Mitsubishi Motors has raised the prize pot this year to £250,000, with a record £55,000 going to the winner, and prize money on a cascade system going down the order. The tournament is expected to be bigger than ever this year after Zara Phillips, Great Britain's current World and European Champion, won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year in December.
The Spirit of Badminton Photo Wall will go on display for the first time at this year's Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. The 10-metre long wall will be made up of images taken by the public and can be of any subject matter from spectators to action shots of horses and riders, as long as they were taken at the horse trials at any time since the first Badminton 58 years ago.
Mitsubishi Motors in conjunction with Nikon are offering a prize for the most outstanding picture that epitomises the spirit of Badminton. On offer is a first prize of £400 of Nikon camera equipment plus VIP entry and full Mitsubishi hospitality at the 2007 Badminton Horse Trials for four, with runners up winning VIP tickets for two persons on cross-country day (Saturday)
Hugh Thomas, director of Badminton, said: "We are really looking forward to seeing the variety of pictures that we receive. I am sure the wall will create much interest as well as a unique record of memories of the event over the years."
The wall will be built in time for first day of this year's horse trials, which are held at the Duke of Beaufort's Gloucestershire estate at Badminton onMay 3-6 and will stay on display throughout the event.
Gabi Whitfield, head of public relations for Mitsubishi Motors, said: "The Spirit of Badminton Wall will not be a one-off, we plan to add to it year-on-year and make it a focal point in order for people to share in and enjoy other people's favourite memories."
Elsewhere in the eventing world, British Eventing's indoor winter sport, the JAS Eventing tournament has signed veterinary pharmaceutical firm Vetoquinol as its new sponsor.
JAS Eventing (Jumping And Style) was developed in 2001 during the foot and mouth crisis and has evolved into a pre-season warm-up competition. This year JAS will run under the banner of Vetoquinol's range of specific nutritional supplements and care products, Equistro.
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