Dubai: The first Day of the Union Properties-sponsored 2008 UAE National Dressage Championships saw a total of four competitions decided.
Lynn Al Redha continued her winning streak and rode to victory for the second time in as many years, taking home the 2008 UAE Dressage Championships on the black stallion Tartan Special.
Behind Al Redha was fellow Emirates Equestrian Centre riders Farah Al Kohjai on her own horse Paul Graf and Lilian Sternvad on Zorelli in third.
Shakira Muller made it two years in a row in the Prelim Junior Championship on the Emirates Equestrian Centre owned horse Ballinteskin Rocky. Muller rode a calm and smooth test to take victory, and said:
Busy evening
"I wish I had ridden more forward so the horse was smoother and more relaxed in his head, but was very happy overall with the performance". Second place went to Jenna Angle on Royal Crown, followed by Hope Revell on R.S. Mishaal and Courtney Delport on Desert Angel.
The Pure Bred Arab Class deservedly went to Edith Christmas on the lovely bay Stallion Maisan from Al Reef Stables. The pair was head and shoulders above the other three horses in the class, and the runner up places went to Katinka Bronge on Sugar Creek Willy, Amanda Brewer on Muttamayaz and then Mohammad Lamirich on Shamilah Aroma.
The last class of a very busy evening was the Team Championship. Each team consisted of one junior and three senior riders that qualified throughout the season by gaining points at each competition.
It seemed only fitting that the team of Arabian horses won the UAE title. All hailing from Al Reef stables, the team consisted of Charlotte Drakeley on Cennan Alarch who is competing in the Novice Championship; Edith Christmas on Maisan and who won the earlier Pure Bred Arab championship; Amanda Brewer on Muttamayaz also placed third in the Arab class and Cristel Langois on Kahraman who will be vying for the Elementary Championship on Tuesday.
Michael Jackson who is the Marketing Director of Union Properties was in high praise of the event.
"The standard is improving every year and it is especially good to see more new faces in the competition arena in particular the addition of two new male riders, one of which Mohammad Lamirich competed in the Pure Bred Arab final the night before".
