Zinc will be providing bespoke packages including hotels, flights, restaurant bookings, tours of the BMW Welt, the museum and plants plus a range of additional activities as required. The first two groups already departed in September and October with numerous other requests and confirmed events in the pipeline.

Heike Kettner of Zinc Management stated “We have been working with BMW for 9 years and are very excited to have won this new contract with them. It is important for us to keep delivering bespoke event solutions that contain the highest level of creativity and professionalism.  It is an excellent ongoing project for Zinc and due to our expertise we are confident we can provide an outstanding service for each and every trip we manage.”

Paul Andrews, General Manager, Events for BMW UK added “Alongside the headquarters building, BMW Welt and the renovated BMW Museum in Munich are the experiential showcases for the BMW brand, past, present and future. Zinc will help us ensure that as many dealers, customers and enthusiasts get to experience the home of BMW for themselves.”

Jump 4 Joy, based in Worcestershire, is at the forefront of the design and manufacture of high quality polymer equestrian show jumps. Since the 1990s, Jump 4 Joy has been developing the safest, most user friendly and durable equestrian show jumps on the market.

As a new sponsor to HOYS, Jump 4 Joy will receive various benefits including live televised coverage on Sky Sports, arena signage and an advert in the official programme. Grandstand Media Ltd’s Managing Director, Helena Pettit commented: “Grandstand are delighted to welcome Jump 4 Joy as a new sponsor to HOYS. The show will provide a great platform to increase brand awareness and also allow them to display their products in an ideal environment at the world’s most famous horse show.”

Nigel Underwood, Managing Director at Jump 4 Joy continued: “Jump 4 Joy are thrilled to be sponsoring the Joy 4 Joy Trophy at HOYS on Thursday 7th October 2010. Sponsoring the class will offer the perfect product placement for our brand which will be seen by a sell out crowd. We are currently designing a special jump to be used within the class, this will showcase the durability and practicality of Jump 4 Joy jumps when being used in top International competition.”

The 2010 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) promises to be another exceptional event not to be missed! It will host the finals of the most highly regarded showing and show jumping championships, alongside an exciting line-up of equestrian entertainment including Frederic Pignon, the Knights of Middle England, NFU Countryside Pony Club Mounted Games for the Prince Philip Cup, Osborne Refrigerators Scurry Racing, Dressage on Friday and Sunday and the infamous HOYS Retail Village featuring hundreds of trade stands!

Visitors are advised to book their tickets early to avoid disappointment. For show information, including the full show timetable and timings, and to book visit www.hoys.co.uk or call 0844 581 8282.

Grandstand Group are thrilled to have been appointed the UK representative for APASSIONATA and are confident the show’s unique format and content will be a real treat for the whole family.  Each and every enchanting scene will feature some of the world’s most famous breeds whether Andalusian or Arab, Lusitano or Friesian. The audience, horse lovers or theatre fanatics alike, will be captivated by the breathtaking beauty of these animals, demonstrating their natural charm, skills and athleticism throughout the ‘By the Light of the Stars’ storyline.  

Tickets go on sale Friday 25^th June and are priced from £43. Family Tickets (2 Adult & 2 Children) are available from £190. Discounts are also available to groups of 10 or more.

For further information visit about the Show visit www.theo2.co.uk

Tickets can be booked through Ticketmaster and SEE tickets:

Ticketmaster:
Booking Line 0844 856 0202
Website: www.ticketmaster.co.uk:

SEE tickets:
Booking Line: 0871 620 7056
Website: www.seetickets.com

We already have the perfect venue at the NEC and have trialled several new inclusions over the last few years.  However, we believe we do not have the format quite right and intend to look at the shows content with the possibility of re-launching the show again in the future with a new look, feel and revitalised schedule.  We wouldn’t be removing all the show’s existing content but we would have some new inclusions we feel will add to the audiences experience whilst offering them great value for money.

Helena Pettit, Managing Director of Grandstand Group, commented ‘We are thrilled to launch our new online booking system and really feel we are offering the user a fast and efficient way of securing their reservations with us. The system has been carefully designed and will be of real value to people limited to making bookings in the evenings and weekends. With this process we are now able to operate a 24 hour booking system!’’

To book Hotel Accommodation, Season Tickets or Hospitality for HOYS please click here. If you would prefer to make your booking over the phone, please call 01582 711 411 and our reservations team will be happy to help.

Horse of the Year 2010: 6^th – 10^th October
Box Office: 0844 581 82 82
Show information and online booking: www.hoys.co.uk

Grandstand successfully staged Horse of the Year Show and the British Open Show Jumping Championships at the LG Arena, attracting over 80,000 visitors to the two events where 1.2 million square feet is transformed into a horse lover’s paradise. Both events feature prestigious national and international show jumping competition, offering six figure prize funds, alongside a host of equestrian entertainment.

