UAE rider Mohammed Al Kumaiti will today kick off his cam­paign in the showjumping competi­tion at the ongoing World Eque­trian Games (WEG) in Normandy, France.

Al Kumaiti is the only Emirati representing the nation in jumping at the quadrennial games and will be riding 11-year-old chestnut stal­lion Pacha du Fort.

The 37-year-old has previously competed twice at the WEG, in Jerez in 2002 (placed 63rd), and in Aachen in 2006 (placed 78th).

The jumping event begins with the Speed Competition today at the D’Ornano Stadium.

Riders entered will ride a speed round against the clock, a bit like a cycling time trial.

Competitors will receive a four-second penalty per obstacle knocked down and penalties are added to the time the athlete takes to complete the course.

This speed class will count towards both the Team and the In­dividual rankings.

Action will continue tomor­row with the Individual and Team Qualification with the Team title awarded on Wednesday and the Individual title awarded on Sunday September 7.

The UAE have already captured one gold medal at this year’s Games after Sheikh Hamdan bin Moham­med bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, won the individual endurance title on his mare Yamamah last Thursday.