Al Shira’aa Strengthens Support Of Hickstead

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Al Shira’aa, the title sponsor of the Hickstead Derby Meeting, has increased its support of Hickstead with an extensive new sponsorship deal.

The sponsorship agreement for the Al Shira’aa Derby has been extended for another five years, lasting until at least 2029. In addition, Al Shira’aa has become the new sponsor of the historic King George V Gold Cup, held on the final day of the Agria Royal International Horse Show, and have also taken on the title sponsorship of the British Young Horse Championships in August.

Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, founder of Al Shira’aa commented:

“As a historical sponsor of the Hickstead Derby, I am delighted to extend our partnership for a further five years and support the King George V Cup, such an important legacy of British showjumping at the highest level."

“Following on from this is a very important show for British breeders, myself being one, whereby we have a Lanaken qualifier at the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Young Horse Championships. The development of young horses is a great passion of mine, breeding and producing is something I take much pride in as an owner.”

Show Director Lizzie Bunn added:

“We would like to express our gratitude to Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and to the entire team at Al Shira’aa, for their ongoing support of Hickstead. Al Shira’aa is now one of our longest-standing sponsors, and we are delighted that this partnership has been expanded."

"The Sheikha has shown unwavering commitment to the sport and its development over the past decade, culminating in success at both the Paris Olympics and the recent World Cup Final, and we are delighted to be welcoming a team from the UAE to compete in the Nations Cup for the very first time. Sheikha Fatima first became involved at Hickstead as a rider herself, and she is now one of the biggest supporters of equestrian sport in Britain and internationally.”

Al Shira’aa first took on the title sponsorship of the iconic Hickstead Derby as a means of promoting Al Shira’aa Stables and its stallions, encouraging riders to take part in the Al Shira’aa International Horse Show in Abu Dhabi, and developing the sport of showjumping in the UAE. Since the sponsorship began in 2017, there is now an extensive UAE showjumping tour at the beginning of each year, and the country has flourished as a showjumping nation, qualifying for the Olympics for the first time last summer thanks to the dedication of HH Sheikha Fatima over the last decade. Al Shira’aa has also become a major sponsor of a number of other British and international events, including the Hamburg Derby in Germany.

“I remain as committed to the development of international showjumping as ever, as highlighted in our multiple partnerships for 2025 across the globe which include Montefalco, Hamburg, Bolesworth, Munster and Lanaken with other exciting shows on the horizon,” said Sheikha Fatima.

“Supporting youth and the development of our next generation of riders remains at the forefront of my vision – a vision that began over a decade ago. My mission is to bring the sport to the people and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve collectively this year and beyond.”

As well as the new five-year deal for the British Jumping Derby Meeting, Al Shira’aa will now sponsor the King George V Gold Cup, one of the most prestigious classes in British showjumping. This five-star Grand Prix has been won by many of showjumping’s best riders, and it remains a class that all international showjumpers want to win.

The British Young Horse Championships (14-17 August) moved to Hickstead last summer. Now they are returning for a second year and will be run under the title sponsorship of Al Shira’aa, with a prize fund of over £80,000 and UK qualifiers for the prestigious World Breeding Championship for Young Horses in Lanaken in Belgium.

“Al Shira’aa have always championed young horses, having sponsored many of the age classes at our shows,” added Lizzie. “This new deal underlines their support of British Breeding and of the sport of showjumping in the UK.”

Top Photo: William Funnell and Dublon, winners of the Al Shira'aa Derby in 2024

Photo Credit: Boots and Hooves Photography

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lindaandrews071
Feb 10
2 min read

The food manufacturing industry, which contributes £162 billion to the economy and supports over 4.5 million jobs, has joined forces like never before to urge the Treasury to rethink changes to inheritance tax announced at the Budget. Led by the NFU, a letter from the food supply chain, which includes all major supermarket retailers, has voiced concerns about the government’s plan to scrap Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR).

The coalition warns that removing these reliefs threatens the long-term stability of the nation's food resilience, which relies on continued investment to futureproof sustainable food production, at a time when the government has stated that food security is national security. It also highlights the barriers the changes could cause for boosting growth and productivity in the sector and tackling diet-related health issues.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said:

“We have made our views on this awful family farm tax very clear. Now so have 57 other businesses across the food supply chain. This abhorrent policy has united farming and the whole of the supply chain like never before. How loud does the chorus of concern around the policy have to be for Treasury to listen and take action?"

“Scrapping critical inheritance tax reliefs not only affects family-run farms, but it stands to have far-reaching consequences for the whole industry, from food processors to supermarket retailers."

“Faced with a backdrop of global instability, a changing climate, high input costs and a growing global population to feed, this policy risks destabilising an industry that is vital to feeding the nation and one that supports millions of jobs. Because when one link in a supply chain, the link that is producing the raw materials, has a crisis of confidence and has already all but stopped investment, it has an impact on the whole of the industry; an impact that will eventually be felt on supermarket shelves. Is this the vision for economic growth the country was promised?

“The Chancellor has said she has seen no alternative proposals put forward, yet there have been solutions put forward by tax experts and Labour MPs. With large numbers of Britain’s biggest manufacturing sector – food and drink – against this policy, it is time for the Chancellor to heed our calls to meet to discuss options and find a way forward out of this current mess.”

Signatories from the food industry include:

NFU

NFU Cymru

NFU Scotland

UFU

Morrisons

Asda

Marks & Spencer

Waitrose

Lidl

Sainsbury’s

Tesco

Aldi

Co-op

Arla

Muller

Yeo Valley

ABP

Rodda’s

County Milk

Belton Farm

Paynes Dairy

Organic Herd

Long Clawson

RABDF

PTF

Dairy UK

First Milk

Meadow

Cotteswold

Dunbia

Kepak

Pickstock (Telford)

Myton Food Group

Cranswick

Dovecote Park

2 Sisters Food Group

Puffin Produce

Castell Howell

Foyle Food Group

C&J Meats

WD Meats

Hewitt Meats

Pembrokeshire Creamery

Leprino

South Caernarfon Creameries

Laeth y Llan Cyf/Village Dairy

Calon Wen Dairy

Crediton Dairy

Bawnbua Foods NI

NIMEA

Dale Farm

Fane Valley

Ready Eggs

Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association

Pilgrims

Photo: NFU President Tom Bradshaw signing a Stop the Family Farm Tax poster

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Al Shira’aa Strengthens Support Of Hickstead

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