HOYS Bigger Than Ever
Friday, October 07, 2005
MORE FUN AT HOYS THAN EVER BEFORE!
Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), the UK’s largest indoor equestrian event, which will be taking place from Wednesday 12th to Sunday 16th October at Birmingham’s NEC, will be bigger and better than ever before with the introduction of several new visitor attractions. In addition to the a new 8,000 sq metre Retail Village housing over 250 stands, the adjacent HOYS Pavilion has been redesigned and will host a wide variety of entertainment and interactive attractions as well as showcase some of the most luxurious horseboxes ever produced. The HOYS Pavilion will house an Equine Feature Area where visitors can come face to face with a number of different breeds from the mighty Clydesdales to the endearing Miniatures.
A traditional carousel, simulator and an interactive racing game are guaranteed to create a fun fairground feel and enjoyment for the entire family in the HOYS Pavilion. In addition, visitors may also wish to take up a “once in a lifetime” photo opportunity next to the famous Puissance Wall which will be standing at a colossal 7ft. Visitors also have the convenience of leaving bulky purchases at a dedicated collection point before relaxing in the Champions Restaurant, bars and seating areas located opposite the Sky Stage where demonstrations, interactive talks and rider interviews will be staged throughout the day.
All ticket holders will be able to enjoy the exciting new features in the HOYS Pavilion and the range of outlets in The Retail Village from 9am until 9.30pm every day.
Box Office: 08700 10 10 52
Show Information and Online Booking: www.hoys.co.uk
STARS RETURN TO WORLD CLASS HOYS
The exclusive Gala Night which takes place on the final night (Sunday 16th October) of the world famous Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) promises to be one of the most glamorous in the show’s 57 year history as a host of celebrities join in celebrating the final performance at Britain’s greatest indoor equestrian event for 2005.
The star studded evening, which is hosted by actress Susan George, attracts a variety of celebrities from the sport and entertainment arenas. The Gala Night opens with the Celebrity Hurry Scurry where a show jumper and scurry driver are joined by a leading National Hunt jockey in a fast and furious team relay. Won last year by John Whitaker, Jeff Osborne and Carl Llewellyn, this exciting competition features a show jumper and a jockey taking on a small show jumping course before leaping onto the back of a scurry cart to negotiate a series of complex obstacles – all this against the clock!
To add to the excitement, the final of the Farmers Guardian Pony Club Mounted Games for the Prince Philip Cup with four teams battling it out for the prestigious title is bound to set pulses races. The reigning champions will be presented with a Farmers Guardian trophy and will each receive a medal specially designed by Buckingham Palace and produced by the Royal Mint.
The very best of top international show jumping climaxes with tack365.com Leading Show Jumper of the Year. In addition, the showing classes culminate with the Supreme Pony of the year and PricewaterhouseCoopers’s Supreme Horse of the Year. The competition is interspersed with three stunning equestrian displays, which have all been specially choreographed for the occasion.
Gala Night visitors will be able to feast on the full action-packed programme of entertainment. As the biggest Horse of the Year Show ever, the esteemed and world-famous Jean François Pignon with his beautiful grey horses whose performance has been described as the ‘best equestrian display ever to visit the country’ will be travelling from France to enthral the crowd with the magical bond he shares with his horses. Further headline entertainment includes will be provided by the Metropolitan Polices’ who make their first ever appearance at the NEC with their hand clapping and foot stomping high speed, fire-raising ‘Activity Ride’. In addition, internationally celebrated dog handler and Crufts star, Mary Ray, will link up with dressage supremo, Ferdi Eiberg, in a unique and exclusive display where her dancing dogs make a debut in combining with piaff and passage.
To round off the Gala evening and the action filled five-day equestrian extravaganza is a spectacular finale which pays tribute to some of Britain’s equestrian medallists throughout the year together with the show’s champions. The traditional Ode to the Horse returns this year and is read by Simon McCorkindale which will be followed by Auld Langs Syne to bring the curtain down on the 57th Horse of the Year Show.
Horse of the Year show takes place at the NEC Arena, Birmingham from Wednesday 12th until Sunday 16th October. Some Gala Night tickets are also available starting at £22.
Box Office: 08700 10 10 52
Show Information and online booking: www.hoys.co.uk
