After qualifying through twelve Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Leagues and Sub-Leagues across the globe, the world’s best athletes will meet in the Saudi capital for the season finale from 16-20 April 2024. It will be a thrilling competition with the defending champion, the European champion, and other former winners coming to Riyadh.
Who will be competing at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Riyadh?
It is a star-studded list of athletes, with Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) eager to defend his back-to-back victories. His top horse King Edward will join him along with Iliana. He will face formidable competition from 34 other athletes with outstanding horses, representing 19 nations. Seven out of the current top ten ranking athletes will converge in Riyadh promising an unforgettable sport experience.
The Arab League is represented by five athletes, with three athletes from the host nation dominating its Middle Eastern sub-league. Among them is the seasoned World Cup™ veteran and Olympic medallist Ramzy Al Duhami, alongside Khaled Almobty, whose consistent performances have secured him a leading position in the league's point standings. Another notable athlete from Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Alsharbatly, silver medallist from 2010 WEG and bronze team winner from 2012 Olympics alongside Al Duhami, will be bringing a special horse. Alamo, previously ridden by Steve Guerdat (SUI), achieved victory at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Gothenburg in 2019. Speaking of Steve Guerdat, this will be his 15th FEI World Cup™ Final, of which he has won three with Albführen's Paille, Alamo and Corbinian. He will travel with Is-Minka, with whom he won the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ in Bordeaux.
There will be 17 athletes from the Western European League and seven qualified from the North American League. It will be a battle between top athletes such as Julien Epaillard (FRA) and Kent Farrington (USA), both known for their incredible speed. Young talents like Jeanne Sadran (FRA) and Skylar Wireman (USA) will show their skills in this final.
Top names such as Ben Maher (GBR), Peder Fredricson (SWE), Marcus Ehning (GER), Scott Brash (GBR), Christian Ahlmann (GER), Martin Fuchs (SUI) and Max Kühner (AUT) will also be heading to Riyadh.
Rest of the world
From the land of the rising sun, Japan, Shinichiro Sugiyama will compete with the aptly named horse Rising Sun. From the Eurasian League Nurjan Tuyakbaev (UZB) will join the lineup. Kristaps Neretnieks (LAT), Sara Vingralkova (CZE) and Angelos Touloupis (GRE) will come from Central Europe.
Marking not only the first ever FEI World Cup™ Finals in the region, but the participants in Riyadh will also be competing for a total of 2.6 million Euros, a prize fund reaching the highest ever amount on offer throughout the history of the FEI World Cup™ Finals. From 16 to 20 April, the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center in the heart of the Saudi capital is set to welcome the best horses and athletes in the world.
The 2024 FEI World Cup™ Finals for dressage and jumping are scheduled to be held April 16–20, 2024.
Source: Press Release