28.06.07 - RACING AT AINTREE, EVENTS

Aintree International Equestrian Centre encouraging youngsters to 'saddle-up'

The initiative, piloted by Aintree Racecourse Developments Limited, The School Sport Partnership and British Horseracing Education Standards Trust (BHEST) aims to open equestrianism as a sport to a younger audience, encouraging them to develop social and equestrian skills. There will also be opportunities for older pupils to gain both experience and qualifications through a partnership between Aintree International Equestrian Centre and The School Sport Partnership.

Working with its partners, BHEST and The School Sport Partnership, the project aims to open the sport to a new, young audience through the use of exciting and informative educational activities based on the National Curriculum. These activities have been taking place using Aintree Racecourse as host venue for approximately 8 years. During ‘taster week’, former jockeys Carrie Ford (who partnered Forest Gunner to victory in the 2004 Fox Hunters Chase and fifth place in the John Smith’s Grand National the following year) and Derek Byrne (who rode Four Trix to victory in the Scottish Grand National in1990) have been bringing subjects to life for pupils of all ages.

To make the ‘taster week’ a reality, The School Sport Partnership has delivered pupils from many local schools to experience the thrills of horse riding at Aintree this week. The aim is to improve the quality, quantity and range of physical education and school sport opportunities for pupils of all age ranges across the city of Liverpool. Older pupils working towards qualifications in sports leadership have played a key role in guiding the groups around the site and helping with all activities.

The £4.6million International Equestrian Centre was built thanks to investment from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The 56,000 square foot international standard arena features a 70x30 metre main arena, suitable for hosting international, national and local level equestrian competitions, in addition to a 55x20 metre collecting ring, offices, lecture rooms, tack and storage areas.

Commenting on the week’s initiative, Andrew Tulloch, Equestrian Centre Director, said: ‘It is our vision to encourage more young people to get into riding and the fitness and fun that the sport brings. We want to dispel any myth that equestrianism is an unobtainable sport and encourage children to believe that they can try something different, beyond the school playing field, that is both physically educating and exciting. It is an objective of ours to offer these activities to schools on a regular basis.’

Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive at the Northwest Regional Development Agency, said: ‘The Aintree International Equestrian Centre is a unique facility and the NWDA is pleased to have been able to support it. The centre provides a fantastic environment for Merseyside’s young people to develop social as well as equestrian skills and ultimately it will give them a chance of a career in equestrian sport.’

Additional Information

Aintree International Equestrian Centre will be officially opened on Tuesday 31st July, two days after it stages its first dressage competition. Further details regarding the opening will be issued at a later date.

Aintree international Equestrian Centre is operated by Aintree Racecourse Developments Limited. A stand-alone company based in the grounds of Aintree Racecourse.

Schools participating in the taster week include: Blessed Sacrament Junior School, Kingsley Community Primary School, Gwladys Street School, Sacred Heart Primary School, St John’s School, St Margaret Mary’s Junior School, Emmaus Primary School, St Cecilia’s Junior School, Our Lady & St Swithin’s School, Dovecot Primary School, St Margaret of Antioch, IPOR Centre, Knotty Ash Primary School, Pinehurst Primary School, Pleasant Street Primary School, St Vincent de Paul Primary School, Barlows Primary School. With the support of young leaders from Holly Lodge, Broughton Hall, Cardinal Heenan and Notre Dame.

A total of 15 ponies were at Aintree this week. 11 ponies were kindly loaned from Croxteth Park Riding Centre. The other 4 ponies are owned by Aintree Racecourse Developments Limited and have been bought from Wheathill Riding Centre in Knowsley, which has recently closed.