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)