The Show Must Go On…
Show Director Nina Barbour yesterday was joined by Gold Medalist, Peter Charles MBE and the Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, to announce show dates for the 2018 Liverpool International Horse Show and to reflect on last year’s events.
After the heartbreak of the New Year’s Eve car park fire, adjacent to the Echo Arena, Liverpool International will be back ‘bigger and better’ than ever before and will mark the end of Liverpool’s 10th Anniversary of the Capital of Culture.
For 2018, “the sky is the limit” said Nina Barbour for the Liverpool International Horse Show. This year’s event will have a programme of elite showjumping and dressage, climaxing with the showjumping Grand Prix on Sunday, December 31st with a top prize of 75,000 Euros (around £65,400).
The first order of the day was to pay tribute to all of those who were, and continue to be, affected by the 2017 New Years Eve car park fire and to recognize the services and those who were involved.
Said Nina:
“The cancellation of our New Year’s Eve evening session was absolutely devastating both for our team and all our supporters who were there to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Many of our team and visitors also suffered a great deal of heartbreak losing their cars and possessions.
“We were so grateful for the tremendous work by the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service. The professionalism of our team and the staff at the Arena meant that our emergency plan was put into operation and everyone, including all 150 horses stabled on the ground floor of the car park, were safely evacuated from the building.”
Joe Anderson, the Mayor of Liverpool, said:
“The Liverpool International Horse Show is part of the Liverpool sporting family and we are delighted that Nina and the team have kept faith with the city.
“New Year’s Eve 2017 was a difficult night for Liverpool and the visitors to the Horse Show. We have worked with Nina to ensure that this world-class sporting event stays in Liverpool and we’re looking forward to seeing this excellent international event back at the Echo Arena.”
To represent the support from international riders, Liverpool-born Peter Charles, who first launched the show the show in 2015 was there to give his take on where the show is at:
“I’m full of admiration for the LIHS who’ve been able to re-group and keep the show in Liverpool. Everyone has worked together to ensure that this year’s show will be better than ever.
“The show has grown to be one of the best shows in the world,” said Peter “ The facilities are top class, the horses are very well looked after. It’s the details behind the scenes which a lot of people don’t see, that you get here in Liverpool, that is very, very welcoming for everybody.
“We have had tremendous support from the equestrian world and we’re hoping that Britain’s brilliant community of equestrian people will be with us to show that as every horse fan knows when you have a setback, you dust yourself down and get back in the saddle.”
Along with CSI 4*, Amateur, U25 and pony Showjumping classes, and a session of Freestyle Dressage, the Liverpool International Horse Show will have live music, its own ‘Grand National’ of Shetland ponies and a breathtaking display from the Arenacross Freestyle Motocross crew. Further details including additional acts will be announced over the next few months.
Liverpool International Horse Show will continue to include its world-famous VIP hospitality packages and exclusive viewing boxes with fine dining and excellent views of all the action. And for equestrian fans looking to spend some of their Christmas gift money, there’ll be a huge shopping village selling everything from jodhpurs to jewellery, stirrups to sparkling champagne.
Tickets are now on sale for the Liverpool International Horse Show 2018 which will be staged for the fourth year running at the Echo Arena Liverpool on December 28, 29, 30 and 31 on the city’s historic waterfront.
There is a great Early Bird Offer of 20% off all general admission tickets, which will be live until the end of May. Prices start at £14 per person per session (plus booking fee) for a family ticket and are on sale and available at www.liverpoolhorseshow.com/buy-tickets-online and www.echoarena.com 0844 8000400
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.