Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (WAM)
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, attended the fourth day of the 13th FBMA International Show Jumping Cup as he presented the prize to Britain’s William Funnell, the winner of the flagship Longines Grand Prix category in Abu Dhabi.
Organised by Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, the event is held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the Mother of the Nation, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), and under the guidance and supervision of Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Chairwoman of Abu Dhabi Ladies Club and Al Ain Ladies Club.
On Friday, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak was joined by Dr Omniyat Al-Hajri, Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, and Najib Kiwan, Regional Brand Manager of Longines for the Middle East and North Africa.
Also in attendance at Al Forsan International Sports Resort were Matar Rashed Binjabr Alsuwaidi, CEO of Al Forsan International Sports Resort, Talal Al Hashemi, Board of Directors of Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, and Shamsa Saif Alhanaee, Board of Directors of Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy.
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak honoured Funnell at the prize ceremony after coming out on top in the One Round (145cms) - the final category of Friday’s schedule.
The Brit produced a faultless display to finish in a time of 73.17, riding Equine America Billy Picador, ahead of runner-up Mohammad Al Ghurair of the UAE and Sweden’s Antonia Pettersson Haggstrom, who took third place.
The victory meant Funnel took a slice of the EUR 28,200 prize money, and he praised the organisers for helping grow the sport in the UAE.
Funnel said, “I am very happy to win the Grand Prix and nice to win with my horse Equine America Billy Picador. Since I’ve come to the UAE seven years ago, the standard of equestrian has improved a lot, and the amount of people who are now doing equestrian is unbelievable. FBMA is doing an excellent job in helping grow the sport and giving opportunities, and the standard keeps getting higher, and I believe the sport will grow even further across the UAE.”
The schedule saw three other categories take place earlier in the day. Spain’s Agusti Sastre Caballero took gold in the One Round with Jump Off (120cms) category, with UAE’s Mabkhout Owaida Alkirbi taking second place ahead of Syria’s Mohamad Osama Al Zabibi in third.
In the One Round with Jump Off (130cms), Syria’s Shady Ghrayeb came out on top ahead of UAE’s Omar Abdulaziz Almarzooqi and Humaid Abdullah Khalifa Almheiri, who took silver and bronze, respectively.
Syria completed a one-two in the Two Phases (130cms) with Mohamad Mogheeth Al Shehab and Mohamad Osama Al Zabibi, finishing first and second, while UAE’s Salim Ahmed Alsuwaidi won a bronze medal.
The Fatima Bint Mubarak International Show Jumping Cup 2026 will continue with the national event on Sunday.
