Britain’s Nigel Coupe among Europeans at Abu Dhabi CSI4*-W this weekend

This weekend’s competition is taking place at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club in the capital city of the Emirates, the second most populous urban area in the country after Dubai. It will be a qualifier in the Arab League for the Paris Final this spring, with three spots allocated to riders in the region.

The two current leaders in the local standings, Qatar’s Sheikh Ali Al Thani and Bassem Mohammed, are not listed to compete in Abu Dhabi, but third place Ibrahim Hani Bisharat of Jordan is expected in town to challenge for World Cup qualifying honours. He will have stiff competition, however, including from the current leader of the powerful Western European League, Henrik von Eckermann of Sweden. The World No.8 is bringing Artiste de l’Abbaye d’Aulne and Cantinero to the Middle East, and he will be joined by other Europeans, including Ireland’s Shane Breen and David Simpson, as well as Great Britain’s Georgia Tame.

Also in the Emirates for the show is the winner of the 2017 Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby in England, Britain’s Nigel Coupe, who was in fact the first rider announced for the Alshira’aa Show in the Middle East. Coupe, riding Golvers Hill, is aiming to kick off 2018 in a positive way after his fantastic results over the past 12 months.

Coupe talked about his horse’s great qualities in an interview with the Lancashire Post newspaper last year after his big victory. “My job is a bit like a Formula One racing driver,” he said. “In Show Jumping, we are reliant on having a horse which has got the ability. And in Golvers Hill, I have got one. We seem to be hitting quite a bit of good form at the moment.”

Other big names announced for Abu Dhabi — the name is said to be related to a species of gazelle that was once common in the Arabian region — include Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt and Belgium’s Jos Lansink. Russia’s Vladimir Tuganov is also on the master list. All the horses and riders should be experiencing pleasant conditions in the region, with the forecast calling for mainly sunny skies and highs ranging from 23 to 26 degrees celsius.