with a clear round of 47.17 seconds on Ravenna, slipping under Bahamdan’s potential winning time. This left the Saudi team with silver and bronze, but more importantly from their point of view, a confirmed place in the London Olympics in August.

Bahamdan took the silver on Noblesse des Tess and Prince Faisal Al Shalan, on Aphrodite Van Het Texelhof secured the bronze in a tight jump off against Jordanian Ibrahim Bisharat.

Prince Faisal and Bisharat both collected four-point penalties in the jump-off, but Prince Faisal shaved 0.18 seconds off his challenger’s time, which was enough to slot him into bronze position.

Reflecting on his round Prince Faisal was modestly self-critical. “Until the very last fence, I was the gold medalist because my timing was better than the silver and the gold, but I took a risk at the last fence and paid the price,” said Faisal.

He noted that he did win a medal. “But it’s a bronze medal, and for some reason, the bronze always tastes somewhat sour. But I am still happy, with so many medals on the team.” “All of us in Saudi Arabia are overjoyed that the Saudi Equestrian Team has officially qualified to compete with the world’s best in show jumping at the 2012 London Olympics,” said Prince Faisal bin Abdullah bin Muhammad Al Saud, Chairman of Saudi Equestrian Board of Trustees.

“Our riders and horses continue to achieve impressive results in top level international events. They have earned their place along with the other 14 show jumping teams competing in the Olympics.” He added that horses and horsemanship hade always been closely woven into the culture and history of Saudi Arabia.

“We are proud that Saudi Equestrian will be representing the nation in this exciting equestrian event at the Summer Olympics.” 15 show jumping teams are now lined up for the Summer Olympics. They include the host nation and five teams, Germany, France, Belgium, Brazil and Canada, who automatically qualified from securing the top five places at last year’s FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington.

The Saudi team took 8th position at these Games.  Saudi Equestrian was founded in November 2009 to take the team through the 2010 World Equestrian Games and prepare for the 2012 Olympics. Six riders comprise the Saudi Equestrian team, including previous 2000 Sydney Olympic bronze medalist Khaled Al Eid and 2010 World Equestrian Games silver medalist Abdullah Al Sharbatly. Saudi Equestrian has its training facility at Haras de Wisbecq, Belgium and is backed up by dedicated support staff that includes experienced trainers, management, grooms, farriers and vets.