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2018 Longines Masters of Hong Kong announces full lineup
With the memorable conclusion of the Longines Masters of Paris Season III on December 3, 2017, the intercontinental Longines Masters Series will enter its halfway point of the season as it travels to Hong Kong on February 9 – 11, 2018 at AsiaWorld-Expo, before the finale to be held on April 26 – 29, 2018 in New York.
In the run-up to its sixth sensational year, this week the Longines Masters of Hong Kong organised a pre-event rendezvous to announce detailed program schedules of its 2018 edition showdown, slated to open February 9-11, 2018, bringing a spectacular sight of elegance and sportsmanship unique to show jumping, alongside a carefully curated feast of entertainment and art de vivre experience to audiences at AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong.
Besides details of the event’s key competitions, the Jan 16 preview at Macey & Sons’ Lot88 Gallery, the Official Art Gallery Partner of the Longines Masters of Hong Kong who hosted today’s gathering and will showcase some of the participating artists in the show jumping event, offered a great opportunity for friends from the media to meet not only the organiser EEM and partners of the 2018 Longines Masters of Hong Kong, namely Longines, Title Partner and Official Timekeeper of the series, DBS, Maserati and more, but also the selected Hong Kong riders who will vie for coveted titles of their categories in the February event via Skype.
Introducing the program of the 2018 Longines Masters of Hong Kong at today’s event, Mr. Christophe Ameeuw, CEO of EEM, Founder of the Longines Masters Series, commented, “This year, we are proud to present three days of competition, events and emotion, where the best of lifestyle will rub shoulders with the top in sports. We are particularly thrilled to welcome in our new Official Partners DBS and Maserati. We hope our collaboration will further benefit the development of equestrian sports in Hong Kong.”
Together with other partners reeled in for 2018 Longines Masters of Hong Kong, they were all joined by friends from the media today amidst the flow of genial conversation and the clinking of glasses.
There will be alongside a stellar cast of exhibitors help delivering an exquisite lifestyle experience at the Prestige Village, such as Title Partner Longines which will display the Official Watch of the event, the Record collection, in its elegant boutique; Hermes, whose luxurious leather products especially those for sports surprise the equestrian community; Devialet, whose audio entertainment solutions add depth to the excitement of the show jumping event; as well as Macey and Sons, who will bring reputed artists in the globe and their masterpieces. To even add more colors to the glamourous entertainment, Longines Ambassador of Elegance, Ms Chi Ling Lin, will do the honors of her presence on Saturday evening, during the Longines Speed Challenge. In addition, Clemence Faivre will be again invited to show her talents and seamless partnership with horses through her creative and astonishing equestrian performance. MC RiverJaxx, the consummate entertainer emerged from one of the Holland’s best and most-loved covered bands, will get party in full swing and lead the event to another climax with us this year.
Dedicated to promoting equestrian sports to the widest possible international audience, EEM, the company that founded, owns and organises the series, will offer once again this year, with full support from its Title Partner Longines as well as the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Founding Partner of the Hong Kong leg, three days of sumptuous sporting display comprising not least the highly anticipated Longines Grand Prix (Feb 11, 2:45p.m.), and the iconic Longines Speed Challenge (Feb 10, 8:15p.m.), where the world’s fastest riders compete in a race against the clock. Heated showdown continues in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy (Feb 9, 8:45p.m.), presented by the Hong Kong Jockey Club who has been offering staunch support to the Longines Masters of Hong Kong ever since its beginning in 2013.
This year sees the historic moment in the Asian leg of Longines Masters, when more than one Hong Kong representative will be saddled up for the competitions. In fact, two local stars will appear in the ring, alongside top-flight riders across the world. Jacqueline Lai (26), member of the HKJC Equestrian Team, will represent Hong Kong in the city’s major annual show jumping event for the third consecutive year. With multiple podium finishes under her belt, Jacqueline is one of Hong Kong’s first-ever equestrian medalists at Asian Games, taking team bronze in 2010 with three other teammates. Another Hong Kong representative is the 21-year-old Clarissa Lyra, whose passion for equestrian sports has spurred her to pursuing greater achievements at the highest level in Europe. Based at Ludger Beerbaum’s Stable in Riesenbeck, Germany since 2017, Clarissa was selected as a member of the Hong Kong Equestrian Performance Plan Elite Squad in 2016. She has proven her skills in Grand Prix and FEI ranking classes.
The 2018 edition of Longines Masters of Hong Kong gets an impactful boost from EEM.tv, a new milestone in EEM’s mission to grow and promote equestrian sports on the international scene through educational content, information and latest news about the global equestrian community. This new digital TV channel allows viewers around the world to access live broadcast and highlights of the Longines Masters competitions free of charge. Awarded the “Best Live Experience at a Professional Sporting Event” by the Sports Industry Awards Asia, the 2018 Longines Masters of Hong Kong will offer heart-pounding show jumping face-offs and a remarkable feast of art, culture and gastronomy at the Prestige Village, confirming its “M” Mark status that helps enhance the image of Hong Kong as Asia’s sports event capital. The “M” Mark, awarded by the Major Sports Events Committee, symbolizes intense, spectacular and signature event on the territory’s sports calendar.
