Saint-Imier (Switzerland), 04-02-2016 – To further develop its strong commitment to equestrian sports as well as its partnership with the FEI, Longines announces its new association with the Longines FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Dressage Championships for Young Horses. The Swiss watchmaker is the Official Partner and the Official Watch of the competition.
Longines extends its deep involvement in equestrian sports to dressage and becomes the Title Partner of the Longines FEI World Breeding Dressage Championships for Young Horses. This new association sees the Swiss watch brand become the Official Partner and the Official Watch of the international competition, which will take place this year from 28 – 31 July 2016 at the National Equestrian Center in Ermelo, Netherlands. Each year, the best up-and-coming dressage horses in different age groups perform individual tests to clinch first place at the four-day world championships.
As part of this new partnership, Longines will provide its know-how in scoring and data handling, as well as present the Official Watch of the event. Juan-Carlos Capelli, Vice President of Longines and Head of International Marketing, said “As FEI’s Top Partner, it seemed only natural to partner an equestrian discipline recognized by the federation and to which we can offer our expertise. In addition, dressage perfectly illustrates elegance, which is one of our brand’s key values. Having a long lasting passion for equestrian sports, we find it particularly exciting to be associated to an event featuring each year the new future dressage horse champions.”
“We are absolutely delighted with the title sponsorship by Longines,” says chairman Aat Both, representing the championship’s organisatory board. “Longines signed to become the official title partner for the forthcoming three editions of this event and it is also responsible for the live scoring during the championships.”
Indeed, Longines’ passion for equestrian sports dates back to 1878, when the Swiss watch brand produced a timepiece engraved with a jockey and his mount. First involved in flat racing, the company quickly became the partner of show-jumping competitions with its first ever commitment to an international show jumping competition in Portugal in 1912. Today, Longines’ support of equestrian disciplines includes show jumping, flat racing, eventing and endurance. The strong relation, which the brand has been building with the equestrian world, also relates to the common values both parties share: Elegance, Tradition and Performance.
Longines has been based at Saint-Imier in Switzerland since 1832. Its watchmaking expertise reflects a strong devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. Longines has generations of experience as official timekeeper of world championships and as partner of international sports federation. Known for the elegance of its timepieces, Longines is a member of the Swatch Group Ltd, the World’s leading manufacturer of horological products. With the winged hourglass as its emblem, the brand has outlets in over 150 countries.
