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:
“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 Mohammed 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.
Second was a ‘Touch of Class’ team from Emirates Equestrian Centre starring Shakira Muller on Ballinteskin Rocky, Lilian Sternvad on Foxy, Lesley Sayle on Roma, also competing in the Elementary class on the Tuesday and her sister Lynn Al Redha this time riding Filou.
Third place went to the ‘Odd Bods’ from Desert Palm made up of Madeline Wilson on Minstrel, Sarah Crone on Jigsaw, Joanne Ivemey on Covers Rocket and Ruth Curran on Connie.
The second day UAE Dressage Championship was a resounding success. Once again there were four titles on offer in Prelim Senior, Novice, Elementary and Advanced Medium levels.
Ruth Taylor on Igor De Banney from Al Asayl was the deserved winner of the Preliminary Senior Championship. The combination was on form two weeks ago winning the Novice class and once again the duo performed consistently to produce an accurate and smooth test.
Second place went to and Lesley Jones and riding Kengarth Danielle, followed by Jo McGowan on Donovan and Sarah Crone on Jigsaw in third and fourth respectively.
Charlotte Drakeley chose to ride her pony Cennan Alarch in the Novice class even though she had also qualified for the Prelim Junior class. This put her up against some tough competition, but the pair were never really in any doubt of the top ribbon.
The three other places fell to Ruth Curran on Connie, Elahi Ramzani on Tao Babalao and Vicky Hamilton on WestWind.
Rebecca Eickhoff and Senator took the Elementary Championship with two steady and accurate tests. Closely behind Eickhoff in 2nd place was Lesley Sayle on the mare Roma with 3rd place going to Christel Langlois on Kahraman and 4th to Marit Lindbom on Mer Mer.
The last Championship of the evening was for the Advanced Medium horses. With only two competitors coming through to this final it was no now or never for both.
Cristina Thompson rode Quirenz Z for their third competition together, and had to put all her sound knowledge of horsemanship into play to take the title from Duaa Anwar and Fanegro.
Thompson explained that her horse ”is happy to please and always wants to work, but it still at present very young and green at this level”.
Michael Jackson who is the Marketing Director of Union Properties was on hand on both days to award the rosettes and trophies to all the competitors and was in high praise of the event.
“Union Properties is all about attention to detail and excellence which is the same in dressage, the synergy between horse and rider.
“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 Mohammed Lamirich competed in the Pure Bred Arab final the night before”.
Paul McAuley, Manager of the Emirates Equestrian Centre says:
“Once again, we would like to thank our valued sponsor, Union Properties for their continued support throughout the season and particularly for sponsoring this prestigious event”.