Debut Hong Kong equestrian event hailed as runaway success

They will have to double the order next year for fresh sea bass from Brussels, with organisers thrilled by the public reception in its inaugural year. While organisers refused to reveal sponsorship details, it is understood Longines is on board for five years.

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Matthieu Gheysen (left), director of Longines Hong Kong Masters, and Walter Von Kanel, President of Longines. Photo: Warton Li

Published: 12:00am, 3 Mar 2013Updated: 6:37am, 3 Mar 2013

They will have to double the order next year for fresh sea bass from Brussels, with organisers thrilled by the public reception in its inaugural year.

"The feedback is very positive. The riders love it and the public have received it warmly," said Matthieu Gheysen, vice-president of EEM Asia (Equestrian Event Management), as the curtain came down last night on the Longines Hong Kong Masters. "Now we want to make it bigger, and of course better."

While organisers refused to reveal sponsorship details, it is understood Longines is on board for five years.

"This is the start of a long love story for Hong Kong," said Gheysen.

Plans are afoot to double the seating capacity of the competition area at AsiaWorld-Expo which this week has hosted 60 VIP tables - the corporate crowd quaffing champagne and tucking into exquisite three-course meals prepared by Michelin-starred culinary experts - and 2,250 public seats. It was a full house on two of the three days.

Hong Kong Equestrian Federation president Simon Ip Sik-on praised the first leg of the World Masters Indoors - New York in October and Paris in December are the other stops.