Hunt wins open class riding event

Dubai: Desert Palm's own rider Becky Hunt won the open class at the riding school's first one-day eventing competition.

In the first in a series of four events, Hunt on Super Deluxe produced the best time in the cross-country round to take the honours ahead of Natalie Christodoulou on her own horse Nakich Quattro Nuevo, from Al Hamra Stables, and Laura Jurs on Desert Palm's Bally Gally.

All the open class competitors were within one percentage point of each other after the dressage and all completed the perfect show jumping round to enter the cross country phase on equal jumping penalties. All also went clear on the cross country, so the places were decided on the final round times.

Best time

The second class jumping the 80cm phase of the competition was made up of a record 25 riders. At the end of the dressage phase, the lead rider was Attila Kinyo on Zakarado from Zabeel and, with a perfect show jumping round, entered the cross country in the lead — only for a stop at the water to drop him down to overall sixth place.

Desert Palm livery client Jacquie Quinn grasped first place with her clear show jumping round and a great cross country clear, with the best time closely followed by first-time junior rider Bromyn Buys Du Pleessis on Rhythm of Sport from Jebel Ali Equestrian Centre.

Rona Newton completed the cross country with the same points as Bronwyn, but with one fence down in the show jumping, her horse Memasse secured third place.

Gaia Rondard on Susi from Desert Palm rode the second best dressage and, with only four faults in the show jumping, she completed the cross country course without any penalties and in the quickest time. Emmanuelle Demay on Jazz from Desert Palm was second and Katrin Jahn from EEC third on Ghareeb.

The next round will be held at Desert Palm Resort on January 13 and will be open to the public. For details contact Vicky Duke at ridingschool@desertpalmllc.com