Tag Archives: Olympia

Mouth-Watering Line-Up for the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Leg at Olympia Horse Show

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro.

20 November 2013 – The world’s most sensational dressage duo, Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro head the formidable line up of nominated entries for the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Leg supported by Horse & Hound, which takes place at Olympia, The London International Horse Show on 16 and 17 December 2013.

Dujardin, who has been shortlisted for the Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswoman of the Year 2013, is also nominated to ride Valegro’s Olympic gold medal winning team mate, Uthopia , but it is likely that she will only compete him if Valegro does not line up. Whichever of the London 2012 heroes Dujardin rides, she will face strong competition with entries from eight different nations, setting the scene for what could be one of the most competitive dressage competitions ever staged at Olympia.

The current FEI ranked world number one rider said: “Winning the FEI World Cup Dressage at Olympia in 2012 on Valegro was just incredible and the support from the home crowds is always humbling. There are very few competitions in the world that compare to the atmosphere at Olympia and it is undoubtedly one of the greatest shows there is. Fingers crossed we can repeat our success from last year.”

Amongst those bidding to take on the current Grand Prix world record holder is Charlotte’s trainer, Olympic and European team mate Carl Hester, who will be riding Fine Time 13, with whom Carl won his eighth National Championship title in September 2013. Another Team GB mate of Dujardin’s, Michael Eilberg, who made his British team debut at this year’s European Championships, is entered with his team bronze medal partner, the British-bred mare Half Moon Delphi, with whom he was well placed in fifth at Olympia last year.

The overseas raiders include a powerful Dutch team, including three of the European team silver medallists, Edward Gal, Hans Peter Minderhoud and Danielle Heijkoop. While Gal and Minderhoud are popular regulars at Olympia, rising star, 26-year-old Heijkoop will be making her Olympia debut fresh from winning the CDI 4* Grand Prix and Special at the 2013 Oldenburg, Germany earlier this month.

Multi-disciplined rider, Ingrid Klimke, the only German representative at this year’s FEI World Cup Dressage at Olympia, rides one of the youngest horses in the competition, nine-year-old Dresden Mann. The highly talented Klimke, who competes in top level eventing as well as dressage, was last seen in the UK at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials where she came fifth.

A notable absentee from this year’s line-up is Laura Tomlinson (nee Bechtolsheimer). However, Tomlinson’s stable jockey, Lara Griffith, makes her Olympia and World Cup debut on Andretti H. The 18-year-old gelding was formerly ridden by Tomlinson, but with Griffith on board at the National Championships, the duo performed an eye catching test to come second to Carl Hester and will certainly be one to watch at Olympia.

Tomlinson will instead be taking part in a special performance with her long-standing dressage partner Mistral Højris – more fondly known as Alf – during the evening programme on Tuesday 17 December to celebrate the superstar’s retirement.

Tickets for Olympia, The International Horse Show start at £35 each and discounts for groups, children and concessions apply for certain performances. For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit the website at www.olympiahorseshow.com or telephone the box office on 0871 230 5580.

Olympia, The London International Horse Show

Throughout the week of 16 December, the Olympia Exhibition Hall, located in West Kensington, London, will play host to packed timetable of all things equestrian and boasts a total of over 80,000 visitors. The show mixes top class equestrian action including FEI World Cup Jumping and Dressage with family entertainment, such as The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art display and the Osborne Refrigerators Shetland Pony Grand National which raises money for Great Ormond Street Hospital. Olympia Horse Show celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 2007 and is regarded as one of Europe’s oldest equine competitions. Olympia Horse Show’s official charity for 2013 is veterinary charity, the Animal Health Trust, which works behind the scenes to monitor equine disease around the world and undertakes extensive on-going research to minimise the risk of injury to sport horses. The evening performance on Wednesday 18 December will be dedicated to the Animal Health Trust and 50p from every seat sold will go to the charity.

For more information please contact Hannah Grissell, Revolution Sports + Entertainment
Email: hannah@revolutionsports.co.uk – Tel: +44 (0)207 592 1207.

Laura Tomlinson’s Dressage Superstar ‘Alf’ to Say Farewell at This Year’s Olympia

18 November 2013 – Laura Tomlinson (née Bechtolsheimer) will pay tribute to her long-standing dressage partner, Mistral Højris – more fondly known as Alf – during a special moment in the evening programme on Tuesday 17 December 2013 to celebrate the superstar’s retirement.

Tomlinson and Alf have been instrumental in helping to define modern British dressage. The formidable duo broke on to the international dressage circuit in staggering style in 2005, and they have arguably been responsible for the dominant position that the sport finds itself in today in Great Britain.

Tomlinson and Alf’s medal haul began at the 2005 FEI European Championships for Juniors and Young Riders in Barzago (ITA), from which they can boast team silver and individual bronze medals. The pair’s most notable achievements include team silver and individual bronze at the FEI European Championships in Windsor (UK) in 2009; three silver medals at the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Kentucky (USA); team gold and individual bronze at the 2011 FEI European Championships in Rotterdam (NED); and of course, most recently team gold and individual bronze at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

On her 18-year-old gelding that she owns with her parents, Wilfried and Ursula, Tomlinson commented, “Alf has given me and my family so much joy over the years, especially on the four occasions that we’ve competed together at Olympia, and in my eyes he’s more than earned his retirement.”

