GHANTOOT // Sheikha Latifa bint Ahmed said Saturday’s victory in the President of the UAE Showjumping Cup at Ghantoot made up for the country’s disappointment in missing out on qualifying for the Olympics.
On Thursday, the UAE finished fifth among six teams from North Africa and the Middle East in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup as Qatar booked their spot at Rio 2016.
But on Saturday, Sheikha Latifa mastered a course where there were three clear rounds out of 50 competitors to finish two seconds clear of Lars Nieberg.
Sheikha Latifa, the only UAE rider to make it through to the jump-off of the five-star grand prix, said she was inspired by the home crowd.
“After our performance in the Nations Cup on Thursday, this win really lifted our spirits as a country, we needed this win,” she said.
“Winning at home is different. When you have your home crowd behind you, it’s just a completely different feeling.”
Sheikha Latifa and her mount Peanuts de Beaufour have been a combination for seven years, while she has been coached by French world champion Eric Levallois for the past 12.
Levallois praised Sheikha Latifa’s work ethic.
“She is a real worker, she is in the stable every morning at 7am, she deserved this win with Peanuts,” he said.
Nieberg and Nabab de Revel had two double clear rounds but were two seconds slower than Sheikha Latifa.
“Unfortunately, I did not manage to watch Sheikha Latifa’s round as I was warming my horse up, so I had no idea how fast she was, but my aim was to go clear and I am happy with my result,” Nieberg said.
After knocking two fences down in the jump-off, Morocco’s Abdelkebir Ouaddar and Quickly de Kreisker had to settle for third place.
Friday had a three-star grand prix that Russia’s Vladimir Tuganov and his horse Bluebuster won. Tuganov was one of two riders to have a double clear, making it a two-horse jump-off.
Second place went to Nieberg and Galipo 5, making the rider’s trip from Germany worthwhile with two sets of prizes.
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