The 100-day countdown to the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2011 is being celebrated today at an international media event held at Luhmühlen (GER), which on 25-28 August will be hosting the championships for the fifth time since they were created in 1953.

Eventing legend Captain Mark Philips (GBR) welcomed guests to the brand new site, which is expected to attract record numbers of fans this year to commemorate the 30th running of the FEI European Eventing Championships. He was joined by German team coach Hans Melzer and Olympians Marina Köhncke (GER) and Andreas Dibowski (GER). 

HSBC has agreed a further three-year term as global sponsor of FEI Eventing to include title sponsorships of the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships in both 2011 and 2013 and the HSBC FEI Classics™ until the end of 2013. Luhmühlen will host the third leg of the HSBC FEI Classics™ 2011 series on 16-19 June.

HSBC has supported the FEI Classics™ series since 2008 and will be contributing US$ 1 million in prize money over the next three years, which represents the biggest prize pot on offer in Eventing on an annual basis.

“These are exiting times with Luhmühlen setting the scene for the 30th FEI European Eventing Championships as well as the third leg of the hotly contested HSBC FEI Classics™ 2011 series,” explained Giles Morgan, HSBC Group Head of Sponsorship. “We are looking forward to our continued involvement in these high-action events over the next three years.”

Read about HSBC’s involvement with the FEI and equestrian sports here.

Rolex - Official Timepiece of the Europeans
Rolex, the leading name in luxury wrist watches, will be the Official Timekeeper for the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2011.

Notes to editors

2013 HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships
The FEI European Eventing Championships 2013 will be held in Malmö (August 29 - September 1).

HSBC FEI Classics™ 2011 Calendar
1. Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR) - 22-25 April
2. Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA) - 28 April-1 May
3. Luhmühlen CCI 4* presented by E.ON (GER) - 16-19 June
4. The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR) - 1-4 September
5. Les Etoiles de Pau CCI 4* (FRA) - 12-16 October

HSBC FEI Classics™ 2012
The HSBC FEI Classics™ 2012 season will begin at Les Etoiles de Pau CCI 4* (FRA) on 12-16 October 2011. This is also the location for the final leg of the 2011 season. Competitors therefore have the unique opportunity to secure points for both the HSBC FEI Classics™ 2011 and 2012 seasons by competing at Les Etoiles de Pau.
1. Les Etoiles de Pau CCI 4* (FRA) - 12-16 October 2011
2. Australian International 3 Day Event (AUS) - 18-20 November 2011
3. Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA) -  26-29 April 2012
4. Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR) - 4-7 May 2012
5. Luhmühlen CCI 4* presented by E.ON (GER) - 14-17 June 2012
6. The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR) - 30 August-2 September 2012

Rolex & equestrian sports - further information
Rolex has been present in equestrian sports since 1957 and is actively involved in Eventing, Jumping, Dressage and polo.

In Eventing, Rolex became the Title Sponsor of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA) during the 1980s and also sponsors the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (since 1999) and the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (since 2000), which are all part of the HSBC FEI™ Classics series.

As partner of the FEI, Rolex supports some thirty of the most renowned equestrian events on the international circuit and sponsors the Rolex Rankings, which are the only official guide to excellence in Jumping recognised by the FEI. Since 2002, Rolex has also sponsored the FEI World Equestrian Games and since 2007 has been Title Sponsor of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Final and of the Western European League of the FEI World Cup™. This year, the brand will also sponsor the 2011 FEI European Jumping Championships in Madrid. 

Photo Caption: Event Director Julia Otto (left) receiving the official FEI flag from Holger Heigel (right), President of the German Eventing Committee with Detlev Braatz (centre), President of the Luhmühlen Riding Club) to mark the 100-day countdown to the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2011. (Photo: Thomas IX/FEI).