The organisers of the world-famous Burghley Horse Trials have announced that from 2005 the Event will enjoy title sponsorship from the most famous name in Four Wheel Drive manufacturing, Land Rover.

The three-year agreement, the biggest new Eventing sponsorship announced in 10 years, was outlined today at a press conference held at Land Rover Headquarters at Gaydon, Warwickshire.

The Event will be known as the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials and in making the announcement Burghley Committee Chairman, Malcolm Wallace said “We are extremely grateful to Land Rover for having the vision to see the real commercial benefits that can be gained through title sponsorship of a sporting event that is as forward thinking and progressive as Burghley Horse Trials. On the world stage Burghley is second to none. It is the most exciting event of its size in the Autumn season and achieves the biggest non-Championship television audience of any Eventing competition in the world. It is the involvement of a commercial partner of the magnitude of Land Rover that allows the Event to continue to make significant strides forward year on year.

I should like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have worked with Land Rover to secure this agreement, this includes the team in the Burghley Horse Trials Office and during his time at Burghley, the former Director, Andrew Tulloch”

Speaking on behalf of the sport, British Eventing Chairman, Mike Tucker said: “Burghley Horse Trials is an extremely important part of the sport both nationally and internationally on three levels. For competitors from around the world it is their opportunity to showcase their ability to their selectors. To the sport of Eventing worldwide it is a magnificent shop-window from which to demonstrate to the varied groups who attend the Event and the worldwide TV audience what Eventing is all about at the highest level and to develop awareness of the stars of the sport. And as the national governing body, British Eventing, owns Burghley Horse Trials, its health and well-being is vital to the sport as its financial contributions go a significant way to supporting the grass-root workings of the sport.”

Course Designer, Captain Mark Phillips, who returns to the role having previously designed 11 courses at Burghley, the last in 2000, has said of his plans for 2005 “I have been involved with Land Rover for 25 years and it gives me great pleasure to be reassociated with the company in 2005 on my return to Burghley as Course Designer in this the first year of Land Rover's title sponsorship. Plans for the Cross Country course are well advanced and I'm looking forward to being able to present these later in the year.”

This year’s Event takes place from 1st – 4th September. For further information, including a comprehensive and secure online ticket booking service, see the website at www.burghley-horse.co.uk or telephone 01933 304744. The Box Office will be open from 3rd May. However as tickets go like hotcakes, particularly for the show jumping, you may wish to sign up online for the free e-newsletter this will give you fair warning that the box office is going to open and keep you posted on all the latest developments from the Event.

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Notes to Editors:-

Land Rover has been supporting Burghley Horse Trials since 1991 through the provision of courtesy vehicles.

For further media information, including a high res image, please contact Sarah Hames on 01753 847916 or email candyb.hpim@easynet.co.uk