Hong Kong Jockey Club Equestrian Team wins maiden international award

24 April 2009

Since the Hong Kong Jockey Club Equestrian Team was established last December its members have been undergoing intensive training.  Last weekend the team made its overseas competition debut when senior rider Gaelle Tong and junior team members Jacqueline and Jasmine Lai took part in the KRA Cup CSI 2* competition in Korea, striking immediate success by winning a silver medal.

The KRA Cup CSI 2* is a two-star international jumping competition over fences of 1.1m high organised by the Korea Racing Authority (KRA), the official racing authority in Korea.  The event was staged at the Seoul Olympic Equestrian Park from 17 to 19 April.  After two rounds of competition, the Club's Equestrian Team had outjumped several other strong Asian teams including Korea, Chinese Taipei and Singapore to win the silver medal in the team competition, collecting only 21 faults - just five more than the winning Japanese team.

Jasmine Lai, the younger of the Lai sisters at 17, acquitted herself especially well by completing a clear round in the team competition, one of only three competitors to do so.  Jasmine also represented Hong Kong in the individual competition for Asian riders, jumping another clear round to claim fourth place.

The riders had to compete with horses provided by the organiser and were given only some 20 minutes each to familiarise themselves with their mounts, a challenge that requires strong riding skills as well as a high level of adaptability and flexibility.

The encouraging results of the HKJC Equestrian Team in the KRA Cup CSI 2* have boosted the confidence of all the team members.  They are now working hard to qualify for the 2010 Asian Games and other international events, hoping to win further honours for Hong Kong.