Under the generous Patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, President of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), and Mother of the Nation, the annual FBMA International Show Jumping Cup concluded on Sunday following four days of scintillating competition.
His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan bin Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence of the United Arab Emirates; awarded the winners in first places.
H.E. Dr Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi; Patrick Aoun, Regional Brand Manager – Longines; Her Excellency Dr Omniyat Al-Hajri, Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy; H.E. Naema Abdulrahman Al Mansouri, Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy Board member and H.E. Amal Abdul Qadir Al-Afifi Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy Board member attended the Awarding ceremony.
The 11th edition of the event saw 233 of the planet’s best riders compete across four days in one of showjumping’s showpiece occasions, held this year at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club.
More than 300 horses competed across 19 classes in 6 different categories, with a total prize fund of AED 700,000 given out.
The UAE was well represented across the course of the competition with 97 riders, 44 male and 53 female.
The event categories included: CSICH-A, CSIJ-A, CSIY-A,* Nationals Special, CSIYH1* and the main showpiece CSIL2*.
An incredible 39 countries were represented across the four days of competition, an increase of five from last year’s edition, offering a special platform for local and international riders and showjumpers.
The final day’s biggest prize was won by Chloe Vranken who took first place in the CSIL2* (One Horse per Rider) - One Round with Jump Off over the 140cm fences. The Belgian was faultless across her two rounds, recording a time of 38.35 in the second round to claim the 8,750 Euro prize on EMIR DE VY ahead of a strong 26-rider field. On Board JACARTA EQUIGENNE, Spain’s Maria Gonzalez laguillo finished in second, 0.57 seconds behind the leader, while Celine SCHOONBROODT- DE AZEVEDO made it a second Belgian in the top-three on COSENO-BLUE PS.
Great Britain’s Eve McCoy capped off a fine competition with victory in CSIL2* (One Horse per Rider) One Round with Jump Off, adding to her first place Accumulator finish on Saturday. On board COCKTAIL D' AZUR she produced two faultless rounds over the 120cm fences to push the UAE’s Maryam Ahmed Abdulmalik Ahli on DON JUAN 111 Z into second place – a time of 40.28 seconds in the jump off was just 0.22 ahead of the local rider. Greece’s Anna-Sophia Danalis took third on COCONUT 53.
In the CSIY-A (Two Horses Per rider) One Round with Jump Off, it was Syria’s Boushra Al Assad who took first place with two clean rounds to claim the 1200 Euro top prize. Riding CENTO DU ROUET Al Assad registered a time of 36.49 seconds in the second round – 0.26 seconds faster than the UAE’s Omar Abdulaziz Almarzooqi on CONCORDIA who claimed second place. Syria Sham Al Assad was third on URTIMACK DES ABBAYES in 37.10 seconds.
