Kristaps Neretnieks winner of World Cup in Abu Dhabi

Each year, the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup regroups the best riders and horses from sixteen leagues in 43 countries around the world. They are all battling to qualify themselves for the early spring final in Göteborg. Among the sixteen leagues, the Western European one is the most followed by the equestrian lovers. After nine legs over thirteen, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, world number one, is currently leading it ahead of Germany’s Daniel Deusser and France’s Kevin Staut. A total of eighteen riders from the Western European League can qualify themselves for the final alongside with the winners of the fifteen other leagues from around the world. With La Coruna, London and Mechelen last December, the end of the year was pretty intense for the riders of the Western European league. That is why they had a week-end off before Basel in Switzerland this week. But there was no lacks of sport in the FEI Jumping World Cup Arab Middle East league this week-end as the best riders of this league competed in Abu Dhabi.

Over twenty-eight, eight riders managed to qualify themselves for the jump-off of seventh leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup in Abu Dhabi. Among them, only five succeeded in doing a clear round. Almost three seconds faster than the other pairs, Lithuania’s Kristaps Neretnieks with Moon Ray won hands down this leg. Egypt’s Abdel Saïd with Venise du Reverdy and United Arab Emirates’ Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi with Cha Cha Cha 7 had to settle for the second and third place. As Kristaps Neretnieks is Lithuanian, he is competing in the FEI Jumping World Cup Central European League Southern Sub-League. So, his victory in Abu Dhabi did not change the FEI Jumping World Cup Arab Middle East league ranking which leader is Ramzy Al Duhami, thanks among others to his third place in Riyad with Ted last November.  But last week-end in Abu Dhabi, with three fences down, the Saudi did not earn any point. He is followed in the ranking by his compatriot Abdullah Alsharbatly and Qatar’s Mubarak Yousuf A S Al Rumaihi.

Full results: here

Ranking of FEI Jumping World Cup Arab Middle East league: here