The United Arab Emirates will bid to continue their fine recent run of form when the Al Forsan International Sports Resort stages the inaugural Longines League of Nations™ qualifier on February 11th . As the host nation, the UAE will field a team in the qualifier, following their convincing win at the recent CSIO4* Nations Cup in Sharjah. Also confirmed for the series are Ireland (IRL), United States of America (USA), France (FRA), Germany (GER), Switzerland (SUI), Great Britain (GBR), Netherlands (NED), Belgium (BEL), Sweden (SWE) and Brazil (BRA).
The FEI’s new series revisits the storied history of the FEI Jumping Nations Cup, and its 100-plus-year legacy, with a unique, unified, and global format. The qualifying class runs as part of a wider show jumping festival, the prestigious President’s Cup, which will see the world’s best compete in the UAE’s capital over four days from February 8-11 for a prize fund of over €1.3 million.
Now in its 13th year, the festival will host top riders from around the globe to witness show jumping’s elite compete in the capital. The competition starts at 8am on February 8th, kicking off with two morning CSI2* classes, followed by the first of the CSIO5* LLN classes, a CSIJ-A 120cm class, and culminating with the CSIO5* Grand Prix Qualifier with a €105,500 prize fund.
Friday gives riders the chance to qualify for Saturday’s CSI2* Grand Prix (8am), followed by the two phase and the Children’s class. The CSIO5* begins at 3.30pm with the 145cm class, before the 160cm class gets underway with riders competing for a share of €308,600. Saturday morning’s classes are dedicated to the future generations of show jumping elite, with the Children’s class (8am), followed by the Juniors (9am). The CSI2* 135cm class follows (11am), before the CSI2* Grand Prix final gets underway (3.30pm).
The show’s final day starts at 8.30am with the CSIO5* Winning Round over a 150cm course before the grand finale (1.30pm); the Longines League of Nations™ class will see the top ten teams on the Longines League of Nations™ Ranking, along with the UAE’s team, go headto-head over a complex 160cm course for a share of the mammoth €700,000 purse. A further three qualifying rounds will follow in Ocala (USA), St. Gallen (SUI) and Rotterdam (NED) to secure a sport at the coveted final in Barcelona (ESP), where the top eight nations will battle for the title and be the first team in history to lift the Longines League of Nations™ trophy. Admission is free admission for all and @ uaelonginesshowjumping on Instagram will carry the latest news.
