Transporting the elite of international show jumping from one side of the world to the other is no mean feat. This Sunday, Valentine's Day, sixty four horses due to take part in the Longines Masters of Hong Kong boarded a flight in Liège for their journey to China, where they landed safely yesterday morning at 9.30am French time. The stars of show jumping, along with horses from the Chantilly Polo Club who will be competing in the Shanghai Tai Polo Cup, are now ready for the 2016 Longines Masters of Hong Kong, to be held from 19th to 21st February in AsiaWorld-Expo. The champions are used to long journeys by road and air, and this doesn’t stress them at all, especially as they benefit from the best possible travelling conditions. In the aeroplane, there are two or three horses per pallet in exactly the same position as when they travel by road, giving them ample opportunity to rest in flight. So on arrival at the Longines Masters of Hong Kong international stables, and thanks also to the logistics support provided by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, founding partner of this Asian leg, they have few signs of jet lag: “It doesn’t affect them much,” says Patrice Delaveau. “They are used to jumping at many different times of day. Some shows take place early in the morning and others in the middle of the night.” These aces will now have two days to familiarise themselves with the environment of this unmissable fixture on the international show jumping calendar. Around thirty riders will be in Hong Kong for this Asian leg of the Longines Masters Intercontinental Series. Legendary riders such as Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum, and legend Britain’s John Whitaker (winner of the Longines Grand Prix last year), but also the current best riders will also be present in Hong-Kong. Marco Kutscher (in the running for a second non-consecutive victory), Pius Schwizer, Bertram Allen (winner of the Longines Speed Challenge in Los Angeles), Daniel Deusser, Maikel van der Vleuten, Gerco Schröder and Jane Richards Philips to name just a few; none of them wanted to miss this Asian leg of the Longines Masters Series. And the French riders will not be left out as World number 2 Simon Delestre, the current team world silver medallist Patrice Delaveau (who will be aiming for a second consecutive victory for the Masters Grand Slam Super Bonus), as well as Kevin Staut (recent winner of the World Cup leg in Bordeaux), Roger-Yves Bost and Philippe Rozier will be competing in the ring of the Longines Masters Hong Kong.
Transporting the elite of international show jumping from one side of the world to the other is no mean feat. This Sunday, Valentine's Day, sixty four horses due to take part in the Longines Masters of Hong Kong boarded a flight in Liège for their journey to China, where they landed safely yesterday morning at 9.30am French time. The stars of show jumping, along with horses from the Chantilly Polo Club who will be competing in the Shanghai Tai Polo Cup, are now ready for the 2016 Longines Masters of Hong Kong, to be held from 19th to 21st February in AsiaWorld-Expo. The champions are used to long journeys by road and air, and this doesn’t stress them at all, especially as they benefit from the best possible travelling conditions. In the aeroplane, there are two or three horses per pallet in exactly the same position as when they travel by road, giving them ample opportunity to rest in flight. So on arrival at the Longines Masters of Hong Kong international stables, and thanks also to the logistics support provided by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, founding partner of this Asian leg, they have few signs of jet lag: “It doesn’t affect them much,” says Patrice Delaveau. “They are used to jumping at many different times of day. Some shows take place early in the morning and others in the middle of the night.” These aces will now have two days to familiarise themselves with the environment of this unmissable fixture on the international show jumping calendar. Around thirty riders will be in Hong Kong for this Asian leg of the Longines Masters Intercontinental Series. Legendary riders such as Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum, and legend Britain’s John Whitaker (winner of the Longines Grand Prix last year), but also the current best riders will also be present in Hong-Kong. Marco Kutscher (in the running for a second non-consecutive victory), Pius Schwizer, Bertram Allen (winner of the Longines Speed Challenge in Los Angeles), Daniel Deusser, Maikel van der Vleuten, Gerco Schröder and Jane Richards Philips to name just a few; none of them wanted to miss this Asian leg of the Longines Masters Series. And the French riders will not be left out as World number 2 Simon Delestre, the current team world silver medallist Patrice Delaveau (who will be aiming for a second consecutive victory for the Masters Grand Slam Super Bonus), as well as Kevin Staut (recent winner of the World Cup leg in Bordeaux), Roger-Yves Bost and Philippe Rozier will be competing in the ring of the Longines Masters Hong Kong.