Alf’s retirement at Olympia, The London International Horse Show will mark the end of a highly successful eight year partnership; a partnership which has captured the hearts of dressage supporters worldwide, and one that has taken British dressage to a whole new level.

The programme on Tuesday 17 December will also feature the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Leg (Freestyle to Music) supported by Horse & Hound.

Tickets for Olympia, The International Horse Show start at £35 each and discounts for groups, children and concessions apply for certain performances. For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit the website at www.olympiahorseshow.com or telephone the box office on 0871 230 5580.

For further information please contact:
Tim Welland
Tel: +44(0)207 592 1207
Email: tim@revolutionsports.co.uk

Spectacular Spanish ‘Dancing Horses’ of Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art to Perform at Olympia

1 October 2013 – For the first time in forty years the UK will get the chance to witness one of the most outstanding displays of horsemanship in the world.  The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art is one of only four* ‘High Schools’ of its kind and its show has become so prestigious that it attracts visitors from all over the world to its home in Jerez De La Frontera, south-west Spain.  This December they are coming to London to perform at Olympia, The London International Horse Show, to bring a touch of Spanish magic to one of the oldest shows on the international circuit.

The school’s famous equestrian ballet show is titled ‘How the Andalusian Horses Dance’ and combines classic dressage with Doma vaquero, the traditional working riding discipline of Spain.  The display is brought to life by vibrant Spanish music and authentic eighteenth-century style costumes.

The stunning white and bay stallions used by the school are all pure Spanish-bred Andalusian horses.  The breed has been native to the Iberian Peninsula for 3,000 years and their poise and nobility made them a tool of diplomacy by the Spanish government and used by Kings across Europe for centuries.  Today, they are renowned for their agility and striking beauty, with their strong but elegant build and long, thick manes and tails.  Each horse at the Andalusian school must complete at least four years of training before they are fully capable of mastering the complicated techniques and ready to perform in front of an audience.

The Royal Andalusian School will be thrilling the crowd twice a day throughout the Olympia week, the 16th to 22nd December, in a shortened version of their famous show.  However, on Monday 16th December Olympia is presenting ‘The High School Gala Evening’ which will give visitors the opportunity to see the school’s full exhibition.  The complete repertoire shall include technical and intricate equestrian moves in advanced dressage, traditional Spanish country skills, driving and work in-hand.  A show-stopping group display of horses and riders finally come together in unison to complete the magnificent performance.

More details of the choreographies included in the full repertoire:

– Doma vaquera: The rider drives the horse around the arena using only one hand, from trotting to galloping, changing rhythm and performing pirouettes and arreones. These are movements needed in the country when handling cattle herds.

– Classical dressage: Horses carry out advanced equestrian exercises, always in time with pieces of classical music which accompany them.

– Driving: A demonstration of the exciting skills of carriage driving. These horse-drawn carriages, originally used for transport but these days relegated to sport and exhibitions, are driven by coachmen using classical harnesses.

– Work in hand: Classical high school dressage exercises such as levades, caprioles, courbettes, piaffe (between pillars), the Spanish walk and long rein, all completed by the horse with the rider on foot.

– Carrousel: A group of horses and riders, in unison, perform advanced equestrian exercises in the arena to provide a most fitting end to the performance.

Tickets for Olympia, the International Horse Show, start at £35 each and discounts for groups, children and concessions apply for certain performances. For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit the website at www.olympiahorseshow.com or telephone the box office on 0871 230 5580.

* The other three schools are The Spanish Riding School in Vienna, The Portuguese School of Equestrian Art and The Cadre Noir in Saumur, France.

For more information, please contact Tim Welland/Rod Kohler, Revolution Sports + Entertainment
Email: tim@revolutionsports.co.uk
Tel: 0207 592 1207

The London International Horse Show Olympia Appoints Revolution Sports + Entertainment

25 September 2013 – Olympia, The London International Horse Show, one of the oldest and most established shows on the international circuit, has appointed Revolution Sports + Entertainment to build the event’s profile in the lifestyle press, and maintain the close relationship the show enjoys with its core equestrian media.

Running from Monday 16th to Sunday 22nd December, this year Olympia will feature three FEI World Cup legs in Jumping, Dressage and Driving, as well as displays from The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art – the first time in 40 years that the world famous grey and black stallions have visited Great Britain.

Jo Peck, Head of Marketing at Olympia, said, “Revolution has a proven track record of taking the sport into new and original editorial areas. This approach, coupled with an in depth knowledge of the sport and great relationships with the equestrian media, made it a very easy decision for us to make.”

Rod Kohler, Managing Director at Revolution, said, “Olympia is a great show and we want to maintain its position as an equestrian Christmas institution with people of all ages for many years to come. We are delighted to have been appointed by Olympia, and look forward to working closely with them over the coming months as we prepare for the show.”

The show was originally started in 1907 and ran up to the outbreak of the 2nd World War. In 1972 Raymond Brooks-Ward reintroduced the event to the unique exhibition halls and his son Simon has run it since 1992.

For further media information, please contact:
Rod Kohler
Revolution Sports + Entertainment
T: +44(0)207 592 1207
E: tim@revolutionsports.co.uk
www.revolutionsports.co.uk