Impressive field for Al Ain showjumping

Al Ain: The Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Gulf Club (AESGC) is hosting a three-day Al Ain International Showjumping Championship. Held under the patronage of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the club, the event will see more than 150 riders in the fray from today for prize money totalling Dh632,000.

The announcement was made during a press conference at the AESGC premises on Tuesday that was attended by Mohammad Rashid Al Nassiri, general manager of the club; Taleb Al Muhairy, secretary-general of the UAE Equestrian Federation; Atef Shawki of the UAE equestrian federation; Magdy Al Kholy, member of the AESGC, and Dr Haitham Tayfour, a veterinary doctor.

Al Muhairy explained: "The championship is one of the most important and rich competitions in the Arab Tour, which includes 11 rounds, with the UAE organising four of them in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Al Ain. The two top riders who collect the most points from the tour will qualify for the finals of the World Showjumping Cup to be held in Holland in April this year.

The UAE will be represented by Shaikh Shakhboot Al Nahyan, Shaikha Latifa Al Maktoum, Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum, Shaikh Ali Al Qasimi, Ahmad Al Junaibi, Mohammad Al Kamiti and Abdullah Humaid.

"Two seats are for Arab riders only to compete for while the other riders who are not from the Arab countries will enter the qualifiers in their zones and continents," Shawki said.

Al Nassiri said spectators will be allowed free entry and there will be prizes on offer for fans including air tickets.