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New
Belfast Show Attracts A Star Turnout |
A
prize fund of £210,000 for the first Belfast Indoor International
Horse Show is attracting leading Irish, British and European showjumping
riders.
World Champion Dermott Lennon heads the Irish contingent, a strong
favourite for the closing class of the four day show, the Envirocare
Grand Prix, which has prize money totalling £81,000 with £27,000
to the winner.
But he will face strong international opposition. Countrymen Peter
Charles, Jessica Kurten and Billy Twomey are on a strong entry list,
which includes also Germany’s Franke Sloothak, Belgium’s
Jos Lansink and Ludo Philipaerts, while Switzerland will field world
ranked number one Markus Fuchs and Beat Mandli.
Three Whitakers - John, Michael and Robert - head up a British squad,
which also boasts on-form Nick Skelton and Robert Smith as well
as Di Lampard.
“The interest among international riders has been amazing,”
said Theresa McKenna, Event and Operations Director of the show.
“In the next weeks I am sure we are going to add even more
star names top the entry we already have.” McKenna has already
booked dates at the Odyssey for 2004 and 2005 and put in a bid for
a World Cup round in Belfast for next year.
Jean Francois Pignon
Joining
the international riders at this year’s show will be the world
famous theatrical acts, Jean Francois Pignon, The Flying Frenchmen,
The Devil’s Horsemen and the Irish Shetland Grand National.
They will be participating in every performance and some will be
making their debut performance in Northern Ireland.
The Belfast Indoor International Horse Show takes place at the Odyssey
Arena in Belfast from Thursday 27th to Sunday 30th November and
tickets to this star studded event are selling fast. To book your
tickets call Odyssey Box Office on 028 9073 9074 or Ticketmaster
24-hour hotline on 0870 243 4455. Tickets can also be booked online
at www.odysseyarena.com, www.ticketmaster.com and www.ticketmaster.ie.
The Odyssey Arena
SHOW
STATEMENT
The Belfast Indoor International Horse Show is designed to provide
sporting entertainment both for the audience at the Odyssey Arena
and a television viewing audience. It is also an international show,
duly registered with The Fédération Equestre Internationale
(FEI), Switzerland .
Careful
consideration was given about which riders should be invited, and
we took advice from both national and international governing agencies
in order to get a good balance of established riders, those currently
returning good international results and riders who, on their past
records, will provide the sort of entertainment suitable for launching
what we know will be a top, on-going equestrian highlight to both
the Irish and International competition calendar.
Good
television and competition is created from an entry of leading riders
and star horses and we have had the unenviable job of selecting
names giving us the greatest chance of doing just that. In future
years, hopefully, we can widen our invitation list, but for 2003
and the launch of the Belfast Indoor International Horse Show we,
through necessity, will have to abide by this formula.
Web:
www.belfasthorseshow.com
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