To coincide with the opening of the Box Office on 7th July, the organisers of the Olympia International Show Jumping Championships, 18th-22nd December, have announced a whole raft of exciting programme changes and innovations for this year’s show.

Olympia is the biggest prize fund of all the European World Cup Qualifiers (£234,000) and stages two top notch show jumping classes per performance, giving the audience the chance to see the very best horses and riders in the world giving their all in the pursuit of festive sporting glory.

The prestigious array of show jumping classes includes the UK’s only World Cup Qualifier which this year will be held during the Sunday afternoon performance (21st December), with The Masters now moving to Saturday afternoon (22nd December)*. The electrifying Grand Prix and The Puissance will also be among the Blue Ribbon events.

An exciting innovation in seating will give the very best view to the maximum number of people and an increased level of comfort and sound, with an oval or egg shaped seating system for the first time at Olympia.

Olympia is now so successful that many of its displays are mimicked by other shows but unique to Olympia this year will be The Celtic Dance. Choreographed by Jennie Loriston-Clarke and involving eight of the leading dressage horses and riders, the Celtic Dance has been inspired by the enormous success of the Balmoral scene at ‘All The Queen’s Horses’.

The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery’s Musical Drive, with its breathtaking movements relying on the highest levels of timing and horsemanship will also be seen at the show.

Olympia has always been more than just a show and it returns to its theatrical roots this year by welcoming performers from the world of the circus. The circus was a regular part of the annual programme of The Grand Hall, Olympia and this year it will provide a theme running throughout each performance, including the Grand Finale. Following the success of its launch last year “The Olympia Shopping Village” will now have a second tier of shopping including a Champagne Bar for those in need of a little pick me up! All those who buy tickets for the show will be given free access into this excellent pre-Christmas shopping facility.

The show will also include the Lilliputian style Osborne Refrigerators Shetland Pony Grand National and The Flying Frogs, three Frenchmen who leap, without the aid of a horse, over the same challenging show jumps that the competitors jump over. The Riding Club Quadrille, The Pony Club Mini Major, Mountain & Moorland Championship and Veteran Horse Championship will all feature at various performances throughout the show.

There will be ten performances at Olympia from Thursday 18th December – Monday 22nd December. The box office will be open from 7th July, telephone 0870 733 0733 or international visitors should ring 00 44 115 912 9220 visit the web site at www.olympiashowjumping.com. Tickets start from as little as £15 with concessions for Children 15 and under and Senior Citizens at certain performances. For Private Boxes please call Jane Charley on 01753 847900.

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