Brash, Maher, Allen and Lynch face off in Doha CSI5* this weekend

CHI stands for Concours Hippique International in French (‘International Equestrian Competition’), and Al Shaqab’s sixth edition of this event reflects the magnitude of what is billed as “the only equestrian competition of its kind in the Middle East and Asia region.” Indeed, the 2019 CHI Al Shaqab also includes top-level dressage and para dressage. “CHI AL SHAQAB has placed Qatar on the world’s equestrian map, and AL SHAQAB’s successful organizing of the event has boosted Qatar’s status as an international sports destination,” said Omar Al Mannai, CHI Al Shaqab 2019 Event Director. “The event also showcases Al Shaqab as a premier international equestrian competition venue, capable of attracting the world’s top-ranking riders in three Olympic equestrian disciplines.”

Among the 50 show jumpers from 17 countries who have 96 horses in the Persian Gulf nation are Great Britain’s Scott Brash, Ben Maher and Emily Moffitt, while the Emerald Isle’s Bertram Allen, Shane Breen, Michael Duffy, Michael G Duffy and Denis Lynch are also going after the big prize purses on offer. Those British and Irish riders will be going up against rivals such as World No.1 Steve Guerdat of Switzerland, Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander, Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet, Brazil’s Yuri Mansur, France’s Roger Yves Bost, Italy’s Alberto Zorzi, the Netherlands’ Maikel Van der Vleuten and Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann. The full entries list is here. 

In the CDI5* dressage competition, Hayley Watson-Greaves and Rubins Nite are the sole British athletes in Doha, while in the CPEDI3* para dressage event, Great Britain’s Julie Payne (with Pandora) and Amanda Shirtcliffe (Remi) are in the field of 21 riders, while Ireland will be represented by Tamsin Addison (Fahrenheit), Rosemary Jean Gaffney (Bink), Kate Kerr-Horan (Serafina T) and Michael Murphy (Rohan). To watch all the action live, see here.

“Para Dressage is a discipline that allows for fair competition and creates the opportunity for riders of all skills to achieve their goals in equestrian sport,” said al-Mannai. “There is a demand from this segment of our population to incorporate para dressage in our event. This is the third year Al Shaqab will be including this important Olympic discipline in the event and our facilities are geared to meet the needs of the participants.” Taking place alongside the CHI competition is the 2019 Asian Equestrian Federation (AEF) General Assembly, with Hamad bin Abdulrahman al-Attiyah, president of both the Qatar Equestrian Federation and the AEF, standing for re-election.