BOWMORE BLAIR CASTLE INTERNATIONAL HORSE TRIALS NOMINATED FOR TWO TOP SPORT AWARDS

2001 CCI* Winner, Lucy Wiegersma, riding River Valley

The Bowmore Blair Castle International Horse Trials and Country Fair has been nominated in two categories at the Scottish Sport Sponsorship Awards 2004, nominations that will see the trials up against other iconic sporting institutions such as the Scottish Football League.

Scotland’s leading equestrian event has been sponsored by Bowmore Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky since 1996 and it is a partnership which has seen the event grow to become one of only three horse trials in Britain to achieve three star status. This year’s event takes place from Thursday 26th to Sunday 29th August.

Atholl Estates run the event in the magnificent grounds of Scotland’s most visited historic home, Blair Castle and the event enjoys an excellent relationship with both owner and sponsor. All three parties have worked together for the last eight years developing the event to appeal to an ever wider audience. Last year saw record crowds of 33,000 people over the four days, which represents a ten per cent increase on 2002 and a massive 267% increase in eight years.

Although the Bowmore Blair Castle International Horse Trials and Country Fair remains a truly Scottish event with heritage and tradition, like Bowmore Islay Single Malt, it attracts an international audience. In 2003 competitors from 15 countries took part including New Zealand, Australia and the USA.

But this event is not just for equestrians. Over the years the Country Fair has grown to be one of the biggest family attractions in the area, while a tented village offers over 200 different shopping experiences from jewellery and fine art to clothing and saddlery. Traditional Scottish craftwork, cookery demonstrations, not to mention whisky tasting in the Bowmore Marquee all help to make a day out to remember.

Staging such a huge event in rural Perthshire has many benefits to the local community which relies heavily on tourism as an industry and it is reckoned that £500,000 is spent over the four days. But a further beneficiary is the Childrens’ Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS), for which over £30,000 has been raised since it became the official charity for the event in 2001.

Horse Trials Manager with Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd, Nicola Mackinlay said that the company was delighted to be nominated in two categories; Long Term Sponsor (more than three years) and the Conival Award (sponsorships between £25,000 and £75,000). While Horse Trials Director, Sarah Phillips said, “We very much appreciate Bowmore’s sponsorship and hopefully this will make other companies realise the benefits of sponsoring equestrian sport.”

Winners of the awards will be announced in a glittering ceremony at the Scottish Business in Sport dinner at the Glasgow Hilton Hotel on Tuesday 23rd March.

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