The 14th meeting of the Show Jumping Higher Committee was held at the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation premises in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, November 25, 2007.

The meeting was chaired by Sheikh Abdullah bin Majid Al Qassimi, Vice President and Chairman of the Selection Committee, UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, and was attended by the committee members Sheikh Shakboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Hussein Mohammed Hussein, Secretary General of the Federation, Sultan Al Marzouki, Ahmed Atiq Al Rumaithi and Sultan Mohammed Khalifa.

His Excellency Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, in his capacity as Chairman of the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, recently appointed Sheikh Shakboot and Sultan Abdullah al Marzouki as members of the Higher Committee of Show Jumping. Sheikh Shakboot has also been made the head of the UAE Show Jumping team.

The meeting approved the calendar for the new show jumping season and also approved the organization of UAE Federation Show Jumping Championship starting this season and the inaugural competitions will be held in Sharjah. Every year a different emirate will be selected to host the Championship.

The meeting while discussing several other issues on the agenda approved the selection of eight jumpers for the Arab League qualifiers which are scheduled to be held from December 6 to 9 in Kuwait and from December 26 to 29, 2007, in Saudi Arabia. The panel also decided to impose a penalty of Dh. 30,000 for those stables which cancel a show jumping event without giving a two-week prior notice to the UAE Equestrian Federation.

The meeting also decided that all the show jumping horses should display their numbers during the national competitions in order to be able to identify them.

Other issues discussed included visiting Al Safinat Stables to study the feasibility of holding a competition there, organize more courses and seminars in the country which will be monitored by FEI officials and to bring more FEI course builders during the season.

Four endurance rides are scheduled to be held during the week-end at the Bou Theib Endurance Village, Al Khatem, Abu Dhabi, to mark the 36th National Day. All the rides are sponsored by Sorouh group.

The rides, to be held on Saturday, December 1, 2007, are jointly organized by the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation and Emirates Heritage Club, under whose wings the Bou Theib Endurance Village falls.

The 120-km FEI.CEI Three-star UAE International Endurance Cup has attracted over 80 riders who will be flagged off to a mass start at the Village at 5.45 am. Some of the popular riders taking part in this event include Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Sheikha Madiya Hasher Mana Al Maktoum, Sheikh Abdullah bin Faisal Al Qassimi, Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri, Omair Hussain Abdullah Al Bloushi, Ahmed Salim Al Balushi, Yousef Ahmed Al Bloushi, Maria Alvarez Ponton, Hassan bin Ali, and several others.

The ride will be run in five loops of 30 km, 30 km, 24 km, 20 km and 16 km respectively and will feature horses aged six and above.

The second ride of the day is the UAE International endurance Cup for Junior and Young riders which has a field of around 30 riders and will start at 6.am.

Two Federation Qualifiers of a distance of 44 km and 80 km respectively will start at 6.15 am and 6.30 am, has together around 40 riders.

The Organising Committee has plans to hold several cultural acitivities to coincide with the National Day celebrations. The activities will primarily showcase the history and tradition of the country.

Mohammed Abdullah Al Kumaiti from the Ajman Equestrian Club clinched the first place in the week-end show jumping competitions held at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club premises. Riding Al Matawakel, Kumaiti cleared the Class 3 B1 A2 (One Round with Jump-Off, section A2) in 34.34 seconds with no faults.

Second place in this category went to Ahmed Ameen, also from Ajman Equestrian Club, who was riding Caleeto and cleared the rounds in 34.98 seconds but with four faults. Majed Sultan Al Awani from the Abu Dhabi Equestrian club finished in the third place clocking 37.34 seconds riding Katarina De Mai.

In the same category Section B1, Salim Ahmed Al Suwaidi from Sharjah Equestrian Club won both the first and second places riding Solito and Natalie 079 respectively. His timings were 34.80 seconds and 33.81 seconds (four faults).

The two-day competitions were held on November 23 and 24, 2007 and featured different categories of jumping events.

