Indonesia to host SE Asian show jumping events
Indonesia to host SE Asian show jumping events
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is to host the third and fourth legs
of the newly formed Southeast Asian Show Jumping League next
year.
The league, whose establishment was confirmed in an Oct. 15
letter by director World Cup for Jumping Riders Max E. Ammann to
the equestrian governing bodies of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand,
the Philippines and Singapore, features eight one-day legs.
The first leg is scheduled for Aug. 10, 1997 in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia; the second leg on Aug. 17 at Singapore's Polo Club; the
third on Sept. 7 in Bandung, West Java; the fourth on Sept. 14 in
an arena at the Arthayasa stable in Sawangan, a growing suburb
south of Jakarta; the fifth on Nov. 2 at the Dusit resort in Cha
Am, Thailand; the sixth on Nov. 9 in Bangkok; the seventh on Dec.
7 in Kuala Lumpur; the eighth and final leg on Dec. 14, also in
Kuala Lumpur.
Participants are required to bring their own horses and will
have to pay all their transportation and accommodation expenses.
The rule of one round and one jump-off will be applied with a
maximum of three competitions over two rounds, each with jump-
offs.
Only the best four scores gathered during the eight legs will
count. The scores earned during the final leg will be multiplied
by two. There is US$25,000 up for grabs for the first seven legs.
The amount will be doubled in the league final. The league winner
qualifies for the World Cup show jumping final scheduled from
April 15 to April 19 in Helsinki, Finland.
International judge and the league's technical coordinator,
Nai Yue Ho, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that the league's
establishment is particularly aimed at enhancing the skills of
Southeast Asian riders.
"Southeast Asian riders jump 1.3 meters on average. To qualify
for an Olympic berth, they will have to jump at least 1.5 meters.
Minimum qualification for the World Cup is 1.4 meters. Thus, the
league is expected to gradually bridge the gap so that Southeast
Asians will eventually reach world-class level," Nai said.
Serving as a warm-up for the league's competitions will be the
Arthayasa Open dressage and show jumping competitions, which are
due today and tomorrow at the Arthayasa stable in Bogor. As of
yesterday, about 100 people, 50 of whom are expatriates, had
registered for the two-day competitions. (arf)