Abu Dhabi to Host Inaugural All-New Longines League of Nations™ Qualifying Series
The countdown is on for the inaugural Longines League of Nations™ qualifier to be held at Al Forsan International Sports Resort on the 11th of February. The FEI’s new series reimagines 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 the 8th to 11th February for a prize fund of over €1.3 million. Now in its 13th year, the festival will host top riders from around the globe and will welcome vast crowds to witness show jumping’s elite compete in the capital.
The competition starts at 08:00 on Thursday 8th February, kicking off with two CSI2* classes in the morning, 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 sees the day start with another chance for riders to qualify for Saturday’s CSI2* Grand Prix from 08:00, followed by the two phase and the Children’s class. The CSIO5* begins at 15:30 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 underway from 08:00, followed by the Juniors at 09:00. The CSI2* 135cm class follows at 11:00, before the CSI2* Grand Prix final gets underway at 15:30.
The show’s final day starts at 08:30 with the CSIO5* Winning Round over a 150cm course before the grand finale from 13:30 – the Longines League of Nations™ class – which will see the top ten teams on the Longines League of Nations™ Ranking, along with the UAE’s team, go head-to-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.
Confirmed for the series is 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). As the host nation, the UAE will also field a team in this qualifier, following a convincing win at the recent CSIO4* Nations Cup in Sharjah.
Alongside the show jumping, the President’s Cup will feature a dedicated family village and heritage centre, providing a whole host of activities for all the family including face painting, pony rides and food trucks. There will be traditional Emirati displays such as Ayala and Al Harbiya throughout the event, showcasing the country’s rich cultural tapestry. Local horse whisperer Ali Al Ameri will showcase his unbreakable bond with his team of Arabian horses at 18:30 on Thursday 8th – a display not to be missed.
The show will begin at 08:00 each day and run through to the evening, with free admission for all. Exclusive hospitality tables are available starting from AED6,000 per day, with full catering by the renowned team at Emirates Palace, VIP parking, and the best ringside seats to witness the action. For all table enquiries, please contact Caroline Kettle on +971 (0)52 9090444.
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Last Updated on 9 months by News Desk 1
