Two members of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Equestrian Team dazzled an international audience with top-class performances in the opening leg of the 2011 FEI World Cup Jumping China League, held in Beijing last weekend (27-28 August).
Samantha Lam saw off fierce competition in the two-day contest to top the scoreboard, while fellow HKJC team member Patrick Lam finished fourth. Both collected a remarkable zero faults after the first two rounds of competition, earning themselves places in a final jump-off.
The event, the first-ever China League organised by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) as part of its World Cup Jumping competition, attracted more than 30 elite riders from eight countries and regions.
Partnering Double Bent, Samantha Lam cleared all fences in the jump-off in just 38.27 seconds, with a third flawless performance earning her top position. Patrick Lam collected just four faults, earning himself fourth place behind Samantha, Vincent Vermeulen from the Netherlands and Li Zhenqiang from Guangdong, China.
“I would like to thank the Club and the many other organisations whose support were indispensable, especially in helping me find the perfect equine partner who brought out the best performance in me”, commented the triumphant Samantha, adding that her wide experience with horses of different temperaments was another key to her success in Beijing.
Samantha and Patrick will now strive for more success in the second and third legs of the competition to be held in late September and mid-October respectively, aiming to qualify for the 2012 FEI World Cup Jumping finals at Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, next April.
As a major supporter of equestrian sports in Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Jockey Club committed HK$50 million to establish the HKJC Equestrian Team and Junior Equestrian Team after the 2008 Olympics. This investment in young talent has already paid off, with Club sponsored riders earning equestrian medals for Hong Kong in major events such as the 2009 National Games and Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has become one of Hong Kong's best known and respected organisations, providing the public with world-class sporting entertainment as well as being the city's major non-Government community benefactor, now donating more than HK$1 billion a year to charitable and community projects. It has been a part of Hong Kong through good times and bad, sharing the city's growth and development with its people, and is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for future generations.
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Photo 1:
Club-sponsored rider Samantha Lam rides a faultless round in the 2011 FEI World Cup Jumping China League, earning her top position after the first leg of the competition.
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Photo 2:
Fellow member of the HKJC Equestrian Team Patrick Lam finishes fourth in the opening leg, after collecting zero faults in the first two rounds and just four in the jump-off.
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Photo 3:
Samantha Lam (left) and Patrick Lam (middle), pictured with another Hong Kong rider Raena Leung (right), will strive to win the second and third legs of the competition in late September and mid-October.
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