- TopSpec and Caldene have signed up to sponsor the BETA International trade fair for another year.Equine balancers and feed company Top Spec, will sponsor the coffee shop for a fourth consecutive year while Caldene, maker of equestrian clothing, will lend its name to the visitor carrier bags for the eighth time.They join Virbac Animal Health, which returns as main sponsor for the 2013 show.
- Wood recycling firm Plevin is sponsoring Matthew Wright and supplying him with £10,000 worth of its Woodpecker Equestrian Shavings bedding for use at his stables in Retford, Nottinghamshire.Matthew, 29, said: “Good quality bedding makes a huge difference to the health and wellbeing of my horses and can actually enhance their performance.”Cheaper bedding tends to be dusty and can impair a horse’s breathing. Using a quality product helps to ensure my horses are well rested.”
- Dressage Deluxe has announced a sponsorship deal with dressage rider, trainer and List 3a BD judge Jane Lavington.This follows Jane’s continued success on Boston Deluxe, the company’s dressage cob.Alison Nye-Warden of Dressage Deluxe said: “Jane has taken Boston from being a very green 5 year old to now working at elementary level and being placed in good company.”Jane joins existing Dressage Deluxe sponsored dressage rider Damian Hallam.
- Flight deals company Dial a Flight has agreed to sponsor the UK Polocrosse Association’s overseas tour teams in 2012 by helping arrange and subsidise the team flights.Under 25’s Ladies’ and Men’s teams will fly to South Africa in July to compete in a three-way competition with South Africa and Zimbabwe.
- Young rider, Olivia Oakeley has secured a 12-month sponsorship deal with London based firm Old Park Lane Capital Plc.Old Park Lane Capital Plc is a traditional stockbroker and institutional Nominated Broker headquartered in Berkeley Square, London.”I am thrilled that Old Park Lane Capital Plc is prepared to sponsor me and I will do my upmost to ensure its investment in me gives it a good return” said Olivia.The funding will enable Olivia, who is a member of the World Class Start Programme, to campaign her young rider horse Donna Summer with a view to European Team selection in the summer.
- Performance Rider has announced its sponsorship of showjumper Mark Bunting.Warwickshire-based Mark has had many successes at junior, young rider and senior level.”Having used Performance Rider’s EquiFit boots for several months now I can honestly say they have made a difference,” said Mark.”When jumping at top level horses need to be fully supported, using EquiFit boots gives me peace of mind and I believe the horses actually jump better when wearing them.”
- Ariat is now sponsoring Italian Olympic eventer, Vittoria Panizzon.Vittoria joins the strong group of European riders on the Ariat Pro team, including William Fox-Pitt, Iris Pemen, Mary King, Andreas Ostholt, Tina Cook, Kai Ruder and Zara Phillips.With a string of accomplishments under her belt, including individual 16th place at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with her horse Rock Model, Vittoria has already qualified for London 2012 and has her sights firmly set on a successful season.
- Ireland and Great Britain will battle for a new trophy at the Tattersalls International Horse Show (31 May-3 June).Dubarry of Ireland will sponsor the Dubarry Boyne Trophy in the George Mernagh Memorial CIC***.A team of four from both nations will be announced before the event.The best three scores will count after all three disciplines and the winning team will receive the Dubarry Boyne Trophy and a €500 Dubarry voucher for each team member.
- Blue Chip has renewed its sponsorship of the Winter Showjumping Championships at Hartpury College, for the next five years.Blue Chip has sponsored the showjumping championships for the past 13 years.Blue Chip has also announced a new sponsorship deal with rider Beth Vernon.
- British Grand Prix dressage rider, Dan Sherriff is now sponsored by Cavalleria Toscana equestrian clothing.Dan Sherriff said: “It’s really difficult to find equestrian clothing which is both functional as well as great looking, particularly for men.”Cavalleria Toscana products fulfil both requirements and so far have exceeded all of my expectations. I’m delighted to be associated with the brand and represent them in the dressage discipline.”
- Kingsland AS, the designer and manufacturer of Kingsland equestrian apparel and horse gear, has signed a sponsor contract with world number two dressage rider Carl Hester.Carl said: ”I am thrilled to have been asked by Kingsland to represent the brand.”I feel it is an exciting collection with style and quality needed for a premium brand and I am delighted to be a part of their development.”
- The Charles Stanley British Masters showjumping event returns to Southview Competition Centre (29 June-1 July) with a new sponsor.The show once again has CSI*** designation, and in excess of £100,000 in prize money thanks to its sponsors, which include SouthView Competition Centre itself and Charles Britton Equestrian Construction, Charles Stanley and the Northwest Development Agency.For 2012 they have been joined by Aston Martin for its first involvement in an equestrian event, and rather appropriately, they are supporting the speed class.
Sponsorship news in the UK horse industry
