Longines - Irish Champions Weekend
The long-term agreement was signed this week by Mr Juan Carlos Capelli, Vice-President and Head of International Marketing for Longines and Mr Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI).
Juan-Carlos Capelli: "It is a great honour for Longines to become the Title Partner of the Longines Irish Champions Weekend, showcasing Ireland's two premier racecourses, namely the Curragh and Leopardstown racecourses. Providing our long-lasting timekeeping expertise for this two-day meeting illustrates our continued commitment to equestrian sports, which are part of our rich history since 1878."
Brian Kavanagh: "It is an honour to announce Longines as the Title Partner for Irish Champions Weekend and to welcome this Swiss watchbrand as Official Timekeeper for Leopardstown and the Curragh, which together host 42 race meetings, including all the Irish Classics. The inaugural Irish Champions Weekend in 2014 immediately established itself as one of the leading flat racing events in the world. It is effectively the first leg of a triple crown of late-season flat championships in Europe, followed by the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe meeting and QIPCO British Champions Day in October."
The Longines Irish Champions Weekend hosts ten Group races, including five Group 1s, and features the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and the Palmerstown House Estate Irish St Leger at the Curragh in back-to- back meetings on the 12th and 13th of September respectively.
As Official Timekeeper Longines will install clocks and chronometers at both racecourses during the season.