The Dubai Duty Free Grand Prix concluded yesterday with William Funnell claiming the top honors. The DDF Grand Prix is the main event of the  Al Maktoum Show Jumping Challenge. The even being held at the Emirates Riding Centre concluded late on Friday. After a riveting jump off, William emerged the victor astride his horse Tibor to claim this most coveted prize. Earlier in the afternoon, The National Bank Of Dubai Team Relay thrilled the large crowd.

Teams of three riders entered the arena at the same time to jump the same course one by one. As soon as the feet of the first horse touched the ground after the last fence the next was free to take off over the first so good timing was essential. Any rider that looked to be slow to start was quickly urged on by the crowd and commentator Tom Hudson, whose dulcet tones are more usually heard at Hickstead and the Horse Of the Year Show at Olympia in Great Britain. The team of David Andrews partnered with Lady Maid Marion, Saif Omar Thabit on Djebelle Corubert and Abbas Essa with Tawi went into an early lead in a time of 136.92.

Abbas and the amazing Tawi, able to turn quicker than any horse in the entire show, took the last leg and really flew around the jumps to keep the teams time down. All those that followed made a mighty effort to match their time but they either incurred penalties by kicking out the poles or couldn't make the turns and by the end of the competition the team of David, Saif and Abbas emerged the overall winners. The fences were then raised to a height of 1.35m for the Dubai Duty Free Grand Prix. A testing course of 12 fences, including a double and a treble, needed to be cleared by riders who had saved their best horses to try for this most prestigious prize, which carried a purse of Dhs 15,000 for the winner. First to enter the arena was Abdullah Humaid on Quatro H, winners of the Equitrans Masters class the previous evening.

The pair made a good start, soaring over fence after fence and leaving them up. The crowd were poised to cheer as he approached the last obstacle but that cheer turned to a groan when a small mistake by Quatro H kicked out the last pole, costing them a chance in the jump off. By the end of the first round, only eight horses from a field of 45 had gained a clear round to go into the jump off against the clock. As 10% of the entries traditionally go through, the three fastest riders with four faults were also given a chance to jump, with the slate wiped clean putting everyone on an equal footing. The riders position in the jump off was decided by their time in the previous round, it being deemed an advantage to go late in the class.

An early round by local rider Mufta Al Dhaheri riding Quinta had the crowd cheering as he finished clear in a time of 78.49, good enough for eventual fourth place. A favourite to win the class was Saudi Olympic bronze medallist Khalid Al Eid aboard his horse Naeem, and he didn't disappoint, giving an excellent display of horsemanship to race into the lead with a time of 76.74. Following Khalid into the arena came World Champion Dermott Lennon mounted on Impact and the crowd went quiet as he approached the first fence. Showing all the skills that won him the World Championships in Jerez last September, Dermott cut every corner to finish in a time of 77.94 as the lead changes hands yet again.

Next to go, William Funnell with his young bay horse Tibor had it all to do as he started his round. Tibor answered every question and jumped his heart out as William pulled out all the stops and a mighty cheer came from an appreciative crowd as he raced into the lead with a time of 75.98. Last to go was UAE rider Hamad Al Kirby on Henreb who knew he would have to make an all out effort if he was to emerge the victor. He made a spirited attempt but a couple of small mistakes meant two fences down for eight faults, leaving William Funnell and Tibor the deserving winners.