From an FEI Press Release by Malina Gueorguiev

Hong Kong, China - Following Sunday’s cross-country, the top three riders—Frank Ostholt, Dirk Schrade and Shane Rose—suffered no change in the standings as a result of Monday’s jumping test at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Germany’s Ostholt and After the Battle finished on their dressage score of 53.4 and won the Good Luck Beijing – HKSAR 10th Anniversary Cup Eventing Competition. Another German, Schrade (GER) on Grand Amour was second (54.6) and Rose of Australia riding Stratford Novalis was third (66.6).

The highest placed U.S. rider was Buck Davidson on Ballynoe Castle RM. The pair finished seventh, jumping two double clean show jumping rounds and adding only time penalties on the cross country to their dressage score. The other American combination of Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch were fifteenth.



The Jumping phase took place in the evening under floodlights. Despite the fact that the sun had set, the temperature remained high (30°C) but humidity had mercifully come down to 75%.



It was a great finale to an altogether successful test event. Even though Monday’s result was not so much about winning or losing, Frank Ostholt was delighted by his victory.

“It was very useful for us to come here,” he said. “Our team came to gain insights but winning makes this trip extra sweet.”

The riders’ major interest was the effect heat and humidity had on their horses. Most found that the animal athletes took the very testing weather conditions better than the humans. In addition to the team veterinarians, an international group of 30 experts had their eyes on them gathering flight recovery and acclimatization data. Information on weight, water intake, and blood parameters was collected. It will be compiled in a comprehensive report which will be made public as soon as it becomes available. Special effort was made to cool the horses down after every major workout. Forty tons of ice cubes were used yesterday on the Cross Country.

The organization and the efforts of the Hong Kong Organizers have been praised and appreciated by all. However, some improvement will need to be done in the remaining year. The quality and speed of communications is one of them.

More than 1,000 police officers were deployed on each of the competition days but it is too early to tell if any adjustments to manpower for next year will be necessary.

A field of 20 local riders from Hong Kong riding schools took part in a national class. This is the first Eventing competition of a significant level in Hong Kong. FEI Officials were pleasantly surprised by the high quality of horses and riders who displayed real knowledge and who, most importantly, fully enjoyed the ride. The winner was Tara Delaney on Gagnant (52.9).

Since apart from racing equestrian sports have no tradition in Hong Kong, the test event was also an excellent opportunity for the public to become familiar with equestrian sport and to get its first taste of Olympic spirit.

ENDS