Inaugural Longines Hong Kong Masters Show Jumping Event Set to Impress

[HD videos below] The inaugural Longines Hong Kong Masters show jumping event gets underway today.

Across three days of competition at AsiaWorld-Expo, many of the world's top 25 riders will vie for their share in $1 million prize money (HK$7.8 million) in what is the first leg of the prestigious Masters Grand Slam Indoor followed by New York and Paris.

Recognized as an ‘M’ Mark event by the Major Sports Events Committee, the Longines Hong Kong Masters will be held annually and is comprised of six international 5* competitions over three days including - the Longines Speed Challenge, the Gucci Gold Cup and the Longines Grand Prix.

Christophe Ameeuw, CEO of EEM World and creator of The Masters Grand Slam Indoor, said, “It has always been one of my dreams to give our wonderful and spectacular sport of show jumping the focus and visibility it deserves. The event will be broadcast to a huge global television audience and entertain equestrian fans all over the world.”

The Masters concept was inspired by the successful Grand Slam in tennis. The Longines Hong Kong Masters brings the highest level of show jumping competition to Asia and combines iconic luxury brand sponsors with VIP entertainment and hospitality. The event has all the ingredients required into making it one of the most important and popular social, sporting and networking events in the entire region.

Matthieu Gheysen, Vice President of EEM Asia, said, “We are very excited to see the Longines Hong Kong Masters coming to life. Hong Kong hosted the 2008 Beijing Olympics equestrian competitions and proved to be the ideal destination for this world-class equestrian event. The riders are thrilled to be competing in this city again.”

During the past 48 hours participating riders and 64 of the world’s best horses have been arriving at Hong Kong International Airport and competitors have wasted no time starting their private warm-up sessions at the AsiaWorld-Expo in preparation for the event.

There will be plenty of local crowd support for the two selected Hong Kong riders, Hong Kong Beijing Olympics representative Kenneth Cheng and Raena Leung, who is Hong Kong’s first qualified rider for the FEI World Cup.

Other riders selected to represent Asia include Japanese Olympian Eiken Sato and 24-year old Taiwanese rising star Isheau Wong.

The world's current number 1 rider Christian Ahlmann heads an illustrious list of international riders that also includes London Olympics gold medalist Ben Maher, champion French rider Kevin Staut and top ranked female rider Edwina Tops-Alexander.

Action at the Longines Hong Kong Masters

Three competitions will be staged at the Longines Hong Kong Masters - the Longines Speed Challenge, Gucci Gold Cup and Longines Grand Prix.

The Longines Speed Challenge will be held on the opening evening on 28 February, and is all about timing and precision. The winning rider and horse need to clear 16 fences in the fastest and most accurate manner possible.

On Friday, 1 March, the Gucci Gold Cup will take center stage. Riders and their horses must complete the first round with approximately 12 obstacles. Penalties (faults and time) incurred during the first round are counted and the top 10 from the first round go on to compete in the second round.

The event concludes with the Longines Grand Prix on 2 March. In the first round, riders must complete a course boasting 1.60 m high fences followed by a jump-off for competitors with a clear round in the time limit.

Away from the competition ring, visitors will have exclusive access to entertainment, equine education and culinary delights.

The Prestige Village will be a hive of activity with shop displays by iconic luxury brands such as Longines, who will present their latest creations, Gucci and Leica.

The Gaggenau Display Kitchen will offer the public a taste of signature dishes by some of Hong Kong's best chefs with two live cooking demonstrations each day.

Spectators can also enjoy a glass of bubbly at the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar, wines from Bordeau at the Antoine Moueix Tasting Room and stroll around the exhibition specially decorated Longines Hong Kong Masters horse statues by some Hong Kong universities art students.

In between the competitions at the Longines Hong Kong Masters, spectators could better discover the sports at the equestrian clinics, which are hosted by famous CSI 5* riders. Organized daily at the paddock area, some of the world’s best riders, such as London Olympics Gold medalist Ben Maher and local rising stars Kenneth Cheng and Raena Leung, will host a 20-minute session of live coaching sessions.

Meanwhile, equestrian fans will also be able to mingle with some of the biggest names in show jumping world during the Longines Hong Kong Masters. A series of specially scheduled on-site photo and autograph signing sessions are set to take place around the paddock area and at the Leica photo booth.

Exclusive HD video interview with Matthieu Gheysen VP Events Director EEM

Clemence Faivre @ Longines Hong Kong Masters 2013 - HD Video Interview

Longines Hong Kong Masters Pre-Event Press Conference - 27 February 2013

See also: Longines Hong Kong Masters Pre-Event Press Conference - 27 February 2013 and HD Video Interview with Matthieu Gheysen VP Events Director EEM and Clemence Faivre Horse Show HD Video Interview and Ireland’s Denis Lynch Wins Airbus Competition and Longines Speed Challenge Thrills Show Jumping Fans in Hong Kong and Patrice Delaveau Wins US$700,000 Longines Grand Prix in Hong Kong and Patrice Delaveau Wins US$122,500 Gucci Gold Cup and Patrice Delaveau Wins Prix Poggenpohl.

Pictures from Longines Hong Kong Masters 2013

As there are so many Pictures of the Longines Hong Kong Masters 2013 we have cut them up into different pages, so do check out: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9, Page 10, Page 11, Page 12, Page 13, Page 14, Page 15, Page 16, Page 17 and many, many more.