When the whole Europe was focused on the spectacular European Championships on two other continents important events took place with some horses well known from European showrings competing. Due to their non-European countries of origin they were not allowed to take part in the European championships. On 10-18 October in Jordan the Middle Eastern Championships were held organized by the Royal Stables in

Amman under the patronage of HRH Princess Alia Al Hussein. There were mainly Middle Eastern bred and owned horses entered but some of international show stars also appeared as Shownel or Savio owned by Prince Abdullah bin Fahd of KSA, that were not long ago competing at All Nations Cup in Aachen. The horses were cheered by international

spectators and some local celebrities as popular Middle Eastern TV series actor Samer el Masri. The visitors complimented well organized show and the spectators who were not cheering their favorites too noisy as in the western shows. Also one hour long TV transmission was run by Jordanian tv channel spread across the gulf.

Both All Nations Cup contenders got the champion trophies at the Middle Eastern Championships – Shownel being junior champion in front of Cinnamon N Spice VLA from Jordan, whose stable mate inbred to Magnum Psyche – Martix LL, was junior champion colt in front of US bred Najifem Al Mohamadia by Marwan Al Shaqab. Also Al Mohamadia owned

Savio got the champion title at senior stallions beating World junior champion 2003 – Insh Allah born in Sweden owned by Al Khalediah Stables, KSA. Amongst senior mares also non-Middle Eastern bred horses were the winners – German bred Saida Bint Shahlia was the champion in front of US bred halfsister of the famous Khidar TS Madeleine, owned by Al Mohamadia Stud.

Also some other well recognized in Europe show contenders took part in the ME Championships – as Juwanda OS by WH Justice, class top five All Nations Cup this year and her paternal halfbrother Preemium, Top Ten World Championships 2007, who was fourth in Aachen this year. This time they took 2nd and 1st places.

Results:

Junior Female Champion
Shownel (Showkayce – WR Jullane)
Junior Reserve Female Champion
Cinnamon N Spice VLA (First Cyte – Cinnamon Candy V)

Junior Male Champion
Matrix LL (Magnum Chall HVP – Estancia LL)
Junior Reserve Male Champion
Naif Al Mohamadia (Marwan Al Shaqab – Maria el Besson)

Senior Female Champion
Saida Bint Shahlia (Classic Shadwan – Ansata Shahlia)

Senior Reserve Female Champion
TS Madeleine (Ansata Sinan – Thee Sharaqa)

Senior Male Champion
Savio (Dreamcatcher SMF – OM El Shadina)
Senior Reserve Male Champion
Insh Allah (Asshal Al Rayyan – India)

In the meantime on 17th October the 42 US Nationals took place cross the ocean. After nearly 40 years of being run in Louisville (Kentucky) and Albuquerque (New Mexico), this time it was moved to Expo Square in Tulsa (Oklahoma). Besides the place there were few other controversial changes. The show was judged in European 20 points scoring system that made Americans used to the comparative one a bit confused as well as Europeans being surprised by some high points for certainly different than European type of US bred horses.

There was also a rumor about the new AHA rules for photographers that were not allowed to take pictures in the ring but only one official. This caused that most of them were taking pictures hiding themselves and so they don’t want to place their names on the photos – as one of US well known photographers who provided us with the pictures for this news.

There were also some comments from the exhibitors and attendants that Tulsa is not very lucky place to organize the show as it’s a middle of nowhere considering the area of farms and training stables around being always visited by those who came to the event not only to see the horses in the ring but also to make some deals.

Hopefully the big stars appeared in top condition and the results were nothing new… For the third time in a row the US Junior Champion Stallion became DA Valentino (Versace – DA Love), that caused a question if really, in a country of the largest number of pure bred registered horses there is no young stallion to beat Valentino?
The reserve title went to also controversial due to his strongly inbred to Gazal Al Shaqab pedigree – EKS Bay Al Gazal (Marwan Al Shaqab – Starbright Bey).

Eden C, used in Janów Podlaski recently was not competing in this category but became Arabian Futurity Colt Breeding Champion in front of a Padrons Psyche stablemate – Ever After NA (Sir Fames HBV – Entaicyng NA) owned by North Arabians.
US National Yearling Colt was NW Siensei by Gazal Al Shaqab, in front of well moving Marwan Al Shaqab son – OFW Magic Wan by Orrion Farms.

US National Senior Champion became the second one handled by David Boggs – LD Pistal (Magnum Psyche – Halana), who has beaten the big favorite World Champion Dakharo, twice Reserve and Arabian Breeders World Cup in Las Vegas Champion brought by his owners Al Khalediah Stables again. There were also no surprises in senior mares when the national champion title went to Major Love Affair (DS Major Affire – HL Infactuation),

who has beaten another big favorite mare – JJ La Estrella also managed by David Boggs. US National Yearling Filly title went to Princess Of Marwan by Marwan Al Shaqab, in front of Da Vinci FM granddaughter Miss Giovanna by MPA Giovanni while the title of the Junior Champion Mare was presented to French Psylk (Echo Magnifficoo – Indianne Psylk), in front of Russian/Polish bred Broken Promises PGA.

This time Poland had no representatives in this national show of one of the most important Arabian horse breeding country in the world.