Kumaiti qualifies for Aachen Games UAE show Jumper Mohammed Al Kumaiti has qualified for the World Equestrian Games in show jumping discipline. The games are being held from from August 20 to September 3, 2006 at Aachen, Germany.

He clinched a berth in the prestigious World Equestrian Games after putting up a brilliant performance at the International Show Jumping Championship held in Sofia, Bulgaria, from June 29 to July 2, 2006.

Kumaiti taking part in the WEG in Jerez, Spain, in 2002

This is the second time that Kumaiti is participating in the WEG having already taken part in it in Jerez, Spain, in 2002 along with Ahmed Al Junaibi.

The championship in Sofia attracted jumpers from several countries including Greece, Turkey, Hungary, Italy and Germany, apart from the UAE.

According to the qualification criterion, a jumper should have two clear first round in two separate two-star events or one first round with just four fault points in a four-star international championship.

While expressing his happiness for qualifying for the WEG, Kumaiti profusely thanked His Excellency Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman, UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, for his continuous support to all equestrian activities in the country and to show jumping in particular. "Thanks to the keen encouragement and support from

His Excellency, equestrianism is getting a big boost in the country. The jumpers have been provided with excellent facilities which have only helped us improve further and take the country's flag to new heights."

The World Equestrian Games 2006 is likely to attract around 800 sportsmen and women with their horses and 500,000 spectators. The participants originate from 50 nations and 1,300 journalists will be reporting from Aachen and television broadcasts will be transmitted in 140 countries. The Games are being held in the Federal Republic of Germany for the first time.

The seven disciplines include show-jumping, dressage, eventing, driving, endurance, vaulting and reining (Western dressage) and the participants will be vying for the 16 WEG titles.

Two candidates from the UAE, Ms. Lisalotte Hareb and Mr. Paul de Benedictis have been promoted as International judges in show jumping and another candidate Khalil Ibrahim Murad Hassan has been promoted as the International Candidate Judge in the same discipline.

The three jumpers attended a FEI course for Promotion to the status of International Candidate Judge and International Judge jointly organized by Federation Equestre Internationalae, FEI and the Polish Equestrian Federation.

The course, which was held from June 18 to 21, 2006, at Sopot, in Poland, was directed by FEI Vice President Sven Holmberg.

Promotions of judges and course designers are considered once in two years upon application from National Federations. Lists of those promoted are published accordingly in the FEI directory.

Those who successfully complete the course will be eligible to officiate of candidate judges for a period of two years. Based on their performance and after they officiate as candidate judges in a minimum number of rides, these officials can seek to upgrade themselves to international judges.

A judge is a member of the Ground Jury appointed to control an equestrian competition or event. There are three categories of judges: official International Judges, International Judges and International Candidate Judges. The FEI maintains a list of all International Candidate Judges who have been nominated by their respective National Federations and accepted by the relevant Technical Committee. It also maintains a list of International Judges appointed by the relevant Technical Committee after consultation with the National Federations.

Three officials from the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation have been invited by the Czech Equestrian Federation to officiate at their forthcoming endurance trial ride.

Mr. Vijay Moorthy, Head of the endurance department at the Federation, will be heading to Zabreh Na Morave, venue of the ride as the President of the Ground Jury, along with Mohd Essa Al Adhab who will be member of the ground jury and Dr. C.V. Niranjan, veterinary doctor.

The 120-km Trial Ride for European (Open) Junior and Young Rider Championship 2006 is a full dress rehearsal for the Championship to be held in Republic on September 15 and 16, 2006.

Participants from several European countries including Belgium, Denmark, Poland, Germany, Switzerland and Holland will be riding on the trial event day, which also features an 85-km CEI-Two-Star ride.

According to the Organising Committee, which is headed by Mr.Milan Kysely, organizing an endurance ride in the Czech Republic is part of the FEI programme for the global development of the sport.