Fifteen overseas riders, mostly from southeast Asia, kicked off
part of the prestigious 2007 FEI World Cup southeast Asian league
Friday, along with local competitors of Hong Kong.
The first show in the series of international equestrian events
at the Beas River venue was held on Oct. 5 through Oct. 7, followed
by three four-day shows scheduled on Oct. 11 to Oct. 14, Oct. 25 to
Oct. 28 and Nov. 1 to Nov. 4, respectively.
Australia's Paul Athanasoff and his Drumlough won two of the
three jumping matches Friday while Malaysian rider Qabil Ambak and
his Amadeus van de Boswinning garnered the other title.
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The Hong Kong Equestrian Federation said leading riders from
Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Sweden and Australia were competing
in the jumping competitions, which forms part of the 2007 FEI World
Cup Southeast Asian league along with events in Malaysia.
The winner of the Southeast Asian league would be invited to
compete in the 2008 FEI World Cup jumping final in Gothenburg,
Sweden.
The series of international events in Hong Kong comprise
dressage and jumping.
Whereas horse racing in jockey clubs has long been an essential
part of Hong Kong's local culture, the relevant but distinct
equestrian sports remained little known in Hong Kong until
recently, when the city was asked to co-host 2008 Beijing Olympics
' equestrian events and local authorities began promoting the
sports heavily.
One of the main purposes of the series of international events
is "to promote the sports among the local public," said a
spokeswoman for the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation, one of the key
organizations involved in the sports locally.
Watching Friday's competitions were students in school uniforms
and local enthusiasts carrying cameras to shoot the show. Game
booths were also established at the venue, forming part of a
carnival on the weekends aimed at promoting the sports.
The shows subvented by the Leisure and Cultural Services
Department are open to the public and free tickets can be collected
from outlets across the city.
Local sports officials said recently the equestrian sports had
come to be better known recently, citing young people's knowledge
resulting from Olympic enthusiasm.
Hong Kong, which has been investing vast amount of resources in
preparing for the world's most acclaimed sports event, is
determined to stage the most successful Olympics along with
Beijing, they said.
(Xinhua News Agency October 6, 2007)