Longines Equestrian Beijing Masters: On the Tracks of History

Jeroen Dubbeldam, Scott Brash, Maikel van der Vleuten and Jane Richard Philips at the Summer Palast in Beijing (Photo: Longines Equestrian Beijing Masters/Arnd Bronkhorst)

Before the first international competition of the “Longines Equestrian Beijing Masters”, the floodlit team jumping competition on Saturday evening, some of the international riders took advantage of the sunny weather to go on a sightseeing tour.

Together with his Dutch compatriot Maikel van der Vleuten, the Swiss rider Jane Richard Philips and the current number one in the world rankings, the British show-jumper Scott Brash, the reigning double World and European Champion Jeroen Dubbeldam visited the Summer Palace that dates back to the 18th Century and which is considered to be a masterpiece of Chinese architecture. Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, on the other hand, decided to brush up on some modern history and chose to follow the tracks of his own past instead: He visited the “Olympic Wall of Fame” on the outdoor grounds of the Beijing Olympic Stadium, where his silver medal victory at the 2008 Olympic Summer Games is namely engraved.

 Rolf-Göran Bengtsson visiting the “Olympic Wall of Fame” at the Bird’s Nest. (Photo: Longines Equestrian Beijing Masters/Arnd Bronkhorst)

However, all of the international riders were back at the “Bird’s Nest” in time to walk the course for the team jumping competition to support their Chinese team colleagues. Because this evening each team comprising of one international rider and two Chinese riders will be battling it out for victory.

The starting list and the results can be found here.

For more information visit www.beijingmasters.com