19 February 2021

8th FBMA International Show Jumping Cup kicks off at Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club

UAE RANKS TOP IN CSIJ-A

Friday, February 19^th 2021, Abu Dhabi – United Arab Emirates:

With an air of excitement, the 8th edition of Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy’s (FBMA) International Show Jumping Cup began competition yesterday at Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.

A veterinary examination to ascertain the health and physical eligibility of the horses was the first step to be carried out Thursday morning. The afternoon saw 90 riders compete in 3 categories as follows:

Category 1 - CSIYH1* with the prize money 30,000 AED and sponsored by Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club
Category 2 – CSIJ-A with the prize money 20,000 AED and sponsored by Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy
Category 3 – NATIONALS with the prize money 20,000 AED and sponsored by UAEEF – UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation.
Competition kicked off with (CSIYH1*) - (6YO / 125CM) and (7YO / 130cm) with prizes worth 30,000 AED, presented by Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club. 18 riders participated of which 6 succeeded to jump a clear round.

It came down to timing, as Chadi Ghraib from Syria claimed top spot on " Elite De Point” (7YO) with a time of 58.33 seconds. Tina Lund from Denmark took second place on "Even Flo HBR" (7YO) with a time of 61.92 seconds, and an impressive third place for Salem Ahmed al-Suwaidi from UAE on "Cooper" (6YO) with a time of 64.81 seconds

The second category, (CSIJ-A) presented by Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy included 18 riders, where Eisa Omran Al Owais from the UAE won the first place with a time of 59.18 seconds, Sheikh Khalid Sultan Khalid Sultan Alqassimi from the UAE won the second place with a time of 61.10 seconds, and Eisa Omran Al Owais from the UAE won the third place with a time of 61.94

Commenting on his win, Chadi Ghraib the first-place winner of (CSIYH1*) category, said: "I am very happy and pleased to returned and compete in this international cup, held for the eighth time here in Abu Dhabi. The level of competition has clearly progressed, and that’s the result of continuous training and preparation. I was also impressed by the event organization and the ability to host a large number of riders, under strict and safety precautions. A big thank you to the organizing committee and I wish all the best for the participating riders”.

HE Amal Abdul Qadir Al-Afifi, Board member of FBMA, said: “Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy has always been keen to support show jumping, enhance its status and emphasize its importance. It is an integral part of our culture and identity leaving no doubt that the establishment of the FBMA International Show Jumping Cup eighth edition, is a clear translation of the message and vision of good leadership. The event invests in empowering new generations in the UAE to emerge in the sport of our ancestors and to preserve the great legacy they left for us."

She continued saying: “The Emirates has been, and continues to be at the highest level of efficiency and professionalism in organizing equestrian championships. In these exceptional circumstances, we will be on time and proactively equipped for a special and successful eighth edition. The provision of safety for all participants through the application of the health protocol adopted with the utmost accuracy, adhering to the precautionary measures has been a major priority. We take this opportunity to thank all the organizers and all supporting partners from various government and private departments and entities”.

The event will see another set of competitions on Friday and Saturday, where riders will compete in different categories for their significant trophies. No members of the public are able to attend and a number of measures were put in place to ensure the safe running of the show. Face coverings were mandatory for all course walks and venue, and multiple sanitizing stations have been installed around the site.

For those who are keen to watch some live action and who can’t attend because of current restrictions, the FBMA International Show Jumping Cup will be livestreamed from the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club every day on FBMA YouTube channel. You can also follow #FBMASJ21 on all social media handles.

The cup is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and Chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and under the guidance of HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairwoman of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy and the President of the Abu Dhabi and the Al Ain Ladies Clubs.

The eighth FBMA International Show Jumping Cup relishes great support from the strategic partners; Abu Dhabi Sports Council, UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, International Federation for Equestrian Sports, Longines, Al Shira’aa Stables, Abu Dhabi Media Company, YAS TV, Zahrat Al Khaleej, in addition to; Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Burjeel Hospital and Abu Dhabi Civil Defense Authority.