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Club's elite riders to be Hong Kong medal hopefuls at Guangzhou Asian Games

10/11/2010

Ten of the city's elite riders, all connected with The Hong Kong Jockey Club, were named by Hong Kong Equestrian Federation today (10 November) as members of the Hong Kong SAR equestrian team for the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games starting next week.

They will form Hong Kong’s largest-ever equestrian team at an Asian Games and are considered strong medal challengers for the 16th Asian Games.  The equestrian competitions will see 17 Asian nations or regions contesting six gold medals in three disciplines.

At the presentation of the Hong Kong SAR equestrian team today, Club Chairman T Brian Stevenson said he was delighted to see that all ten riders had some form of association with the Club, having either learnt the sport at one of the Club’s riding schools or worked as instructors there.  "Currently, two are HKJC Members, one – Bee Chan – is our senior riding instructor, and four are sponsored Club riders, namely Patrick Lam, Samantha Lam and Kenneth Cheng from the Senior Team, and Jacqueline Lai, graduating from the Junior Team," he noted.

Among the Club-sponsored riders, Patrick Lam, Samantha Lam and Cheng have already finished their training and competition programmes for the Games and are now exercising their equine partners – horses purchased by the Club's Charities Trust – in a quarantine stable in Germany, to maintain their fitness for the competition.  Along with Lai, they will form Hong Kong's jumping team, battling against other Asian riders for team and individual gold medals.

Likewise Chan, who works at the Club's Tuen Mun Public Riding School and is one of its most experienced local riding instructors, has been given Club sponsorship to receive four months' intensive training in Germany, prompting his selection as a member of the Hong Kong's eventing team for the Games.  He previously represented Hong Kong in the jumping competition at the equestrian events of the Bangkok 1998 Asian Games.

As one of Hong Kong's major sporting organisations and its largest charitable benefactor, the Club has long played an important role in promoting equestrian sport, most notably through its equestrian centre at Beas River and three public riding schools, which are becoming more popular every year and assist both able-bodied and disabled athletes.

Following its support for Hong Kong's Olympic equestrian team, the Club committed a further HK$50 million to establish an HKJC Equestrian Team and Junior Equestrian Team with the aim of helping the city's elite riders receive professional training overseas, with an eye on major upcoming events like the Asian Games and the 2012 Olympics. 

"These investments have clearly paid off, as our sponsored riders have achieved some outstanding results for Hong Kong in the past year, including a gold and two bronze medals at the 11th National Games, and a silver medal at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games," Mr Stevenson commented.

This year, the Club has also donated HK$2.2 million to Hong Kong Equestrian Federation to assist in their preparation for the Asian Games.

The equestrian competitions of the Guangzhou Asian Games will start on 14 November at a first-class venue in Conghua, designed and built by the Club.  Mr Stevenson said the Club was invited by the Games Organising Committee to take on the project after Hong Kong's successful staging of the equestrian events of the Beijing 2008 Olympics and Paralympics.  "In the Club's view, it fulfils three major objectives: supporting the Asian Games, furthering Hong Kong's Olympic legacy, and advancing the development of equine sports on Mainland China," he explained.

In addition, the Club is providing consultancy and expert support for the Games across a wide range of professional services including horse transportation, quarantine control, stables management, and competition equipment.  The Club has also helped train the event organisers.

Most significantly, Mr Stevenson explained, the Club had helped establish an internationally-recognised Specific Equine Disease-free Zone covering the area between Hong Kong and Conghua.  This development, the first-ever on the Mainland, will enable horses from around the world to return to their home countries or regions after the Games, and paves the way for the future development of equine sport within Mainland China.

In recognition of the Club's support, the Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee has honoured the Club with the title of "Outstanding Contributor, Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games Equestrian Events".

Congratulating the ten selected riders and wishing them every success in bringing back medals for Hong Kong, Mr Stevenson observed that as a sports lover himself, he knew what a vital role spectators played in all sporting events.  "May I urge Hong Kong people to come out in force to give our equestrian team their support, and be our 11th man at Conghua next week," he exhorted.

At the presentation of the Hong Kong SAR equestrian team today (10 November), Club Chairman T Brian Stevenson says he is delighted to see that all ten riders of the Hong Kong SAR equestrian team for the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games have some form of association with the Club.
Photo 1:
At the presentation of the Hong Kong SAR equestrian team today (10 November), Club Chairman T Brian Stevenson says he is delighted to see that all ten riders of the Hong Kong SAR equestrian team for the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games have some form of association with the Club.

(Back row): Club Chaiman T Brian Stevenson (fifth from left); President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China Timothy Fok (third from left); President of Hong Kong Equestrian Federation Dr Simon Ip (fourth from left): Vice President of Hong Kong Equestrian Federation Michael Lee (fourth from right); Chief Executive Officer of Lee and Man Paper Manufacturing Limited Raymond Lee (second from left);  Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (third from right); Deputy Director of the Leisure and Cultural Services Bobby Cheng (second from right); Hon Secretary General of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China Pang Chung (first from left); and Director of Gruppo Basic International Limited Alan Chu (first from right).

(Front row): (From left) Five members of the Hong Kong SAR equestrian team for the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games Jacqueline Siu (dressage rider), Bee Chan (eventing rider), Annie Ho (eventing rider), Jennifer Lee (eventing rider) and Nicole Pearson (eventing rider), with Chef D!| Equipe Gerald Kuh.
Photo 2:
(Back row): Club Chaiman T Brian Stevenson (fifth from left); President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China Timothy Fok (third from left); President of Hong Kong Equestrian Federation Dr Simon Ip (fourth from left): Vice President of Hong Kong Equestrian Federation Michael Lee (fourth from right); Chief Executive Officer of Lee and Man Paper Manufacturing Limited Raymond Lee (second from left); Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (third from right); Deputy Director of the Leisure and Cultural Services Bobby Cheng (second from right); Hon Secretary General of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China Pang Chung (first from left); and Director of Gruppo Basic International Limited Alan Chu (first from right). (Front row): (From left) Five members of the Hong Kong SAR equestrian team for the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games Jacqueline Siu (dressage rider), Bee Chan (eventing rider), Annie Ho (eventing rider), Jennifer Lee (eventing rider) and Nicole Pearson (eventing rider), with Chef D!| Equipe Gerald Kuh.

In recognition of the Club!|s huge contribution to the Hong Kong SAR equestrian team, President of Hong Kong Equestrian Federation Dr Simon Ip (right) presents a souvenir to Club Chairman T Brian Stevenson. The Club has donated HK$ 2.2 millions to Hong Kong Equestrian Federation to assist in their preparation for the Asian Games.
Photo 3:
In recognition of the Club!|s huge contribution to the Hong Kong SAR equestrian team, President of Hong Kong Equestrian Federation Dr Simon Ip (right) presents a souvenir to Club Chairman T Brian Stevenson. The Club has donated HK$ 2.2 millions to Hong Kong Equestrian Federation to assist in their preparation for the Asian Games.

Five riders of the Hong Kong SAR equestrian team are all ready for the Games. Total ten of the city's elite riders, all connected with The Hong Kong Jockey Club, form Hong Kong!|s largest-ever equestrian team at an Asian Games, and are considered strong medal challengers for the 16th Asian Games.
Photo 4:
Five riders of the Hong Kong SAR equestrian team are all ready for the Games. Total ten of the city's elite riders, all connected with The Hong Kong Jockey Club, form Hong Kong!|s largest-ever equestrian team at an Asian Games, and are considered strong medal challengers for the 16th Asian Games.

 

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