In addition to being the exclusive financial services partner to the FEI, HSBC, the world’s local bank, has made a commitment to the discipline of eventing on a global basis. This commitment will cover the prestigious four-star events, which will be known as the HSBC FEI Classics. The five four-star events currently on the FEI calendar will make up the HSBC FEI Classics; these events not only have the richest tradition but are also the pinnacle of eventing attracting the best riders and horses in the world.
Giles Morgan, HSBC’s Group Head of Sponsorship commented, “HSBC is delighted to become a partner of the FEI and a major sponsor of eventing. It is a sport that provides equal opportunity for men and women, and is truly global in scale. We look forward to an exciting partnership, particularly the development of the HSBC FEI Classics.”
The 2008 HSBC FEI Classics is as follows:
April 24-27: Rolex Kentucky Three-Day-Event (USA)
May 1-4: Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR)
June 12-15: Luhmühlen CCI**** presented by E.ON (GER)
September 4-7: Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR)
October 22-26: Les étoiles de Pau (FRA)
The top 10 riders at each four-star event will amass vital points, which go towards the HSBC FEI Classics overall ranking where the top five are awarded with prize money. The $1,000,000 U.S. contributed by HSBC will be distributed over the next three years, which when broken down makes the highest prize pot available in the world of eventing on a yearly basis.
1st: $150,000 U.S.
2nd: $75,000 U.S.
3rd: $50,000 U.S.
4th: $33,333 U.S.
5th: $25,000 U.S.
“This is fantastic news. Hopefully this sort of prize fund will help raise the profile of the sport generating more media interest, give riders a thrilling target and reward the sponsors. Eventing is renowned for low prize money levels, so this is a very exciting step forward,” pointed out multi-World, Olympic, and European medallist, Badminton and four-time Burghley winner William Fox-Pitt.
“We are convinced that this new formula will mark the start of a new chapter in the development of eventing and have no doubt that this energizing momentum will also have positive effects on equestrian sport in general,” said Alex McLin, FEI Secretary General.
About HSBC Bank
HSBC serves 15.6-million customers in the U.K. and employs more than 40,000 U.K. staff. HSBC is Britain's most recommended big bank. HSBC Bank, plc, is a wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings, plc, and a member of the HSBC Group. HSBC Holdings, plc, serves over 125 million customers worldwide through some 10,000 offices in 82 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. HSBC is embedding sustainability into its core financial services business. This starts with its own operations. The bank measures its use of energy and water and production of waste and carbon dioxide across its offices around the world. It has also set targets to reduce these.