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Paul McNamara

Jacqueline Siu Wing-ying has said Hong Kong’s riders “mean business” for the FEI Asian Championships after they began their campaign in Thailand with team dressage bronze.
The trio of Siu, Annie Ho Yuen-yan and Samantha Chan finished third on Tuesday with 203.235 points, behind the victorious hosts’ 205.853 and India’s 204.059 on the opening day of the two-week meeting.
Hong Kong claimed five medals from the last championships in 2019, including one gold, but none from the dressage disciplines. The individual dressage will be staged on Thursday.
“It’s always an honour to represent Hong Kong at major tournaments,” Siu said. “[Bronze] reflects the determination, dedication and passion we have for our sport and our region. It’s a wonderful feeling.”
Siu said it showed that “Hong Kong are here and mean business”.

Siu, 42, won Asian Games individual dressage gold in 2018, and silver five years later, when she also combined with Ho and Chan for team bronze.
“We supported each other and worked hard together to achieve this,” Siu said.
“It was fantastic to have so many supporters here … when the results were announced there were many hugs of congratulations, and a few tears shed. My parents came to cheer me on, which was very special.”
Chan said the medal in Pattaya had been “so important for Hong Kong dressage because it shows our Asian Games bronze was not just a one-off”.
“The sport and discipline is growing, and hopefully us continuing to achieve such great results can help inspire our upcoming young riders for future years,” she said.
On Wednesday, Fleur Schrader duly added individual para dressage bronze for Hong Kong. The 27-year-old’s score of 66.467 beat teammates Timothy Tsang Tin-chi (66.233) and Louie Lam Lok-yee (64.586) into fourth and fifth respectively. Singaporean Laurentia Tan’s 74.375 saw her run away with gold.
Amid Tuesday’s celebrations, Chan rushed to message teammate Hannah Cheung, who is not in Pattaya. “We grew up riding together in Hong Kong, and although we aren’t in the same physical place together, she is the first one I talk through problems with, especially when I’m struggling with my riding,” Chan said.
In common with Ho, Chan competed in this month’s National Games, on other horses assigned by a random draw. She said the speedy turnaround, coupled with training for two major competitions, had been “extremely challenging, but extremely fulfilling”.
“Representing Hong Kong at both events is an honour,” said Chan, who was reunited with mount Quaesar when she arrived in Thailand. “I was confident our partnership was solid and we could show our best form. I was also able to use everything I learned on the different horses I rode on the mainland.”
Chan said competing as a team provided a “special feeling” because “dressage and equestrian in general can sometimes be a bit lonely”.

“It creates more pressure, as your teammates rely on you, but it also brings us together,” Chan said, adding that it was “truly magical to be here in real life with my best friend Quaesar” after she had watched the 2019 championships from afar.
“To be able to achieve such a great result on the first day of competition makes me optimistic for the days to come,” Chan said.
Ho similarly had not ridden Southern Cross Braemar for a month before getting to Pattaya.
“It was a challenge having the championships so close together … it was only manageable because of our great support team,” she said.
“It feels amazing to win another team dressage medal for Hong Kong. Hopefully … it will encourage riders to take up the discipline so we can add more depth to our squad.
“It also means we can look forward to next year’s Asian Games in a positive way and start building towards that.”
Schrader, meanwhile, called her bronze performance “flowing and smooth”.
“My horse [Jockey Club Todays Special] is very consistent,” she said. “From the warm-up to when we enter the arena, he doesn’t bat an eyelid at anything. He stays very cool … it’s a comfort to me.”


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Hong Kong

Jacqueline Siu, Annie Ho and Samantha Chan on podium on opening day in Thailand, then Fleur Schrader achieves the same on day two


Jacqueline Siu, Annie Ho and Samantha Chan on podium on opening day in Thailand, then Fleur Schrader achieves the same on day two.


Hong Kong team ‘mean business’ with 2 dressage bronzes at Asian Championships

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Jacqueline Siu, Annie Ho and Samantha Chan on podium on opening day in Thailand, then Fleur Schrader achieves the same on day two

Jacqueline Siu, Annie Ho and Samantha Chan on podium on opening day in Thailand, then Fleur Schrader achieves the same on day two