Jordanian and Egyptian clubs provided the crowds at the Arab Women Sports Tournament 2018 (AWST) with a superb range of riding skills in the show-jumping events to clinch gold medals in individual and team competitions held on the third day of the fourth, and largest, edition of the tournament, which runs until February 12.Held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA) and Chairperson of Sharjah Women’s Sports Foundation (SWSF), this year’s AWST has seen some thrilling equestrian contests.The winners of the Intro Individual, team show-jumping and the Grand Prix were awarded their medals and trophies by Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Head of AWST’s Supreme Organising Committee, accompanied by Sheikha Hayat Bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa, Head of the AWST Supervisory Committee and member of Bahraini Olympic Committee, Abdullatif Al Hammadi, Director of Etisalat’s Public Relations, Dr. Abdul Aziz Al Muhairi, Secretary General of the National Anti-Doping Committee, Sultan Al Yahyae, General Manager of the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club and HE Nada Askar Al Naqbi, Deputy Chairperson of AWST’s Supreme organizing Committee and Director General of SWSF.
The Intro Showjumping competition, with fence heights of 90-100cm,worth a total of AED 50,000 prize money, was fiercely contested by 20 riders, 12 of whom reached the final. Riding her horse Kissinger, Equestrian Lian Al Momani from Jordan’s Arabian Horse Club finished first in 33.008 seconds, winning the gold medal and a cash prize of AED 12,500.Emirati rider Methaq Al Hajiri, riding ‘Belize’, finished second witha time of 35 seconds, winning the silver medal and a cash prize of AED 10,000.Another Emirati, Kenna Al Hashimi, came third on her mount ‘Kambiana’ completing the course in 35.026 seconds and no faults, taking home AED 7,500.Eleven top Arab riders competed in the Grand Prix event, with fences 120-125cm, worth a total of AED75,000 prize money. Ten jockeys reached the differentiation round, with Egyptian Farah Mustafa and ‘Kwabitola’ taking first place with a time of 39.01 seconds. She was awarded the gold medal and AED20,625. Just two secondsadrift was Jordanian Olympic rider Sara Al Armoution ‘Tokyo’, who finished in 41.017 seconds, with a silver medal and AED 15,000.On her horse, ‘Dogara’ Emirati rider Iman Al Muhairi finished third in 41.03 to win a bronze medal and a cash prize of AED 11,250. Champion equestrians from Jordan’s Arabian Horse Club won the gold medal in the team show-jumping competition, followed by Sharjah Sports Women’s Club, who came in second place and the horse riders of Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club who secured bronze.