PARACHUTING IN TO HORSE TRIALS

Visitors to the Blair Castle International Horse Trials on Sunday 24th August will have to cast their eyes skywards following the final showjumping in the main arena when parachutists from the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team drop in to say hello.

As the closing ceremony for the Olympics takes place in Beijing and the flame gets handed over to the London Organising Committee for 2012, one of the parachutists will carry the Olympic flag into the main arena at Blair which will then be hoisted by the winner of the three star three day event.

The RAF Falcons are coming to Blair in support of the nominated charity this year, BHS Scotland in order to highlight the work they have done together with the MOD on low flying aircraft.

The RAF Leuchars Pipe Band are also going to be at the Horse Trials and Chairman of BHS Scotland, Lorraine Young said, “"We are so delighted to have the support of the RAF Leuchars Pipe Band and the RAF Falcons to help BHS make a real impact while we enjoy the privilege of being benefiting charity at Blair Castle International Horse Trials.

“We want to impress upon people just how hard BHS works behind the scenes forging partnerships wherever we feel we can improve the lives of horses and their riders. The work that BHS and the MOD did on low flying is a perfect example of the sort of initiative BHS quietly carries out and it makes a real difference. People often don't realise that besides being the UKs largest and most influential equestrian organisation BHS is first and foremost an equine welfare charity."

Other entertainments at the event include the Lothian and Borders Police Mounted Division who will be demonstrating how to bombproof your horse in the Bruadar Country Fair arena on Saturday and Sunday. The Pegasus Equestrian Vaulters perform gymnastics on horseback and are coming back this year while the mounted Pony Club Games are always fun to watch.

Of course fans of the channel four programme Scrapheap Challenge will be able to see Dick Strawbridge and his team pit their wits against teams form all over the country in creating machines for caber and atlas stone throwing on Saturday and golf putting on Sunday.

Many of the 45,000 or so visitors that come to Blair Castle from 21st to 24th August will be looking for their favourite shops in the vast tented village. Browsing the 200 plus trade stands for clothing, jewellery or fine art in the spectacular setting of Blair Castle offers a shopping experience like no other, and when the bags are full they can be left at BHS Scotland's left-luggage area to be collected before the journey home.

2008 will be the third year of the Blair Castle Fun Run which gives two legged runners the chance to attempt the challenging cross country course, minus the jumps of course. Runners can choose between 6km, 3.5km or 2km all supported by Rugby Plus. More information and sponsorship forms can be downloaded from either www.bhsscotland.org.uk

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