HOLLYWOOD HEROES IN ACTION AT BEAS RIVER

12 February 2008

Two of Hollywood's best known martial arts superstars have been in action at The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Beas River Country Club recently.

Hong Kong born star Jackie Chan and Guangzhou born Donnie Yen were both promoting Hong Kong's Olympic co-host city status on behalf of the Hong Kong Tourism Board. 

Chan, who is Hong Kong's Tourism Ambassador, and Yen each spent a day out at the Club's Beas River Country Club, venue for the Olympic equestrian events cross-country phase in August when the worldˇs best Eventing riders bid for gold on a course that takes in the undulating fairways of the Hong Kong Golf Club.

Donnie Yen featured in a 30-minute programme hosted by Maria Chen, which was filmed mostly at Beas River, with Yen demonstrating his skill in the saddle for viewers. He said afterwards that he was thrilled with the former racehorse Aim On Honor, which he declared was a lot faster than the Mongolian horses he had ridden in films!

Hong Kong Super City! Super Stars! will be screened on AXN in Hong Kong and South East Asia, as well as other terrestrial and cable channels worldwide in March.

A week later the cameras were back in Beas River to film a 30-second television commercial, this time featuring Jackie Chan, and once again one of the Club's ex-racehorses had a co-starring role.

Fortune Tycoon, a 12-year-old racehorse turned jumper, was impeccably behaved almost throughout, although he did show his sense of humour when nudging Hollywood legend Chan in the back and nearly knocking him over during one take. "It's true", Chan grinned, "you should never act with children or animals!"

There were four children who were just dying to be captured on film with their hero. They didn't quite get their moment in the spotlight, but they did have pictures to take home as treasured mementoes. Holly, Harry, Jian and Blighty proudly sported Jackie Chan's autograph as they posed for photographers with the man himself.

Reuters, CCTV and Phoenix all sent reporters and camera crews to interview Chan, while the television commercial itself will be shown worldwide on National Geographic, AXN, ESPN and Eurosport in March.