| INTERHUNT
TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE AT BELFAST SHOW
Sunday’s
Interhunt Chase at the Belfast International Horse Show
is likely to develop into a true “needle match”
as teams from Ireland’s six leading Hunts compete
for this coveted new title.
The
class, sponsored by Ireland’s leading auction house,
Wilson’s Auctions, is an invitation-only event, with
winning teams from both Dublin Horse Show and Balmoral Horse
Show given the opportunity to take part.
Northern Ireland Events Company team
up with the Belfast International Horse Show at the Odyssey
Arena
The
driving force behind the provinces’ key events strategy,
the Northern Ireland Events Company have joined resources
this year with the Belfast International Horse Show to deliver
an experience guaranteed to heighten the equestrian profile
of the six counties.
Northern
Ireland Events Company have backed the four-day event at
the Odyssey Arena, Belfast from 2nd – 5th December
2004, in an attempt to raise the profile of some of Northern
Ireland’s finest riders, both on a national and international
scale.
As
one of Northern Ireland’s primary events coordinators,
the organisation have set the foundations for enhancing
the provinces’ entertainment status and encouraging
economic development since their establishment in 1997.
They have successfully funded over 120 events over the past
seven years, and are now proud to be associated with the
Belfast’s International Horse Show in its second consecutive
year.
Dedicated
to launching the events industry in Northern Ireland, the
company believe the Belfast International Horse Show is
a step in the right direction to producing excellent annual
events and attracting world-class acts to the area.
Mervyn
Elder, Chairman, Northern Ireland Events Company said: “The
Northern Ireland Events Company is delighted to be associated
with this marvellous show for the first time. It gives our
riders who compete throughout the world, at the highest
level, a tremendous opportunity to compete on home soil.
“Spectators
will have the unique opportunity to see the best riders
in the world, as well as the best in entertainment, in our
superb Odyssey Arena.
“This
year’s Horse show is a great example of how events,
through worldwide television coverage, can send a very powerful
and positive message of Northern Ireland out around the
world as well as providing a significant boost to local
tourism.”
Theresa
McKenna, Event Director, Belfast International Horse Show
said: “Successfully securing funding from the Northern
Ireland Events Company is a tremendous boost for the show,
both socially and financially.
“As
we embark on our second year with the show, it is a privilege
to know that Northern Ireland officials recognise the show’s
full potential and are prepared to invest in what we feel
is a new breed of Irish Horse Show.
“We
are extremely grateful for their contribution to this year’s
show and hope this will be a longstanding and prosperous
relationship”.
The
driving force behind the provinces’ key events strategy,
the Northern Ireland Events Company have joined resources
this year with the Belfast International Horse show to deliver
an experience guaranteed to heighten the equestrian profile
of the six counties.
Northern
Ireland Events Company have backed the four-day event at
the Odyssey Arena, Belfast from 2nd – 5th December
2004, in an attempt to raise the profile of some of Northern
Ireland’s finest riders, both on a national and international
scale.
As
one of Northern Ireland’s primary events coordinators,
the organisation have set the foundations for enhancing
the provinces’ entertainment status and encouraging
economic development since their establishment in 1997.
They have successfully funded over 120 events over the past
seven years, and are now proud to be associated with the
Belfast’s International Horse Show in its second consecutive
year.
Dedicated
to launching the events industry in Northern Ireland, the
company believe the Belfast International Horse Show is
a step in the right direction to producing excellent annual
events and attracting world-class acts to the area.
Mervyn
Elder, Chairman, Northern Ireland Events Company said: “The
Northern Ireland Events Company is delighted to be associated
with this marvellous show for the first time. It gives our
riders who compete throughout the world, at the highest
level, a tremendous opportunity to compete on home soil.
“Spectators
will have the unique opportunity to see the best riders
in the world, as well as the best in entertainment, in our
superb Odyssey Arena.
“This
year’s Horse show is a great example of how events,
through worldwide television coverage, can send a very powerful
and positive message of Northern Ireland out around the
world as well as providing a significant boost to local
tourism.”
Theresa
McKenna, Event Director, Belfast International Horse Show
said: “Successfully securing funding from the Northern
Ireland Events Company is a tremendous boost for the show,
both socially and financially.
“As
we embark on our second year with the show, it is a privilege
to know that Northern Ireland officials recognise the show’s
full potential and are prepared to invest in what we feel
is a new breed of Irish Horse Show.
“We
are extremely grateful for their contribution to this year’s
show and hope this will be a longstanding and prosperous
relationship”.
Eleven nations to compete for
Belfast’s
£¼ million prize fund
A
lure of a prize fund in excess of a quarter of a million
pounds has attracted riders from nine nations to the second
Belfast International Horse Show.
The
show, which opens its four day run on December 2 at the
Odyssey Arena, will be hosting international contingents
from Ireland, Great Britain, USA, Norway, Belgium, Germany,
Austria, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland and France, all
looking for a share in the £255,000 on offer.