Established in 1994, Grandstand Group secured the rights to manage Horse of the Year Show in 1997 and masterminded the move to The NEC in 2002, where it now achieves sell-out performances at the LG Arena.

In 2003, the Group established its own equestrian event, the British Open Show Jumping Championships which has become one of the top events in the global equestrian calendar. One of only three major indoor equestrian shows in the UK, the British Open Show Jumping Championships at the LG Arena boasts growing audience and trade figures year on year.

Guy Dunstan, General Manager of Arenas, said: “Business is booming in the arenas industry and we’ve scored highly in our sporting calendar of events at our two arenas.”

“Grandstand Group netted this top award for their professional organisation and the world-class events they bring to our venues. We are privileged to host two of the most prestigious equestrian events at the LG Arena each year.” added Guy Dunstan.

Fronted by Karl Ude-Martinez, The Knights of Middle England completed a long qualifying journey to be crowned H Factor presented by Equimax & Eraquell winners and win the illustrious place at HOYS, appearing everyday alongside the renowned Frederic Pignon. After two gruelling qualifying rounds Karl and his team of talented knights spent four days at the British Open Show Jumping Championships this month competing for audience votes against the remaining finalists, Saffron Waldon Musical Ride, gladiator girls Equestrienne and stunt show Rockin’ Horse. All of the H Factor presented by Equimax & Eraquell finalists put a tremendous amount of effort into their displays and provided fantastic entertainment for the British Open audience. More than 5,000 people voted for their favourite act and with over 46% of the votes the Knights were declared winners. Already a crowd favourite, the Knights were delighted with the result and cannot wait to entertain the audience at HOYS in October.

Another hotly contested competition at the British Open was the commentary competition which aimed to find a new voice to join the commentary team at this year’s HOYS. The competition received unprecedented entries from budding commentators and the judging panel, comprising commentary guru and international commentator Mike Tucker, International show jumper Tim Stockdale and HORSE&HOUND’s Deputy Editor Jaki Bell, were challenged to select three finalists from the ninety entries received to compete at the final. The final took place on Wednesday 7th April at the British Open and the three selected finalists, Jo Thoenes, Adam Cromarty and Ian Scott, had the nerve-racking challenge of commentating live on a section of a show jumping, scurry and showing class so the judging panel could judge the finalists live in action. After a lengthy day for the finalists, and much deliberating from the judges, Jo was crowned winner.  Alongside the opportunity to join the commentary team at HOYS, Jo was also awarded a £500 voice training bursary.

The 2010 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) promises to be another exceptional event not to be missed! It will host the finals of the most highly regarded showing and show jumping championships, alongside an exciting line-up of equestrian entertainment.

Horse of the Year 2010: 6th – 10th October
Box Office: 0844 581 82 82
Show information and online booking: www.hoys.co.uk

It is not every day you see a horse jumping in the centre of Birmingham! However, today, for the first time in history, a life size, specially commissioned piece of equestrian art was installed in Centenary Square to celebrate Birmingham hosting the 8th British Open Show Jumping Championships which is held at the NEC’s LG Arena during this Easter holiday, from 7th- 10th April. The British Open Beauty, aka “Bob”, will be on display alongside the Birmingham Wheel until 22nd February 2010.

A selection of copyright-free images are available for press use. Please see the images below. If you would like high-res versions of the images or a quote from the Organisers or Sculptor please contact the Grandstand Press Office:

British Open Press Office
Grandstand Event Management
Tel: 01582 711411
Email: press@grandstand.co.uk

Helena Pettit, Managing Director of Grandstand Group, commented ‘We are thrilled to launch our new online booking system and really feel we are offering the user a fast and efficient way of securing their reservations with us. The system has been carefully designed and will be of real value to people limited to making bookings in the evenings and weekends as with this process we are now able to operate a 24 hour booking system!’

To book Hotel Accommodation, Season Tickets, Packages or Hospitality for the British Open please visit www.britishopenshowjumping.com. If you would prefer to make your booking over the phone, please call 01582 711 411 and our reservations team will be happy to help.

The British Open Show Jumping Championships takes place at the NEC, Birmingham from Wednesday 7th – Saturday 10th April 2010. For further information visit the official website at www.britishopenshowjumping.com.

Grandstand Group is now taking entries for those who feel destined for the commentary box! For your chance to introduce world-class riders and famous displays at Horse of the Year Show and the British Open Show Jumping Championships, visit either shows’ websites (www.hoys.co.uk or www.britishopenshowjumping.com ) for details on how to enter and the competition terms and conditions. The finals will be held at the British Open 2010 in April and will be judged by three special guest judges. The winner will join the HOYS 2010 commentary team to be part of the world’s most famous horse show in October. Entries close on 3^rd February 2010. 

The British Open Show Jumping Championships takes place at the NEC, Birmingham from Wednesday 7^th – Saturday 10^th April 2010. For tickets, call the Box Office on 0844 581 1301 or visit the official website at www.britishopenshowjumping.com