Shaktiman 35th All India Police Equestrian Championship: Bhagwan is top show
Rider Bhagwan Singh won the top honours in Show Jumping Novice Top Score event at the Shaktiman 35th All India Police Equestrian Championship and Mounted Police Duty Meet being held at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad. Riding his horse Wood Stock, Bhagwan finished the course with 640 points in just below 80 seconds.
The Show Jumping Novice Top Score event saw many beginners trying their best to collect the maximum points by targeting Joker Fence Post, jumping over which would give them 200 points. But Chandigarh’s Bhagwan Singh succeeded in getting past his rivals with two jumps over the Joker Post. Assam Rifle Rider Lakhbir Singh, Rajasthan’s Babloo Ram stood second and third place respectively.
Earlier in the Day, Rajasthan’s Bhag Chand won the Show Jumping Medium (normal) event with a convincing margin. The Tent Pegging individual trophy was won by Assam Rifle Rider Dinesh who rode Rampage impressively.
Rajasthan Riders also won the Medley Relay event in style as BSF team ‘B’ and ITBP team ‘A’ clinched second and third places respectively. The Medley Relay comprises three segments to be completed by three different riders with the baton to be carried from start to finish. First test would be to clear the 10 drums in a zigzag manner, second is to complete all 10 jumping fences and in the third one, the rider has to strike an object at full gallop. Rajasthan team finished the full course in 02:01.42 minutes but one fault at a jumping fence cost them a 5-second penalty.
As many as 18 teams from various States and Central Para-military Forces are in fray at the championship in which 290 horses and 460 riders are taking part.
The Equestrian Police Championship includes competition in Dressage, One Day Event, Show Jumping Event, Tent Pegging and Hacks. The Mounted Police Duty Meet events include, Police Horse Tests, Quadrille Competition, Medley Relay, Competition for Farriers and Syces and Mental Hazard Competition among others. The meet will conclude on January 10 after the Tent Pegging team event session.
