After their success in September at the Longines FEI Nations Challenge Cup in Barcelona, the UAE national team riders return to action in the CSI 4-star Al Shira’aa International Horse Show at the Al Forsan International Sports Resort from Wednesday.
The four-day showjumping competition has drawn more than 153 riders and 220 horses from 26 countries, all vying for a slice of the €200,000 (Dh876,000) prize fund and a qualifying place at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in the United States of America.
Among the leading international riders competing are Olympians Jos Lansink from Belgium, Sweden's Henrik von Eckermann and Briton Nigel Coupe, who won the 2017 Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby.
“The Nations Cup was a world event for which we worked throughout the year to qualify and then win the Challenge Cup,” said Omran Ahmed Al Owais, the event president, at the launch ceremony on Tuesday.
“The Al Shira’aa International Horse Show is another important event. However, it’s a normal 4-star competition and cannot be compared to the Nations Cup.
“Obviously everyone who arrived for this competition will want to win and qualify for the FEI World Games.”
Winning the Nations Challenge Cup was the UAE team’s biggest success on the world stage. By doing so, they had to overcome several of the world’s leading showjumping countries including Ireland, Great Britain, Brazil and Spain.
“This is another important year for the UAE team with both the World Equestrian Games and the Asian Games in Jakarta taking place in the summer,” Al Owais said.
“Winning the Nations Challenge Cup was fantastic. We want to build on that success from last year. This competition in Abu Dhabi is a big test of our riders to start the year.”
The UAE team at the Nations Challenge Cup comprised Abdullah Al Muhairi, Ghanem Al Hajri, Sheikh Majid Al Qassimi, Abdullah Al Marri and Abdullah Al Kumaiti, and they will once again carry the host team’s hopes.
Dr Ghanim Al Hajiri, general secretary UAE Equestrian Racing Federation, said this event will provide local riders the opportunity to compete at home and a truly international stage.
“The Al Shira’aa Horse Show is an important event on the global showjumping calendar offering a platform for local talent to compete against international stars in FEI-affiliated classes,” he said.
“There are classes for young riders, juniors and young horses as well as five ranking classes for CSI4* competitors seeking World Equestrian Games qualification.”
France's Adeline Hecart, on Pasha Du Gue, won the inaugural Grand Prix prize at the Al Shira’aa event last year.
Saudi Arabia's Khaled Abdulrahman Al Mobty, on Zypern, took second spot from Bahrain's Khalid Hilal Al Khatri astride Awal and Abdullah Al Marri atop Sama Dubai.
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Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Real Sociedad v Leganes (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Real Valladolid (4pm)
Valencia v Granada (7pm)
Eibar v Real Madrid (9.30pm)
Barcelona v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Sunday
Real Mallorca v Villarreal (3pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Levante (5pm)
Atletico Madrid v Espanyol (7pm)
Getafe v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Real Betis v Sevilla (midnight)
PSG's line up
GK: Alphonse Areola (youth academy)
Defence - RB: Dani Alves (free transfer); CB: Marquinhos (€31.4 million); CB: Thiago Silva (€42m); LB: Layvin Kurzawa (€23m)
Midfield - Angel di Maria (€47m); Adrien Rabiot (youth academy); Marco Verratti (€12m)
Forwards - Neymar (€222m); Edinson Cavani (€63m); Kylian Mbappe (initial: loan; to buy: €180m)
Total cost: €440.4m (€620.4m if Mbappe makes permanent move)
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
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- Add tint to windows
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- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
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Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
The specs: 2017 Lotus Evora Sport 410
Price, base / as tested Dh395,000 / Dh420,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission Six-speed manual
Power 410hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 420Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.7L / 100km
Hidden killer
Sepsis arises when the body tries to fight an infection but damages its own tissue and organs in the process.
The World Health Organisation estimates it affects about 30 million people each year and that about six million die.
Of those about three million are newborns and 1.2 are young children.
Patients with septic shock must often have limbs amputated if clots in their limbs prevent blood flow, causing the limbs to die.
Campaigners say the condition is often diagnosed far too late by medical professionals and that many patients wait too long to seek treatment, confusing the symptoms with flu.
'The Lost Daughter'
Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Starring: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson
Rating: 4/5
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
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LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo (Kick-off midnight UAE)
Saturday Levante v Getafe (5pm), Sevilla v Real Madrid (7.15pm), Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid (9.30pm), Cadiz v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday Granada v Huesca (5pm), Osasuna v Real Betis (7.15pm), Villarreal v Elche (9.30pm), Alaves v Real Sociedad (midnight)
Monday Eibar v Valencia (midnight)
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Company%20Profile
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Jebel Ali Dragons 26 Bahrain 23
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Tries: Hayes, Richards, Cooper
Cons: Love
Pens: Love 3
Bahrain
Tries: Kenny, Crombie, Tantoh
Cons: Phillips
Pens: Phillips 2
Review: Tomb Raider
Dir: Roar Uthaug
Starring: Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Daniel Wu, Walter Goggins
two stars
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
