TICKETS TO GO ON SALE FOR UK’S LARGEST INDOOR SHOW, OLYMPIA, THE LONDON INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW
Thursday 18 April 2019
.JPG "TICKETS TO GO ON SALE FOR UK’S LARGEST INDOOR SHOW, OLYMPIA, THE LONDON INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW")
Tickets for the annual equestrian extravaganza, Olympia, The London International Horse Show, which takes place from Monday 16-Sunday 22 December 2019, are set to go on sale in the last week of April. Priority bookers – those who attended the 2018 Show – will be able to purchase their tickets during an exclusive pre-sale on Tuesday 23 April, with general sale to follow on Wednesday 24 April.
2018’s edition of the Show welcomed over 90,000 spectators across six days of world-class equestrian action. As a result, it’s recommended that prospective buyers act quickly to avoid missing out on attending the greatest equestrian Christmas party, with tickets expected to be highly sought-after once again this year.
Taking place in Olympia’s prestigious Grand Hall, the UK’s largest indoor Show hosts three FEI World Cup™ events, notably Show Jumping, Dressage and Carriage Driving, which bring with them exceptional elite competition and talent. The FEI World Cup™ action begins on Monday 16 December with the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Grand Prix supported by Horse & Hound, followed by the Freestyle to Music on Tuesday 17 December. The FEI Driving World Cup™ begins on Friday 20 December and will be followed by the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ , which will see the most prominent names in Show Jumping compete on Saturday 21 December. Last year, British rider William Whitaker took the spoils in the blue riband event, riding 15-year-old stallion, Utamaro d’Ecaussines, to an emotional victory.
Adding to the elite level of competition, Olympia will host several other top international Show Jumping events over the course of the week, culminating in The Turkish Airlines Olympia Grand Prix on Sunday 22 December which always proves to be a highlight. In 2018, Italian rider Alberto Zorzi defended his title claiming back-to-back wins. Once again, Olympia will stage the perennially in-demand Cayenne Puissance on Wednesday 18 December. 2018’s title was shared by Great Britain’s Guy Williams and France’s Mathieu Billot after the pair cleared the infamous wall, which stood a staggering 7ft 4in high.
The much-loved ‘Race Night’ returns to Olympia’s programme for the fifth consecutive year on Friday 20 December. The fast-paced horse racing-themed evening will generate a lively party atmosphere for all those in attendance, particularly as the notorious Markel Champions Challenge, in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund will again be part of the evening’s proceedings. Last year’s Challenge incorporated a ‘Battle of the Sexes’ theme, with the two teams captained by none other than 20-time champion jump jockey, Sir Anthony “AP” McCoy, and Britain’s leading female jockey, Bridget Andrews. Both captains selected a same-sex team and switched their disciplines for one night only to compete in a relay Show Jumping competition, presented by Clare Balding, which was narrowly clinched by ‘McCoy’s Boys’ in a nail-bitingly close contest.
Guaranteed to get spectators out of their seats and cheering will be The Shetland Pony Grand National. The competition – which pits a talented line-up of young jockeys and their Shetland ponies against each other in a fun-filled event – has seen an astounding racecard of talent in the past, including Olive Nicholls, daughter of 10-time British National Hunt Champion Trainer, Paul Nicholls. Joining the crowd-pleasing entertainment will be a Show classic, The Kennel Club Dog Agility, in which some of the country’s most skilled and energetic canine competitors will battle it out against the clock for victory.
Show Director Simon Brooks-Ward said: “Last year’s Olympia experienced some magical moments – from displays and performances to some of the most impressive competition to have taken place in the Grand Hall. We are already looking forward to this year’s Show, we’ll be announcing the international displays over the course of the summer and we aim, as always, to make each performance a true spectacle, so watch this space.”
The international displays at Olympia are a highlight of each performance. 2018 welcomed Azerbaijan ‘Land of Fire’, a Cossack-style act featuring fast-paced movements and artistry between the horse and rider combinations, and The Devil’s Horsemen, a collective of equestrian stuntmen with Hollywood film and television experience, having featured in productions, such as Star Wars, Game of Thrones and Les Misérables.
On top of the sensational equestrian action, 2019 will welcome the return of Olympia’s renowned Shopping Village, which, through its wonderful mix of unique stalls, provides the perfect setting to do a spot of last-minute Christmas shopping.
More information about Olympia, The London International Horse Show, including how to buy tickets, can be found here, in addition to performance announcements, and a detailed Show schedule in due course.
kjk7q3j4yode.jpg "British riders feature strongly in the Pony Grand Prix of Compiegne")
