Lucinda FredericksBANKING ON EVENTING

 

                      

 

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 4* events which will be known as the HSBC FEI Classics. The five 4*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:

24-27 April: Rolex Kentucky Three-Day-Event (USA)
1-4 May: Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR)
12-15 June: Luhmühlen CCI**** presented by E.ON (GER)
4-7 September: Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR)
22-26 October: Les étoiles de Pau (FRA)

The top ten riders at each 4* event will amass vital points which go towards the HSBC FEI Classics overall ranking where the top five are awarded with prize money. The US$1,000,000 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: U$ 150,000
2nd: U$ 75,000
3rd: U$ 50,000
4th: U$ 33,333
5th: U$ 25,000

“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,” points 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.

 

For further information please contact:
Octagon (on behalf of HSBC):
Philippa Baillie
Email: philippa.baillie@octagon.com

FEI:
Malina Gueorguiev, FEI Communications Manager
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org