HORSE OF THE YEAR HALL OF FAME
10 Mar 2010
It seems fitting to have a gala dinner to honour and celebrate the inaugural inductees to the Horse of the Year Hall of Fame.
Tickets are flying out the door to the Thursday (March 18) event, and with a ceiling of 300, organisers are expecting a sell-out within days.
Just who those inaugural inductees will be is a closely guarded secret. The plan – hatched by keen equestrian supporter Cindy Mitchener and show director Kevin Hansen – is to acclaim only those who have received exemplary results or given extraordinary service to the show.
The $120 a head dinner, where guests will be entertained by the legendary Topp Twins and treated to a three course gourmet dinner catered by renowned Auckland company Austin's Food Design Events, marks the start of the party scene at the show.
Profits from the night will be donated to the Riding for Disabled Hawke's Bay.
The honours board will take pride of place at the Hastings District Council offices.
Hansen is extremely excited about the concept. “It's brilliant,” he says. “We want to honour those who have really excelled at the Horse of the Year over the past 50 years.” In years to come two new inductees will be announced each show. “It's timely for equestrian sports to have recognition like this,” says Mitchener. “I am sure this will become incredibly precious to New Zealand in the future.”
Event organiser Maria Gourlie says its a great chance for people to get together, dine with the legends, celebrate the event and recognise the history by acknowledging those high performing competitors and people behind the scenes who have helped build the show into one of New Zealand's iconic events. “It's about recognition, acknowledgment and celebration.”
Tickets are available from event organiser Maria Gourlie on 06-877-6443 or 0274-983-408, or by email on maria@eventmanagement.net.nz through until March 15, and there after at the Horse of the Year office.