Live coverage of Valegro’s retirement to be shown by BBC
Fans of Valegro who have not been lucky enough to bag tickets to the dressage superstar’s retirement ceremony at Olympia on Wednesday, 14 December, will be able to watch it from the comfort of their home.
The BBC will be live streaming the ceremony to UK viewers on the red button as well as online, and the subscription online video service FEI TV will also be showing the event.
Between the BBC, FEI TV and olympiahorseshow.com, equestrian fans will be able to watch the action at Olympia on all but the first day of the show (13-19 December). Fans who can’t attend on the Tuesday, but want to follow the dressage grand prix, are recommended to login to our H&H Live interative written commentary service.
BBC Two will be broadcasting almost three hours of live competition on Sunday (18 December), as well as a highlights programme from 12pm-1pm on Wednesday, 21 December.
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Related articles:
- Watch Olympia’s emotional Valegro retirement video
- Valegro’s Olympia retirement ceremony confirmed
- Olympia offers fans the chance to meet Nick Skelton
This year’s event includes World Cup dressage, showjumping and driving, plus a host of popular features such as the Shetland Pony Grand National and displays from the Portuguese Lusitanos and Santi Serra.
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Nick Skelton and Big Star are among the top showjumping combinations who are entered for the show so far.
The provisional TV times are as follows:
- Wednesday, 14 December: FEI World Cup dressage freestyle to music and Valegro’s retirement 19:30-22:35 — live on BBC red button, BBC online and connected televisions, and FEI TV
- Thursday, 15 December: the Santa Stakes 12:00-12:30 — live stream on olympiahorseshow.com ; the Christmas Pudding Stakes 18:45-19:50 – livestream on olympiahorseshow.com ; the Cayenne Puissance 21:00-22:15 — live on the BBC live on BBC red button, BBC online and connected televisions
- Friday, 16 December: FEI World Cup driving leg 12:45-13:25 — live on FEI TV ; the Snowman Stakes 15:00-16:25 — livestream on olympiahorseshow.com ; the entire evening performance 18:45-22:25 — live on the BBC live on BBC red button, BBC online and connected televisions
- Saturday, 17 December: the Christmas Masters 15:15-16:15 — livestream on olympiahorseshow.com ; FEI World Cup driving leg 18:30-19:15 — live on FEI TV ; the Martin Collins Enterprises Christmas Tree Stakes 20:45-22:15 — livestream on olympiahorseshow.com
- Sunday, 18 December: the H&M Pony Club Mini-Major 12:30-12:50 — livestream on olympiahorseshow.com ; the Longines FEI World Cup jumping leg — 13:45-16:30 — live on BBC Two HD, online and connected televisions, and from 14:35-16:30 it will be live on FEI TV ; the H&M Ivy Stakes 21:00-22:25 — livestream on olympiahorseshow.com
- Monday, 19 December: the Six Bar 12:30-13:30 — livestream on olympiahorseshow.com ; the entire evening performance 18:45-22:25 — live on the BBC red button, BBC online and connected televisions
- Wednesday; 21 December: highlights 12:00-13:00 – BBC Two HD, BBC online and connected televisions
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Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.