Ayo Victor
Doha: The FEI Regional Group VII Finals for Junior, Youth, and Young Riders, part of the 2025-2026 equestrian season, concluded on Saturday at the Longines Arena in Al Shaqab.
The four-day championship brought together more than 100 riders from across the region and offered a total prize fund of €318,000.
The final day opened with the local junior class at 120cm, where Qatari rider Khalid Nasser Al-Khater claimed first place in 35.12 seconds aboard Dancing Queen. His compatriot Mohammed Faisal Al-Marri finished second (37.95 seconds on Duke G), while fellow Qatari Ahmed Ali Al-Jaber took third (36.61 seconds on Ryan). The winners were crowned by Zaid Abu Zaid, President of the Syrian Arab Equestrian Federation.
In the Junior Individual Final for the seventh regional group, Emirati rider Hassan Majid Al-Nuaimi secured the title with a time of 49.64 seconds on Griz. UAE rider Khalid Ahmed Al-Muhairi placed second (50.7 seconds on Velen), and Qatari rider Mohammed Hamza Al-Kuwari finished third (53.94 seconds on Gallet). The podium was presented by H E Sultan Mohammed Al Yahyaei, President of FEI Regional Group VII, and Tournament Director Sheikh Talal bin Khalid Al Thani.
Another Junior Individual Final saw Emirati rider Saleh Mufrej Al Karbi win gold in 44.62 seconds on Espresso. His compatriot Mohammed Saeed Al Ghurair took silver (46.62 seconds on Hazel de Luxe), while Saudi rider Abdulhadi Al Qahtani earned bronze (47.3 seconds on Wall C). Awards were presented by HE Sultan Mohammed Al Yahyaei and Mr. Khalid Abdullah Al Hitmi, Executive Vice President of Al Shaqab.
In the final Junior Individual class, Kuwaiti rider Hussein Al-Kharafi topped the podium with a time of 65.87 seconds on Revi. Qatari rider Ibrahim Yousef Al-Mahmoud placed second (52.34 seconds on Dorferheide), followed by fellow Qatari Abdullah Khalid Al-Jalandani in third (55.46 seconds on Cavalenia). The winners were crowned by HE Sultan Mohammed Al-Yahyaei and Sheikh Talal bin Khalid Al Thani.
Commenting on the event’s conclusion, HE Sultan Mohammed Al-Yahyaei said: “Over four days at the Longines Arena in Al Shaqab, we witnessed outstanding levels of competition from junior, youth, and young riders. They demonstrated exceptional readiness and the ability to compete with confidence and skill. Several riders reached the podium more than once, reflecting the development of their performance and consistency.”
Tournament Director Sheikh Talal bin Khalid Al Thani added that hosting the championships for the second consecutive year in Doha reflects confidence in Qatar’s organisational capabilities and infrastructure. He highlighted the introduction of a dedicated class for riders under 25 as a strategic step to support talent development across all age groups and create a platform for discovering new regional stars.
