- Taking place from 26th to 29th January, more than 300 riders, representing over 34 countries from across the globe including UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt, Great Britain and USA, will feature in the event at Al Forsan International Sports Resort.
- To mark the occasion of the 10th milestone edition, organisers have increased the prize money to AED 800,000 – the biggest in the tournament’s history.
- The competition is part of FBMA’s on-going efforts for females to adopt a healthy lifestyle and develop local talent.
Abu Dhabi, 23rd January 2023: Organisers Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy (FBMA) has announced more than 300 of the best riders from around the world will compete in the 10th edition of the FBMA International Show Jumping Cup which will have the biggest prize pool in the tournament’s history.
Established as one of the most respected competitions on the international equestrian circuit, this year’s event will take place from 26th to 29th January at Abu Dhabi’s Al Forsan International Sports Resort.
It will feature more than 330 horses, ridden by over 300 riders as they compete across 20 classes from 6 different categories for a total prize money of AED 800,000 – the largest in the event’s history in recognition of the 10th milestone edition.
The categories include: CSICH-A, CSIJ-A, CSIY-A,* Nationals Special, CSIYH1* and the main showpiece CSIL2*. The event provides a special platform for female riders and showjumpers both across the UAE and internationally.
Among the 34 countries that will be represented include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt, Great Britain, USA, India, South Africa and China.
Details of the Cup were revealed during a press conference at Al Forsan International Sports Resort, attended by Her Excellency Dr. Omniyat Al Hajeri, FBMA Vice Chairwoman, Mrs. Shamsa Al Hanaee, Media Section Head at Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Mr. Ahmed Al Suwaidi, Chief Executive Officer of UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, Mr. Mohamed Al Nakhi, Vice President of the Show Jumping Committee and the Assistant Event Director, His Excellency Sultan Al Kaabi, Chief Executive Officer at Al Forsan Group and other key officials of FBMA and strategic partners.
The annual FBMA International Show Jumping Cup, is held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, President of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and Chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood “Mother of the Nation” and the guidance of H.H. 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.
Organisers have also revealed it will host a ‘Professional Photography Workshop’ that will be taught by Hind Al Raeesi, an Emirati photographer that specialises in sports and portrait photography.
Running on 28th and 29th January from 15:00 to 17:00, participants will be taught the basics of photography using their smart phones, the important angles to take a distinctive and high-quality pictures, and methods of editing using professional editing programmes. They will also receive exclusive tips that help will them as a photographer.
Besides the show jumping action, there are a wide range of activities and food trucks for all to enjoy.
H.E Dr. Omniyat Al Hajeri, FBMA Vice Chairwoman of FBMA said: “Since we held the first FBMA International Show Jumping Cup in 2013, the event has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the flagship events not just on the FBMA calendar but also on Abu Dhabi’s sporting calendar.
“The 10th edition signifies how far the competition has come – which has contributed to the growth of the sport and provided opportunities for females of all ages and nationalities to participate on a global platform and succeed in sport. It is truly wonderful to see many women are embracing show jumping and we hope their participation this week will inspire the younger generation to follow in their footsteps so they can strive in sport and become the best individual they can be in life.
“As an organisation, we are committed to play our part in empowering women to realise their ambitions through sport and encourage them to adopt a healthy lifestyle that will have a positive impact on their everyday lives.”
Shamsa Saif Al Hinai, Media Section Head at Abu Dhabi Sports Council and member of the Board of Directors of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Women’s Sports Academy said that the Council supports all equestrian tournaments, which expresses the UAE’s heritage and reflect the importance of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Championship which is now in its 10th year.
She said: “We at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council co-operate with the Equestrian Federation and the International Equestrian Federation in organizing the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Festival, which started on January 11, and its activities will continue until next March 12. It will witness six various tournaments including four show jumping championships, and two championships at Al Forsan International Resort in Abu Dhabi.”
She indicated that the competitions of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Show Jumping Championship will see the participation of over 300 male and female riders, representing 34 countries, with 75 male and female riders from the UAE participating including 7 female riders from the Fatima Bint Mubarak Sports Academy.
She added: “We wish the best of luck to the participants in the 10th Fatima Bint Mubarak Show Jumping Championship and hope they can achieve success in what will be a great event.”
Ahmed Al Suwaidi, Chief Executive Officer of the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, said: “The Emirates Equestrian and Racing Federation is pleased to be supporting the Fatima Bint Mubarak International Show Jumping Cup which provides an excellent platform to support professional jockeys and emerge local talent.
“The Emirates Equestrian and Racing Federation is proud to be the strategic partner for this major international tournament in which elite female jockeys from different countries of the world participate, and we hope everyone aspires to succeed in the competition.”
To help deliver a successful tournament, organisers FBMA has forged key collaborations with leading organisations with Longines and Abu Dhabi Sports Council being the Platinum Partners. Moreover, FEI and UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation are Strategic Partners, and Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, who is the Main Partner. In addition, Etisalat is the Telecom Partner while Yas is the Official Media Partner, ADCB is the Exclusive Banking Partner and Al Shira’aa Stables are Gold Partner while Al Ain Water is the Official Hydration Partner. Finally, Emirates Arabian Horse Society and Abu Dhabi Police are Supporter Partners.
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About Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy
The Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy (FBMA) is a not-for-profit Government entity of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Established in October 2010, the Academy is headed by its Chairwoman, H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazaa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and is dedicated to promoting and facilitating women’s sports in the UAE. The FBMA strives to make sports an element of daily life for UAE national women of all age, background, and physical condition; to encourage Emirati women to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle, and to further instil the values of sport in the public consciousness of the UAE. The FBMA serves this significant mission by hosting a number of local, regional and international sports events; facilitating community activities; managing and developing local talent and through its education and research work.