Results of other categories are as follows:

Class 6. C1, B2 (One Round with Jump Off):
Section CI: 1. Kamal Ziri, Outline, Plantation Club, 37.80 seconds, 2. Franck Fogarolo, Abdolute, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, 32.89 seconds

Class 6. C1, B2 (One Round with Jump Off): Section 2: 1. Saif Omar Thabet, Elp St. Clair, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, 31.17 seconds, 2. Abdul Rahman S. Al Kaabi, Henreb, Sharjah Equestrian Club, 32.82 seconds, 3. Abdul Rahman S. Al Kaabi, Felines, Sharjah Eqiuestrian Club, 35.26 seconds, 4. Chris Mancaster, Clockwork, Emirates Equestrian Centre, 40.33 seconds.

Class 7: B1, A2 (One Round with Jump-Off): B1 section: 1. Sheikh Majid bin Abdullah Al Qassimi, Jeudi De La Chenee, Sharjah Equestrian Club, 41.38 seconds, Ali Abdullah Al Kumaiti, Al Mutamaken, Ajman Equestrian Club, Sheikh Shakboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Isian, Emirates Heritage Club, 53.30 seconds

Class 7: B1, A2 (One Round with Jump-Off): A2 section: 1. Ahmed Abdul Rahman Ameen, Kurtse, Ajman Equestrian Centre, 43.41 seconds, 2. Abdullah Mohammed Al Kumaiti, Al Mutawakel, Ajman Equestrian Centre, 37.26 seconds, 4. Adel Khamis Ali Saeed, ةclair Day, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, 44.88 seconds

Class 2: C2 (Two Phases); 1. Abdul Aziz Marwan Al Yahyaei, Iris De Rougier, 23.50 seconds, 2. Laura Readere, Shelly, Emirates Equestrian Centre, 23.70 seconds, 3. Mohammed Shafi Al Rumaithi, Hurgo de Fontenel, Emirates Heritage Club, 24.97 seconds, 4. Sheikh Rashid bin Ahmed Al Maktoum, Macey Van Leut, Emirates Equestrian Centre, 25.21 seconds, 5. Sarah Abdul Aziz Taryam, Fofino Du Lys, Sharjah Equestrian Club, 26.43 seconds, 6. Mansoor Yousif Al Nowais, Kyrielle Des Lys, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, 26.55 seconds.

Class 5: C2 (Two Phases): 1. Mohammed Abdullah Mohair Al Ketbi, Iris De Rougier, RG Club, 23.20 seconds, 2. Abdel Azizi Marwan Al Yahaei, Iris De Roughier, Sharjah Equestrian Club, 25.64 seconds, 3. Yousif Hashem Al Refai, Garigliano "AA", Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, 25.83 seconds, 4. Yousif Hashem Al Refai, Festival, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, 27.90 seconds, 5. Franck Fogarolo, Matie Du Prieure, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, 29.16 seconds.

Around 50 endurance riders have confirmed their participation for Al Ain Endurance Cup which will be staged at Bou Theib Endurance Village, Al Khatem, Abu Dhabi, on Saturday, November 24, 2007.

The 100-km ride is exclusively meant for privately owned horses/stables (horses that do not receive financial support from the Government or the Royal Stables).

A sum of Dh 250,000 has been earmarked as prizes for the Al Ain Endurance Cup.

According to Mr. Mohammed Saif Al Neyadi, Member, Board of Directors, Bou Theib Endurance Village, this year the prizes have been increased following the instructions of Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Emirates Heritage Club, which oversees the activities of the Bou Theib Village. He said the idea behind this was to encourage youngsters, both boys and girls, to take part in riding and also keep alive the country's heritage and culture.

The day is also featuring two Federation Qualification rounds of 80 km and 44 km respectively.

Details of the prizes are as follows:
1st prize: car equivalent to Dh 100,000
2nd prize: Dh 30,000
3rd prize: Dh 20,000
4th prize: Dh 10,000
5th prize: Dh 6,000
6th prize: Dh 3,000
7th prize: Dh 1,000

All the other finishers from eighth position onwards will get Dh 1,000 each. Besides, a sum of Dh 15,000 will be given to the winner of Best Conditioned Horse category and Dh 10,000 and Dh 5,000 for the second and third winners respectively.

Also Dh 20,000 will be on offer for winners of the Best Conditioned Horse category in the Qualifying Rides also.

Mr. Neyadi added that Bou Theib Endurance Village, in coordination with the Emirates Heritage Club, has initiated a National Project, to promote and encourage local riders, so that they are well equipped to take part in international rides.