Hong Kong equestrian Lyra learns age is no barrier to success at inspiring 5-star show
Clarissa Lyra treasures opportunity to watch likes of Roger-Yves Bost and Olympic silver medallist John Whittaker in action at horse show
Clarissa Lyra will enter the competition ring in Italy this week confident that time is on her side in her quest to join the equestrian elite, after she witnessed two veteran riders shine at The Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show last weekend.
The 60-year-old Roger-Yves Bost claimed the flagship Longines Grand Prix title on Sunday at AsiaWorld-Expo, where the lusty cheers for the winner were matched by those for 70-year-old rival John Whitaker, an Olympic silver medallist in 1984.
There was more encouragement for Lyra, 29, in that she felt “more relaxed and confident in my ability to take on the course” than in her two previous five-star competitions.
Lyra also noted the enormous difference in mindset from her first major home competition, The Longines Masters of Hong Kong in 2018.
“That was such a big ask because I was so inexperienced … although I still am at this level compared to the other riders,” she said. “I take everything as an amazing opportunity to learn. I spent time last weekend studying the others: how they warmed up, the decisions they made while walking and executing the course.
“I’m not at that level but I aspire to be, so I take in as much as possible and try to get a bit better every year.”