Dubai The free-to-enter CSI***-W Dubai Show Jumping Championship makes its annual return to Emirates Equestrian Centre on Thursday January 28 and features three days of high-class show jumping coupled with fun for all the family.
Supported by Emirates airline as well as official watch and timekeeper, Longines and official newspaper, ‘Gulf News’ the Dubai Show Jumping Championship represents the highlight of the Dubai show jumping scene.
Visitors to the show ground will be able to see show jumpers from all over the world as well as local stars including UAE Olympian, Shaikha Latifa Bint Juma Al Maktoum, Dubai Show Jumping team members and international riders, Abdullah Al Marri, Arif Ahmad, Omar Khoury, Mohammad Ketait and Ahmad Falaknaz.
Every year the event is attended by a large crowd, keen to view the best jumpers in the region and take advantage of the free family entertainment which includes bouncy castles, pony rides, a Dubai Pony Club display and a spectacular riding display by Z7 Entertainment.
The Arena restaurant offers a touch of dining luxury coupled with premium views of the jumping action with starting prices at Dh275.
Shaikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice President Commercial Operations Centre, said: “Emirates is well established in equestrian sports and the Dubai Show Jumping Championship is a reconfirmation of our commitment to this graceful sport.”
Walter von Känel, President of Longines, said: “As a brand strongly committed to equestrian sports, Longines has the pleasure to be the official partner, the official timekeeper and the official watch of the 2016 Dubai Show Jumping Championship.”
“We will have the great honour to time riders set to compete at Emirates Equestrian Centre for three days of exciting sports action and award the best riders of this world class competition with the winners’ trophies.”
Gulf News, the official newspaper of the event will also be in attendance. “The Dubai Show Jumping Championship is one of the major highlights of the annual equestrian calendar and we are proud to be sponsoring it “ said Rajeev Khanna, Commercial Director, Gulf News. “We are really looking forward to the Dh150,000 Gulf News Dubai Cup which is the Qualifier for the CSI-W Grand Prix. This is going to be truly exciting with the best show jumpers of the region participating, and we wish them luck.”
Mohammad Essa Al Adhab, General Manager of Meydan Group’s Dubai Equestrian Club, which oversees all operations at Emirates Equestrian Centre said: “The Dubai Show Jumping Championship is the highlight of the Emirates Equestrian Centre calendar and has always been a popular event with spectators as well as competitors. It began in 2007 and has grown into an important show jumping feature on the Arab League Show Jumping Tour in the region and also attracts some of the top riders from Europe.
“None of this would be possible without our long-time sponsors and we send our thanks to Emirates, Longines and Gulf News, whose support ensures the continued development of this excellent event as well as the progression of the sport.”
The three days of competition are highlighted by the Dh150,000 Gulf News Dubai Cup, a qualifier for the Dubai Grand Prix, the adrenalin-charged Dh65,000 Longines Speed Stakes and the Dh116,000 Longines Accumulator which all build up to the final-day Dh245,000 Emirates Airline Dubai Grand Prix.
Success in the Grand Prix allows riders to earn valuable points towards qualification for the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping.
The event starts at 11:30am on Thursday, 1pm on Friday and at 11am on Saturday.
