The Philadelphia Orchestra @ Venetian Theatre, Macau – 30 May, 2014

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Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin energetic conducting saw the The Philadelphia Orchestra entertain a packed Venetian Theatre on Friday night. A diverse crowd enjoyed a programme comprising Dvořák Slavonic Dance, Op. 46, No. 1; Mozart Symphony No. 41 (“Jupiter”); Bernstein Overture to Candide; Smetana “The Moldau,” from Má vlast and
Tchaikovsky Romeo and Juliet which showcased the orchestra’s powerful sound and talented musicians.

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HKGCC Free Ride Day: Trams & Star Ferry are Free – 29 May, 2014

HKGCC Free Ride Day 2014

The HKGCC Free Ride Day was launched in 2011 to mark the 150th anniversary of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, which was established on May 29, 1861. Members of the public can ride on Hong Kong trams and the Star Ferry for free on May 29.

HKGCC CEO Shirley Yuen said “These are two of Hong Kong’s oldest and most popular forms of transportation and, like HKGCC, have contributed significantly to the growth and prosperity of Hong Kong and in celebration of the 153rd anniversary of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC) on May 29, HKGCC will again organize ‘Free Ride Day,’ which will allow members of the public to ride on trams and two Star Ferry routes free of charge.”

More Info: www.chamber.org.hk

 

Hong Kong Marathon 2015

Hong Kong Marathon 2015

Race organisers the Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association have announced that the Hong Kong Marathon 2015 will take place on Sunday 25 January 2015. Explaining the new date the HKAAA said “We believe by moving the event from the post-Chinese New Year period to an earlier date runners can benefit from the generally more favorable weather conditions in January. “Run for a Reason” will continue to be the theme for next year’s Marathon”. Race information and registration will be announced in late August on www.hkmarathon.com

Hong Kong Marathon
When: 25 January, 2015
Where: Hong Kong
More Information: www.hkmarathon.com

Hong Kong 53 Singapore 5 – Women’s Asian 4 Nations: 24 May 2014

Photo © PANDA Man
Photo © PANDA Man

Kazakhstan was crowned Asian 15s champions after they trounced Japan 49-17 to remain unbeaten in the four-team Asian Women’s Rugby Championship at Aberdeen Stadium on Saturday.

Hosts Hong Kong, who started the tournament as the fourth seeds, finished runners-up after hammering Singapore 53-5 in their last match. Hong Kong, who had also beaten Japan (15-14) earlier in the tournament, lost to Kazakhstan 13-10 in their decisive clash.

Hat-tricks from flyhalf Rose Fong and winger Natasha Olsen-Thorne propelled the home team to victory as Hong Kong proved far too strong for Singapore dotting down nine tries in a one-sided rout.

“I’m pretty happy and we are getting closer to where we want to be, but as a coach, you always want more from the players,” said Hong Kong coach Chris Garvey. “Today was the closest that we have been to getting where I want this group to be. Credit to the girls, two of whom got hat-tricks and showed a couple of individual moments of brilliance, but the team effort has allowed those individuals to shine,” Garvey said.

Garvey and Hong Kong will look back and reflect on the narrow loss to Kazakhstan in their opener which in the end prevented them from being crowned Asian champions. “Overall I’m very pleased. If we are being honest with ourselves we never thought we would get anything out of the Kazakhstan match and we thought the Japan match would be extremely tough but the girls have surpassed their own expectation.

“We set out to get third place but finished runners-up which is fantastic,” Garvey added. Hong Kong captain Christy Cheng Ka-chi added: “This tournament has given us a lot of confidence and we can see ourselves capable of being Asia No.1 in the future.”

Japan finished third with Singapore propping up the rest.

Photo: Ike Li
Photo: Ike Li

Hong Kong 15 Japan 14 – Women’s Asian 4 Nations: 21 May 2014

Photo © PANDA Man
Photo © PANDA Man

A last-gasp penalty from fly-half Lai Pou Fan helped Hong Kong pull off a thrilling 15-14 victory over Japan in the Asian Women’s 4 Nations at Aberdeen Stadium last night.

Lai, who had earlier missed converting a second-half try from fullback Aggie Poon Pak Yan that would have leveled scores at 14-14, more than made up for that miss as she coolly slotted over the winning penalty with the final kick of the match to give the hosts a scrappy yet welcome victory in the four-team tournament. While top seeds Kazakhstan remained unbeaten after hammering Singapore 68-0 in the first match of the day.

“I thought we played better in our first game against Kazakhstan than we did today, but for long periods of the game we stuck to our game plan and got rewards from that,” said Hong Kong coach Chris Garvey. “I think if we had been a little more patient at times and had a little more trust in our game, then the result may have even been a little less nervy for our management and the fans today. But credit to our girls, in previous games and years, they have crumbled. But today they showed a little more guts and fight, and a whole lot of spirit,” Garvey added.

Hong Kong opened the scoring when inside centre Rose Fong beat her opposite number with a barnstorming run to score in the fifth minute. Lau converted and Hong Kong led 7-0. Japan came back strongly through the impressive No.8 Mami Okada who had scored a hat-trick against Singapore earlier in the tournament. Okada powered her way over for a try from close range from the back of a maul as Japan hit back and went into halftime with the scores level on 7-7.

Japanese centre Ayako Tanaka completed a fine piece of driving play by the pack to score a try and give her team the lead for the first time in the match with winger Ai Tasaka adding her second conversion to make the score 14-7. But Hong Kong, who had lost narrowly to Kazakhstan in their opening match 13-10, never gave up, and it was left to the dangerous Aggie Poon to round off a breathtaking move by the backs after the forwards had punched it up from a lineout to narrow the gap to 14-12. Lau’s last-minute heroics then earned Hong Kong a deserving win.

“Too many mistakes cost us the match,” said disappointed Japan coach Goshi Arimizu. “We played well but made too many mistakes and Hong Kong did better in the second half. Their scrum put us under pressure. We now must look to Kazakhstan and try and finish off well. They beat us last time we played, so this time we play to avenge that loss,” Arimizu added.

The final set of games in the Women’s Asian 4 Nations is on 24 May when Hong Kong take on Singapore (k/o 15:00) and Kazakhstan play Japan (k/o 17:00) at Aberdeen Stadium.

Asian Women’s Four Nations
Where: Aberdeen Stadium, Hong Kong
How Much: Free
More info: www.hkrfu.com