Members of Club's Junior Equestrian Training Squad move closer to Youth Olympics

07/19/2013

Four members of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Junior Equestrian Training Squad (JETS) – Patricia Chan, Lennard Chiang, Leung Oi Man and Michelle Li – all performed well today (19 July) in Category A of the Beijing FEI World Jumping Challenge to strengthen their chances of competing in the second Youth Olympic Games next year.

The two-day Beijing FEI World Jumping Challenge was the first international show contested by the JETS since the squad was established in March 2013, and the Category A competition, with fences going up to 1.2 metres, was one of the qualifying events for the 2014 Youth Olympics.

After four rounds of competition, Chan won individual bronze among 43 riders with 3 clear rounds and 4 penalty points, while Leung and Chiang claimed 11th and 15th places respectively.

These excellent performances mean that the four attending members have successfully obtained Certificates of Capability, allowing them to be selected for the second Youth Olympics to be staged in Nanjing in August 2014.

To enhance the squad’s experience in international training and competition, the Club will sponsor Chan, Chiang and Leung for two weeks’ training in Germany this August.  This aligns with the Club’s continued commitment to supporting the development of local equestrian sport, as well as helping talented local equestrian riders compete at international level. 

The Club established its Equestrian Team and Junior Equestrian Team at the end of 2008.  A number of international awards have also been achieved by Club-sponsored riders, including a silver medal by Jasmine Lai at the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore in 2010, an individual gold medal by her sister Jacqueline in China's 2009 National Showjumping Championship, and a historic team bronze medal by the senior team at the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games. 

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is not only one of the world's leading horse racing organisations but also a world top 15 charitable organisation and Hong Kong’s largest community contributor, donating HK$1.7 billion in 2012. It is also a major taxpayer, Hong Kong's single largest by far, generating over HK$16 billion a year for public funds. The Club pioneers technology applications for sporting and betting entertainment, striving for the highest levels of customer service. As a membership club, it is recognised as one of Asia’s most prestigious, with more than 23,000 members. These multifaceted roles make it a well-respected and remarkable organisation, dedicated to its mission of enhancing the quality of life for all Hong Kong people.