British Eventing is delighted to announce the first BEPL partner as Champagne Taittinger. Taittinger will generously provide prizes to the Premier League winners in this inaugural 2005 season. The winner of each Premier League event will receive a Magnum of Champagne from Justin Llewellyn – the UK agent for Champagne Taittinger. The winner of the BEPL Riders’ Accumulator will be presented with a Nebuchadnezzar at the British Eventing Ball on November 19.
BEPL Riders’ Accumulator
After three BE Premier League events, William Fox-Pitt has opened up a commanding lead in the BEPL Riders’ Accumulator ahead of British team mate Pippa Funnell. Second place at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, followed by fourth at the FEI World Cup Qualifier held at the Chatsworth SsangYong Horse Trials and topped off with 20 points for victory at Bramham has given William a total of 54 points. Pippa has added just one point to the 30 earned for her spectacular Badminton win giving William a 23-point advantage going to the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe, August 5 – 7. Husband and wife team Bettina and Andrew Hoy occupy third and fourth respectively but only Andrew has a horse entered in the British Open Championship at the Festival. Pippa will be looking to Primmore’s Pride and Ensign to give her the maximum 20 points for a win to close the gap but with his top string of Tamarillo, Ballincoola and Moon Man in action at Gatcombe, William looks like tightening his grip on the £5000 and Nebuchadnezzar of Taittinger.
Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe 5 – 7 August
For the fourth instalment of the inaugural British Eventing Premier League, we head to Gloucestershire for the Festival of British Eventing held in a natural amphitheatre over looked by Gatcombe Park house, home of HRH Princess Anne. The Festival celebrates the best in the sport with the crowning of the British Champion horse and rider at Novice, Intermediate and Advanced level. Eleven of the British Squad for this year’s FEI Blenheim Petplan European Championships (September 8 – 12) will be in action and there will be a parade on Sunday in open-top Land Rovers to wish them well in their quest for a sixth consecutive team gold medal. Visit http://www.gatcombe-horse.co.uk/ for full details on tickets, timetable and activities.
For further information, please contact:
BE Premier League Director -Tim Hadaway on 01604 686585
or email tim.hadaway@tiscali.co.uk
BE PR & Communications Manager – Winnie Murphy on 02476 698855
or email winnie.murphy@britisheventing.com
Visit the British Eventing Premier League website for news items and the full BEPL Riders’ Accumulator standings www.britisheventing.com/premierleague
For more information about Champagne Taittinger, visit the Hatch Mansfield website http://www.hatchmansfield.com/