In addition, a strong Irish entry will contest classes which
carry a total of £30,000, among them the John Higgin's
Construction Belfast Future Champions 6 and 7 year olds,
the Tughan's Solicitor's Irish Super League 148 Pony Championship
and the Irish Super League National Grand Prix Championship.
High
in the priorities for international competitors will be
the Grand Prix, which with a fund of £81,000 with
£27,000 to the winner is the richest for its category
in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The
show has a programme carefully balanced between international,
national and novelty showjumping and pure family entertainment.
''Our intention is to package our showjumping into a show
which will appeal to all the family.'' said Mrs McKenna
To be part of the Belfast Indoor International make sure
you book your ticket early. Tickets are available from the
Odyssey Box 028 9073 9074.
THE ODYSSEY
WILL STAGE THE FIRST BIG CHRISTMAS PARTYOF 2004!
World
class showjumping, massive prize
money
- and entertainment for everyone
A
momentous year for Irish equestrian fans will end with a
four-day party at which Ireland’s first showjumping
Olympic gold medallist, Cian O’Connor, will top the
bill, heading a cast which includes some of Europe’s
leading riders and horses and show business stars.
The
party starts at the Odyssey Arena on December 2, when the
Belfast International Horse Show signals the beginning of
the city’s Christmas celebrations with a four day
extravaganza featuring everything the Irish love about horses.
International
showjumping classes boast a massive £255,000 in prize
money, plus another £30,000 for national competitions.
Ranked alongside O’Connor, the hero of Athens, will
be fellow Olympians Jessica Kurten and Nick Skelton.
Other
riders who have accepted invitation to compete in Belfast
include an Irish squad of Peter Charles, Harry Marshall,
Billy Twomey, Conor Swail and Dermot Lennon; the English
contingent has three Whitakers - Robert, John and Michael
- as well as William Funnell and Andrew Davies; Germany
is represented by Franke Sloothak and Helena Weinberg, Belgium
by Ludo Philippaerts,, Philip Le Jeune and Jos Lansink.
Netherlands by Roelaf Bril and Wim Schroder and Switzerland
by Daniel Etter, Markus Fuchs and Willi Melliger. The two
French riders will be Bruno Broucqsault and Eugenie Angot.
With
Westlife star Shane Filan on the organising committee, entertainment
will be aimed at the whole family. Each performance starts
with Irish dancing by the Lagan Dancers, who team up with
enchanting singing sensation Rua. Fame Academy’s Sinead
Quinn will feature in all performances.
Hollywood
stunt riding comes into the spotlight with Gerard, Daniel
and Camilla Naprous, who bring the Wild West into the Odyssey
Arena, while the Flying Frenchmen - brothers Mateo, Julien
and Guillaume - will demonstrate that its not only horses
who can jump big obstacles.
That
a horse can be a true comedian will be demonstrated by Bruno
while big arena entertainment really comes of age with Cirque
Bijou.
Then
it is the turn of tried and tested favourites. Audiences will
get their chance to support their favourites in the Pony Club
Mounted Games, Indoor Inter-Hunt Chase and more four-footed
stars take to the arena for the Irish Open Dog Agility Championship.
'Black
Beauty' to feature at
Odyssey in time for Christmas!
Anna Sewell's
novel Black Beauty has been one of the world's most beloved
animal stories since its 1877 publication. The story is
told by its hero, a remarkable black stallion with a white
"star" on his forehead, whose joyous and heartbreaking
life takes him from idyllic country life to London's cobblestone
streets.
Set in England in the 1800s, this movie is narrated by
Black Beauty and follows the stallion’s life from
birth to retirement. Born into a loving home and raised
in another, Black Beauty lives a peaceful, contented life
surrounded by his equine friends, Ginger and Merrylegs.
But when illness forces his family to sell him, Black
Beauty begins a difficult journey, passing through the
hands of several owners. As the carriage horse of wealthy
Lord Wexmire, he is viewed as property and mistreated;
as a cab horse for Jerry Barker, he works hard but is
loved and treated well by Jerry and his family. When Jerry
falls ill, however, Black Beauty is sold to a cruel grain
dealer who works him beyond reason. Broken and exhausted,
Black Beauty is put up for sale at an auction, where he
runs into an old friend who will change his life.
The actual horse who was used to play the part of this
children's favourite will grace the Odyssey Arena during
the Belfast International Horse Show which begins it seven
show series on Thursday 2nd December.
Daniel Naprous from the Hollywood stunt riding family
dynasty will be performing with this wonderful back stallion
who also plays the part of the Lloyd's Black Stallion
in television advertising.
'We are thrilled to learn that the very horse used in
the Warner Classic film 'Black Beauty' will be performing
at our show this year. I have watched the film myself
with my own daughter and I can't wait to meet him. We
are honoured to have 'Black Beauty' in Belfast to help
us kick start the festive season' said Event Director
Theresa McKenna.
Tickets are still available from the Odyssey Box 028 9073
9074 with an offer of Kid's go Free at Matinees with two
full paying adults. Do you have your ticket yet?
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