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Photo: Grasso Shahil (Maysoun x Shahila), the European Straight Egyptian Champion
The good news first: It was a beautiful show in a magnificent setting. An audience of thousands entered the arena of Nimes, France. It was the first weekend in March – spring was in the air, the first show of a new season. You could see happy and relaxed faces everywhere. "Show-stress" hadn‘t spoiled anyone’s fun. Everything was new and exciting again – like this event.This was the first time Christiane Chazel had organized a "European Championship for straight Egyptian Arabians". Well over 100 horses from France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium, even from Egypt, were entered and made their pilgrimage to Nimes. Who wouldn't want to win this special title? The prestigious title of "Egyptian European Champion". this was certainly something special to be won! Two well-known "Egyptians" were selected to judge the horses: Walter Schimanski – a passionated breeder for years – and Judith Forbis. Both made the journey from the USA to Nimes to enjoy and judge the horses.According to the "big brother" - the Egyptian Event in Kentucky – there were offered some classes for Egyptian related horses. however, the majority of the contenders were straight Egyptians, representing a variety of Europe's most prominent bloodlines. But now for the bad news: It was disappointing that the quality of the horses wasn't always equal to the international standard. It was also unfortunate that some of the Arabians nominated for the "straight" classes were not entitled to do so. Please donīt get me wrong: I really donīt want to depreciate other bloodlines. Everyone should breed the bloodlines they favours, no question. But if you organize an event for straight Egyptians, the organizers should check all pedigrees to ensure correct status of the entered individuals, thus eliminating any confusion at the time of judging. However, confusion reigned! I counted at least five "related"horses in the straight Egyptian classes! One example for this mistake was the charming stallion Mahal (Ibn Moheba x Ma-Jamila by Jamil x Mastura by Saher). The well-known stallion Saher (Ghazal x Sahmet) in this case would be the "fly in the ointment". He is considered not as straight Egyptian because of his tail female line (although recognised by the Asil Club). At the beginning of his class, someone had a look at Mahal's pedigree - so poor Mahal said goodbye to the straight Egyptian ring. Not to be thwarted, he won second place in his "related" class (to the Champion Stallion Ben Shai). But the mare Sayoome (Ibn Shaker I x Saymoona) – again with Saher in the pedigree – not only started in the straight Egyptian class, but a selection of her progeny were nominated also. And the list could go on...The next time not only the organizer, but the owners (!) too, should have a look at the horses‘ pedigrees. This would eliminate all concern and embarrassment!
Photo: Grasso The beautiful Frasera Futura (Shahil x Ansata Nefer Isis) - second in her class
But now for the horses. The Junior Female Championship was arwarded to the three year old Hikuptah Shaylana (Shaik Al Jiwan x Bint Shahila by Maysoun) owned by Lionel Battaia. A totally charming, very typey filly with a beautiful face. A little dancer! Deserved applause accompanied her victory pass. Hikuptah Shaylana is a very balanced filly with a wonderful front. She didn't lack competition! The line-up included such beauties as the petite charmer Frasera Futura (Shahil x Ansata Nefer Isis) – second in the Three-year-old class – and the striking Desert Zaya (by Ansata Hejazi), who won the Two-year-old Filly class. But the Reserve Champion went to the beautifully refined Frasera Neferet (winner of the Yearling class). A full sister to Frasera Futura and another lovely horse from Dr Santoro’s Frasera stud in Italy. Now proudly owned by the Italian breeder Aldi Aldo (yes, thatīs his real name). The colts, on the whole, were not of the same high quality, although there were some fine individuals to be found. Paola Pellegrini’s MP Nar’e (Shahil x Bint Bafadi by AK Bafadi) from Italy took the Junior Male Championship with Desert Edfou (Ahmous x Thebes) in Reserve. Desert Edfou’s tail-female line can be traced back to Germany’s famous Moneera, one of the most beautiful Alaa El Din daughters of all time. On Sunday some outstanding broodmares came forward to contest the two classes. The Senior Mares were undoubtedly the strongest class of the day, having quality all down the line. The winner was the fleabitten grey Flaby‘s Shammari (Sar Ibn Moniet x Maari Moniet). One of Europe’s few Sar Ibn Moniet daughters and a fairylike beauty. She is owned by Anne Avian and Claude Dominique of France. Not surprisingly, this lovely lady took the Championship. The Reserve Champion was the chestnut mare Farah El Din (UP Ibn Galal Son x Bint Doniazad). An athletic and well built mare, but without the feminity of the Champion. Farah El Din is owned by Mathilde Anfrianoff also of France.
Photo: van Lent The well-known Ibn Barrada was third in his class
Lovely mares and beautiful youngsters are wonderful, but when stallions appear they always exert a special attraction. So it was in Nimes, too. Entering the ring, some of the older stallions immediately caught everyone’s eye – curving their necks, walking very fast with small steps, and nearly dancing around the handlers, yet always with their eyes on the stallions in front - the challengers. The typey Shahil (Maysoun x Shahila) won the class for Stallions of 1990 and older, in front of the El Zahraa imports Omran El Thany (Aybac x Eshk) and Ibn Barrada (Gad Allah x Sarrada). And finally, he also took the ultimate title of 1999 European Straight Egyptian Champion Stallion. Shahil is a glorious stallion who, quite apart from winning literally everything (he was Reserve European Champion and Italian National Champion), is also readily proving himself as a sire. He is the sire of the aforementioned fillies, Frasera Futura and Frasera Neferet and of the Junior Champion Colt, MP Nar’e. Everyone loved him and he got more applause than any other horse in the show. He was bred by Karin and Günter Maiworm of Germany and is owned by Dr Santoro of Italy.
Photo: Grasso Mashar (Madkour I x Asra Medina) won the Reserve Championship
Reserve Champion became the superb grey Mashar (Madkour I x Asra Medina by Maysoun), winner of the Four-to-Eight-year-old class. He is one of the best sons of the late Madkour I. He brought the house down and exuded Arabian type at every movement. A splendid character with a chiseled face and his tail - always straight in the air. A Reserve Champion, well deserved. He, too, was bred in Germany and is now owned by Christian Sorio of Italy.
Photo: Sachs The winner of the "Get of sire" class - Shaik Al Jiwan
The Champion of the "Get of sire" class came as a surprise, going to the charming stallion Shaik Al Jiwan (Ansata Omar Halim x Ansata Wanisa). He resided in Germany for several years, but was not a success as a sire. He now stands in France and is siring excellent foals. For example... Hikuptah Shaylana, as mentioned, won the Junior Championship for "straights" and his daughter Hikuptah Jade reigned supreme as the "related" Junior Champion of this show. They were bred and owned by Lionel Battaia, the current owner of Shaik Al Jiwan. A winning combination!
Please click here for the complete results!
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