The Longines Masters of Paris ended this Sunday afternoon at the Parc des Expositions Paris-Nord Villepinte, after four days of intense competition. As the Title Partner and the Official Timekeeper of the Longines Masters series, Longines was proud to lend its name to two key competitions of the weekend. The Longines Grand Prix, which took place on Sunday afternoon, was won hands down by Daniel Deusser riding Cornet d’Amour. Simon Delestre on Hermes Ryan and Lauren Hough on Ohlala reached the second and third step of the podium respectively.
On Friday night, French rider Julien Epaillard on Cristallo A LM finished first at the Longines Speed Challenge ahead of Kevin Staut riding Ayade de Septon et HDC and Lorenzo de Luca riding Limestone Grey. In addition, Longines has also been for the first time Founding Partner of the Riders Masters Cup, an innovative show-jumping competition that pits the two major equestrian powers, the United States and Europe, against each other in a never before seen transatlantic battle.
Longines has chosen this prestigious event in the show jumping calendar for the French launch of its new model Conquest V.H.P. “Very High Precision”, which represents a new achievement in the field of quartz, combining great precision, high technicality and a sporty look, marked by the brand’s unique elegance. Equipped with an exclusive movement renowned for its high degree of precision for an analog watch (± 5 s/yr) and its ability to reset its hands after an impact or exposure to a magnetic field, using the GPD (gear position detection) system, the Conquest V.H.P. has thus positioned itself as the standard-bearer of extreme precision.
This event combining glamour and top-level sport performances was also a good opportunity for the winged hourglass brand to invite two of its Longines Ambassadors of Elegance. The actress and model Chi Ling Lin took advantage of her visit to the French capital to stop at the Longines shop at the Printemps Haussmann and participate in a meet and greet with her fans, before attending the Longines Speed Challenge at the Parc des Expositions Paris-Nord Villepinte. On her side, jumping rider Jane Richard attended the French launch of The Conquest V.H.P. at the Faubourg St-Honoré Longines Boutique.
The elegance of the heart was also at the center of this first stage of the Longines Masters. Indeed, Longines and EEM have supported the association "Sur les Bancs de l’Ecole" and handed the official check combining all the donations received during the event. This association, of which Longines is the Honorary Patron during the Longines Masters of Paris, helps children affected by autism. The program specifically developed for this occasion is based on interaction between children and horses and helps them to have a normal life and a chance of making their dreams come true.
In addition, the brand also supported JustWorld International, through the "Longines Clear the Jump" activity realized during the Longines Grand Prix. On this occasion, 200 meals were offered each time the Longines jumps were cleared. Thanks to this action, Longines helped to offer 5000 meals to the beneficiaries of JustWorld International's actions. Since the beginning of the partnership, donations from Longines have funded more than 140,000 meals for some of the most vulnerable children in the world.
After a particularly successful start to the season, the Longines Masters will continue from February 9 to 11, 2018 in Hong Kong, before ending – for the first time in their history – in New York, from April 26 to 29, 2018.
