New sponsorship deals in UK equestrianism

• Bramham International Horse Trials will be sponsored by horsebox company Equi-Trek in 2012.The brand has taken over title-sponsorship of the event for one year. This year’s event takes place from 7 – 10 June.Holmfirth-based Equi-Trek is the country’s largest horsebox manufacturer, selling a large range of vehicles, from side-loading trailers, to six wheeler HGV boxes.The company has supported Bramham for eight years including sponsoring the east arena and a feature fence on Ian Stark’s cross-country course.Event director Nick Pritchard said; “We’re really excited by this partnership. Equi-Trek has been with us through our recent development and it’s praise indeed that they want to increase their support with us.”

• Jewellery website Gemstone Nights is donating 10% of all Facebook sales until January to The Laminitis Trust.
• Amateur rider Nicola Strong from Andover in Hampshire has been chosen as the winner of a sponsorship deal, worth more than £2,000 in products and services.The deal follows an online appeal by riding instructor Sharon Kilminster, who was searching for a rider to sponsor in 2012.Sharon was inundated with responses from riders all keen to win the deal and fly the flag for Kilminster Equestrian, based in Kings Somborne, Hampshire, with 138 applications in total.Sharon said: “As a trainer I’m passionate about seeing my prot ©g ©s improve and be successful, so I hit upon the sponsorship idea.“It was an ideal opportunity to find a rider who was looking to go further in their chosen discipline, and give them a helping hand.”With Sharon’s guidance, Nicola hopes to make the step up from unaffiliated level to British Eventing and British Showjumping with her 16.2 Sport horse Caherpuca Star (Willo), and start low-level competition with her four-year-old mare Ruby.
• A number of new sponsors have signed up for the 2012 Blue Chip Winter Show Jumping Championships at Hartpury Arena (11-15 April).HorseQuest UK, Equilibrium Tri-Zone Airlite, Equitility and EquiFeast have all signed up to be part of the popular affiliated showjumping competition.And the organisers are also delighted to announce that Bob Ellis – who has been appointed showjumping course designer for the London Olympics – will also be the course designer at the Blue Chip Winter Show Jumping Championships.
• Scotts of Thrapston, in partnership with Carlton Horse Trials, is searching for two riders to join its rider development programme next year.The deal offers extensive instruction with British Eventing accredited trainers Nick Turner and Ann Bostock – and the chance to train with the Brazilian 2012 eventing team!Julia Berrie, marketing manager at Scotts said: “Riders of any age can apply, and the aim of the programme is to encourage grass-roots level riders to improve their standards and skills safely.“We are committed to the development of eventing and hope that riders will relish this exciting, once in a lifetime opportunity.”From March 2012, the chosen two riders will work towards competing in their first affiliated event at Carlton Horse Trials in July.The programme will educate the riders on all aspects of competition, training alongside the Brazilian team, with Nick and Ann.This will include dressage, showjumping and cross-country training at Carlton cross-country course, as well as working on their focus and mental strength with a sports psychology workshop, held by Charlie Unwin.For more information and to apply, go to www.scottsofthrapston.co.uk/carlton or www.carltoncrosscountry.co.uk

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