It was Ahmad Saber Hamcho who raced to victory in the two star Grand Prix Equidia Life on Sunday. The Syrian rider was one of eleven riders that made it to the jump-off, after clearing the first round thirteen fence track that included a tricky triple combination at 8abc with an oxer – vertical – oxer and a combination at 12ab as the penultimate challenge.
German rider Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst was first to go in the jump-off on the lovely 8 year old Balermo (Baloubet du Rouet x Silvio I). Unfortunately the second fence fell to the ground, and Alois was left with four faults. The first clear came two riders later from Ahmad Saber Hamcho, who produced an incredible fast round on the sky-high jumping Quintus 81 (Quick Star x Grannus) – racing to the final fence and crossing the finish line on a lightning fast 36.76 seconds.
Nobody could match the time set by Ahmad; Albert Zoer came the closest on Wollie Bollie (Cantos x Zuidhorn) with a clear round at 38.14 seconds – ending as runner-up. French rider Anne Sophie Godart was pushed down to third by the Dutch rider, she produced a clear round at 38.53 seconds on Carlitto van´t Zorgvliet (Burggraaf x Cheenook).
It is worth noting that Hamcho was the first ever Syrian equestrian to participate in the 2012 Olympic Games which was staged in London.
Hamcho achieved remarkable results in the said event especially in the first round.