Abu Dhabi, The United Arab Emirates – January 25, 2026 – The Al Shira’aa International Horse Show CSI 4*-W & CSI 2* drew to a close on Saturday at Al Forsan International Sports Resort.
The €35,000 Pearl Tour Longines Ranking CSI 4*-W class, presented by the Presidential Court, delivered a high-calibre contest as 40 combinations took on the technical 1.45m track. Former world number one and Olympic champion Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) set an early benchmark as fifth to go, guiding the experienced Glamour Girl to an impressive clear in 80.16 seconds — a time that would prove impossible to catch.
Germany’s Sophie Hinners (GER), currently ranked inside the world’s top 25 and enjoying a podium-fuelled season in the UAE, mounted a late challenge from 39th draw to secure second place aboard Come Away Flamingo Z.
Ireland’s David Simpson (IRL), a regular fixture on Nations Cup teams and major international circuits, completed the podium in third place riding Pjotr van de Kruishoeve.
Over five days of competition, the Al Shira’aa International Horse Show welcomed more than 300 athletes from 38 countries and 450 horses, with thousands of spectators passing through the gates at Al Forsan International Sports Resort, reinforcing the event’s position as a key fixture on the international show jumping calendar. The Al Shira’aa Tour now looks ahead to its next stop at Al Shira’aa Le Lame Sagrantino in Italy at the end of April, with further updates and announcements to follow via @alshiraatour on Instagram.
Final Results – €35,000 Pearl Tour’s Presidential Court Prize CSI 4*-W
1) Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) & Glamour Girl – 0 – 80.16
2) Sophie Hinners (GER) & Come Away Flamingo Z – 0 / 0 – 81.52
3) David Simpson (IRL) & Pjotr van de Kruishoeve – 0 / 0 – 83.46
Source: Press Release by Hannah McCabe / Dark Horse Communications for the Al Shira’aa Tour
Photo: © Al Shira’aa Tour / Helen Cruden
