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Emirati riders raise the bar at FBMA Show Jumping

Emirati riders won top honours during the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy (FBMA) International Show Jumping Cup 2017 at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Saturday.
Emirati nationals bagged all top three positions in the CSIJ category for junior show jumpers aged between 14 and 18 years. With hurdles of 1.3m and total prize money of Dh30,000, Mohammed Osama Al Zabibi took first place, speeding around the course in 34.55 seconds on his horse Paprica. Riding Inka's Girl, Sultan Fadel Al Kaabi stood second following his first-place victory in Friday's event, this time arriving with a time of 35.70 seconds. Third place went to Ali Hamad Al Kirbi on Uxmal D'Ysieux at 47.36 seconds.
Al Zabibi said he has been preparing for a long time as it is one of the biggest events on his calendar. He said the importance of Emiratis engaging in equestrian sports and the many ways in which this contributes to local cultural heritage.
In the second round of the CSI Children's class (CSICH) aged 12-14 years, Omar Al Haj from Canada and his horse Stella 514 stood first by completing the 1.15m obstacle course in 34.90 seconds with a lead of more than five seconds. Coming in second place at 40.17 seconds was Emirati national Saif Awaida Mohammed Al Kirbi and his horse Solito, with third place being secured by Livia Pearson Smythe from Great Britain and her horse SSH Heartbeat with a time of 42.95.
In the Young Horse 1* category (CSIYH1*), six-year-old horses competed on a course of 1.2m hurdles, while seven to eight year-old horses leapt over hurdles of 1.3m. After winning first and third place in Friday's CSIYH1* class, Michael Pender from Ireland took first and second place with his horses Z Seven Canya Dance and Z Seven Caretina. Securing a total of Dh36,000 in prize money, Pender completed the course in 37.90 and 38.48 seconds. Coming in third place was Egyptian national Saed Saad, riding Diamond League around the stadium in 41.48 seconds.
The young riders' category (CSIY) began with riders 16 to 21 years soaring over a maximum hurdle height of 1.3 metres. The class was won by Abdul Rahman Ahmed Ameen from the UAE on Corando 11, who completed the course in 34.84 seconds and secured a cash prize of Dh8,400. Second place went to Michael Pender and Z Seven Cordanus V, completing the course in 37.12 seconds, with third place going to Hadi Nizam from Syria and his horse Wi Janda with a time of 38.89 seconds.
With 116 local and international riders competing, the fourth edition of the Cup saw highest number of participants.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com