Tokyo Games: Hong Kong’s Patrick Lam achieves qualifying standard in show jumping for Olympics
- The 2008 Beijing Olympian scored well in a competition in Spain on Claron CR, though he faces competition to be Hong Kong’s pick for Tokyo
- Kenneth Cheng, Raena Leung and Clarissa Lyra are also in the hunt to represent the city in next year’s Olympic Games
Hong Kong rider Patrick Lam Lap-shun has achieved the qualifying standard to potentially earn him a place in the Olympic show jumping individual event at next year’s Tokyo Games.
The Beijing Games Olympian last month rode Claron CR in the Spanish hilltop town of Vejer de la Frontera during the Espana CS1O3* Nations’ Cup. According to the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation, Lam turned in an excellent round though he suffered an unfortunate four penalties on the final fence.
Three other riders – Kenneth Cheng Man-kit, Raena Leung Hou-ling and Clarissa Lyra – are also trying to achieve the Minimum Eligibility Requirement (MER) by the qualification deadline of 21 June, 2021. Should more than one rider gain MER standards, the local governing body will start a selection process to choose Hong Kong’s show jumping representative for the Tokyo Olympics.
“I’m very excited and happy to achieve the MER and definitely secure a slot at next year’s Olympic Games in show jumping for Hong Kong on my horse Claron,” said Lam.
“It’s been a wonderful partnership for almost two years [with Claron] now and I’m more than thankful the Jockey Club has leased and provided that special horse to me.”
