ABU DHABI 26 February 2018: Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy (FBMA, organizers of the FBMA International Show Jumping Cup 2018 have confirmed the individual categories for the over 180 world-class riders that will compete at this year’s Cup on 1, 2 & 3 March at the Al Forsan International Sports Resort.
One of the three Olympic equestrian disciplines – and not without a reason – Show Jumping comprises the most spectacular combination of courage, control and technical ability. At this fifth edition, the FBMA International Show Jumping Cup features six competing classes for female and male, local and international, young and adult riders similarly to last year’s competition.
The first category will feature children aged 12-14 years old competing for the opening trophy of the event in the CSICH style class, a mixed category with a maximum obstacles’ height of 1.15 metre, for a total prize fund of Dh30,000 at 9.00 am on 1 March and 14:00 2 March, sponsored by FBMA.
Young riders aged 16-21 years old, will also compete in a mixed category at 14.30am on 3 March. The CSIY-A class has a maximum height of 1.35 metre obstacles, for a total prize of Dh50,000 and is sponsored by Etisalat.
Juniors aged 14-18 years old will compete for a total prize of Dh50,000 in the third mixed category CSIJ with a maximum height of 1.25 metre obstacles, which is scheduled for 10am on Thursday 1 March and 15.30am on Friday 2 March. This class is sponsored by Healthpoint.
At 8am Friday 2 March, the CSIYH1* category will see young horses (6-7 years), 1 Star Mixed compete on maximum 1.30 metre obstacles’ height to win a total prize of Dh80,000, where the Special Two Phases is sponsored by UAEERF and the One Round Jump-Off is sponsored by Al Forsan International Sports Resort. This category will also compete at 09.00 am on Saturday 3 March.
The opening day, Thursday 1 March will also feature a National Special (UAE and International Female Riders) class for ladies only, with a maximum obstacles’ height of 1.25 metre for a total prize of AED 50,000, sponsored by Al-Shira’aa Stables. This category, scheduled at 3pm and 3.30pm on subsequent days, will be open to both UAE national and international ladies, however, by competing in this category riders will not be eligible to compete in any of the CSIL2* classes.
The final all-ladies category, CSIL2*, will see International Ladies only compete in this 2–star class with a maximum 1.35 metre obstacles height for a total prize of Dh390,500 sponsored by Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) and Zahrat Al Khaleej.
This includes three class types, with two rounds on the first day, at 4.30pm and 6.30pm. and then 6:00pm and 7:00pm on Friday 2 March before the closing Grand Prix category CSIL2*LR.
Organized by FBMA with the support of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC), the Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEF), Abu Dhabi Media (ADM) and sponsored by Al-Shira’aa Stables and Etisalat, the event provides a special platform for female riders and showjumpers across the UAE and abroad. This year an estimated 180 riders from over 20 countries including UAE are expected to compete for the title and the prestigious prizes the Cup awards, totaling Dh650,500.
With higher levels of participation than ever before, this year’s prestigious event first held in 2013, the FBMA International Show Jumping Cup has enjoyed significant regional and international recognition, highlighted by an official endorsement from the International Federation for Equestrian Sports in 2015. Beginning as a ladies-only event, the competition recently expanded to include categories for men and children. This led to wider international participation in its 2017 edition, with 120 riders from over 20 countries.