LONGINES HONG KONG MASTERS

Winning Streak

Asia’s premier showjumping event, the Longines Hong Kong Masters, returned to the city as part of its three-continent series. The sold-out three-day event was one of the hottest tickets in town, with numerous celebrities and socialites in attendance.

The action got under way on the Friday evening with riders competing for the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy. Ireland’s Bertram Allen won the title. The audience was enthralled by the nimble riders and their majestic horses, which usually managed to glide faultlessly over each of the fences.

The Longines Speed Challenge headlined the competition on Saturday, with horses and riders displaying their power and precision in races against the clock. The tension of the challenge, which Allen also won, gave way to an evening of festivities under the musical mastery of French DJ duo Cassius, flown in specially to perform in Hong Kong for the first time. The renowned pair, Philippe Zdar and Boom Bass, had guests dancing well into the wee hours.

The climax of the competition came on Sunday, with Germany’s Marco Kutscher winning the Longines Grand Prix and HK$3 million. In the process, he also became the first rider in history to win the ¤250,000 Grand Slam Indoor Super Bonus for winning a second consecutive Grand Prix, having also triumphed in the American leg of the series in October last year.