Five-month contract: OLYMPIC CHAMPION TO TRAIN SHAIKH HASSAN

Bahraini show jumper, Shaikh Hassan bin Rashid Al Khalifa, has signed a five-month training contract with current Olympic Champion Ben Maher who won a gold medal in the Team Jumping event riding Tripple X at the 2012 London Olympics.

The team captain has also finalised a five-show agreement with the Global Champions Tour (GCT), considered to be the F1 series of the show jumping world, making him the first Bahraini rider to join the circuit.

Shaikh Hassan is the highest-ranked Bahraini rider on the Longiness World Ranking list and aiming to capitalise and improve on his recent successful form in the Arab League shows, which took place in the UAE, by training with one of the best riders in the sport and competing at the highest level possible.

The Bahraini number one will be competing in the same arenas as champions Ludger Beerbaoum, Marcus Ehning, Ben Maher, and Scott Brash, to name a few. These GCT competitions take place in many exotic locations throughout the world including Cannes, Monaco, London, Paris, and Rome where the Bahraini rider will be competing. He will also be based in Ben Maher’s private training yard in the UK.

Shaikh Hassan said: “I’ve had a great run of shows and managed to climb back up the Longiness World Ranking list. But I did that without a permanent coach and I think it’s time to take things to the next level. What better way of doing that than training and competing with the best.”

“It’s going to be a tough summer schedule with many competitions and many hours of training per week and we are going to be buying one or two new GP horses. I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead and will do my best to represent our flag to the best of my ability.”

Shaikh Hassan has successfully competed in individual GCT events in the past where he made history by becoming the first Bahraini to win at that level when he won the 135 GCT CSI1* in Valkenswaard, Netherlands during the 2010 summer season.

Shaikh Hassan for his success thanked the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF) for its continued support. He said: “I would like to thank BREEF Chairman Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa and show jumping committee chairman Shaikh Khalid bin Mohammed

Al Khalifa for supporting me and all the Bahraini riders in our sport and my family for their continued support.”