Posted: 2nd December 2015 | Back to news feed
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2016 is set to get off to a show-jumping start, with the first ever Liverpool International Horse show hosted by Equestrian.com. Taking place from 1st – 3rd January 2016, Liverpool’s Echo Arena will transform to host this exciting event that will combine everything from show jumping to shopping for the style savvy.
Here’s 10 reasons why this is an event not to be missed:
This is the first ever international show-jumping event ever to come to Liverpool.
The world’s top shows include the Horse of the Year Show held at The NEC in Birmingham in October, The London International Horse Show at Olympia London from 15-21st Dec and the Longines Global Champions Tour happening in Doha this year from 12-14th November. The only other major show-jumping event is held in the North West is the super-glamorous Bolesworth International held in the grounds of Bolesworth Castle in Cheshire, which is run by the same dream team.
The show kicks off with the biggest New Year’s Eve Party in the city.
The Echo Arena will host the most decadent New Year’s Eve party in the city with VIPs adhering to a gold themed dress code and partying until 3am. Celebrities invited include Jodie Kidd, Abby Clancy, Dawn Ward and The Real Housewives of Cheshire and John Bishop.
There will be several Olympic greats competing at the show
Riders coming to the show include Peter Charles MBE who picked up gold medal as part of the London 2012 Olympic Team with team members Nick Skelton and Ben Maher, it was the first gold Olympic show-jumping gold medal to be won in 60 years. Peter reportedly sold his gold medal winning horse, Vindicat W, to rock star Bruce Springsteen for his show-jumper daughter Jessica.
The Liverpool Horse Show will be the first place you can hit the January sales, with more than 60 retailers showcasing their New Year’s bargains next to the ‘collecting ring’.
From riding crops to radiance balms and everything in between, the shopping village will be filled with a selection of make-up and beauty products, branded clothing and accessories with plenty of delicious foodie gifts too to take away. Visitors will be able to pick up all of their New Year bargains in one place.
A Triple Grand National winner’s grandson will compete in the Shetland Grand National at the show.
12-year-old Ben Hemmings is the grandson of Trevor Hemmings, owner of not one, but three Grand National winners. First came Hedgehunter in 2005 and then Ballabriggs in 2011 and his latest winner was this year, with Many Clouds. Ben will line up on his horse 'Gambler' for the Shetland Pony Grand National.
3000 litres gallons of champagne will be consumed over the 3 days of the show.
The hospitality at this fantastic show will include private boxes where you can enjoy an unrivalled view of the action in the arena from the 12 seats in your box inside the stadium, an incredible champagne reception along with lunch, afternoon tea or dinner with canapés served to you and your friends, not to mention your own fully-staffed private bar. There will also be a VIP Hospitality area and a well-stocked champagne bar.
The show is expected to attract crowds from up and down the country, bringing an additional 30,000 people to the city for the New Year period.
More than 30,000 people will head to the show for 3 days of world-class sporting action, glamour and all round family fun and with a huge selection of food and drink on offer it will also be the perfect excuse to delay the New Year’s detox.
Not all of the acts at the show will be on horseback
The Flying Frenchman will be performing daring stunts and jumping high show-jumping 2m high fences without the help of a four-legged friend. Between them they hold 6 world records and have performed in 38 countries across 4 continents. Read more about them at http://www.liverpoolhorseshow.com/flying-frenchmen#GMQDQve0cxRw4Z6o.99
The Bootleg Beatles will also be playing live in the Arena throughout the show and opera duo Bella Voci will also be performing.
It will take a team of more than 300 people to create this Olympic-sized show jumping spectacle
The team will be shifting more than 1000 tonnes of sand and surface material into the Arena (the equivalent of 30 lorry loads) supplied by Andrews Bowen, and it is the same grade as used at London 2012. They will be building over 600 jump fences, including the winning entry from the 'Design a Jump' competition running in schools across the North West - for more details go to www.liverpoolhorseshow.com/design-a-jump-competition
(The closing date for entries is 16th November 2015)
The prize money adds up to more than €220,000 (over £150,000)
The riders are competing for points in the FEI rankings, important, which is crucial for selection for the Olympics in Rio 2016.The winner of the Grand Prix, the final competition on Sunday 3rd January will collect €61,000 (approx £43,000) and be presented with a trophy shaped like a Liver bird.
for more information, or to purchase tickets, please visit: www.liverpoolhorseshow.com
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