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UAE put up good show at Nations Cup Britain in first place, host country in fourth
Great Britain won the Nations Cup Series with a victory in the Longine sponsored CSIO5* event in Abu Dhabi on Friday night, even as the host country the United Arab Emirates tied up for the fourth place with Italy. The event, part of The President of the United Arab Emirates Show Jumping Cup, was held at the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club. This was the first time that the UAE is playing host to the Nations Cup with a prize money of Euros 100,000 on offer. The UAE by finishing fourth at the event are now qualified for the FEI Nations Cup Promotional League to be held in Barcelona, Spain in September this year. If the UAE finishes in the top two in that season-ending finale they will qualify for the FEI Nations Cup in 2011. The team was in its first-ever Nations Cup with none of the riders having ridden in a show of this level before. The UAE team was lead by Chef d’Equipe Sheikh Shakboot Nahyan Al Nahyan and the other members were including sheikh Shakboot, Sheikha Latifa Al maktoum, Sheikh Majid Al Qassimi and Mohammed Al Hajri. Sheikh Shakboot at a post-event press conference said: “It is very significant as this is the first time we are regional winners of the Nations Cup. We had a wonderful start. We are now concentrating on the next Nations Cup. But the most significant factor is that we have now qualified to take part in Barcelona and some, if not all of us, are going to represent our country there.” Mohammad Al Hajri, UAE team member said, “It was good experience. I have been watching some of my fellow riders from other countries from as young as eight years old and today I’m jumping along with them. It was an international field and we have a lot to learn from them and gain good experience. We have taken bits and pieces from every rider to improve our performance and eventually it bore fruit.” The four-member British team comprised Ben Maher, Ellen Whitaker, Guy Williams and Robert Smith. Guy Williams said: “It is great to win, this is a lovely show and I think we should be in the super league.” Germany came second and the Netherlands made it into third place. The German team comprised Mario Stevens, Max Kuhner, Ulrich Kirchhoff and Lars Nieberg. The Dutch team was made up of Gean-Jan Bruggink, Piet Raymakers Junior and Gerco Schroder. Gerco Schroder said: ''It is always nice to win but i am enjoying this show anyway. I have been to a show in Dubai and this one compares very well. Yes I know there was a little problem last night but these things can happen anywhere and this is the first time here and next time it will be better.“ Emirates Equestrian Federation Secretary General TaleI Dhaher Al Muhairi said after the Nations Cup event at the press conference said: “It is a moment of triumph for us as UAE’s young riders finished fourth competing against the world’s best teams” “They are our future and I’m sure the same team will be able to compete at the Olympic Games. We will provide them the maximum support from the Federation to help them achieve more success all over the world,” he added. . The FEI delegate Capt. John Roche said “The UAE Federation has done a fantastic job and it is indeed a good start with the UAE finishing fourth. It’s a new team full of young riders and there are many more tournaments for them to participate in. The sky is the limit for them!” Saturday morning featured the Meydan Mini Grand Prix, Table A with Jump-off. Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah al Qassimi had a clear round with his horse 10-year-old bay Tisanto. He clocked 47.68 seconds. He was followed into the second place by Mohammed Khaled who was astride Karamana but registered four faults. Third place went to Adel Khamis Ali Saeed who rode Cappuccino. There were 31 riders in the fray for this Mini Grand Prix, majority of them from the region with a lone rider from Great Britain.
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