Olympic silver medallist William Fox-Pitt was at the Wilton Horse Trials Course on Wednesday to launch a new core sponsorship agreement with Salisbury solicitors Whitehead Vizard.

The Wilton trials event is one of the most popular equestrian events in the South West. This year the event will become The Whitehead Vizard Wilton Horse Trials 2007.

Speaking at Wilton House on Wednesday 21st February 2007, William Fox-Pitt, said: “This sponsorship agreement with Whitehead Vizard is very much to be welcomed. Sponsorship is essential to ensure that the sport can continue to develop.

“Wilton Horse Trials is a very friendly and professional event. It is very good for us riders. Firstly, for the riders to try out our younger horses and educate them. It’s also good for the older horses too. We can take them to Wilton Horse Trials in July to help build them up and prepare them for the rest of the season.

“The event is one of the best settings in the country. There is a terrific feel at Wilton for the riders, spectators, horses and sponsors. The ground is also very good - even in the heat of summer.

“The course stays yielding and the staff work very hard here to keep the ground in good condition. The organisers also work very well with the riders to produce a good event all round. The team here is very friendly and I think you can feel that at Wilton. It rubs off on everyone. I’m looking forward to the event. It is one of the high points of the summer for me.

” The sponsorship agreement for the event covers this year's trials at the traditional parkland venue at Wilton House, the home of the Earls of Pembroke, from Saturday to Sunday, 28th – 29th July 2007. The firm’s involvement with The Whitehead Vizard Wilton Horse Trials 2007 coincides with a period of continuing rural and private business growth for Whitehead Vizard throughout the South Wiltshire.

The firm handles a large amount of agricultural legal work for the local farming community – with specialists who deal with land and landlord & tenant disputes for a number of local landowners. Whitehead Vizard partner, Andrew Hodder, said:

"Whitehead Vizard are pleased to have had a long association with Wilton Estate. The popularity of The Whitehead Vizard Wilton Horse Trials, with competitors and spectators alike, reflects the growing importance of equestrian sport and its supporting industry to the South West economy.”

"The Whitehead Vizard Wilton Horse Trials will display both the fun side of horse ownership with the combined disciplines in Dressage, Show Jumping and Cross Country; as well as the professionalism with which the organisation is run. Whitehead Vizard are delighted to be associated with the event."

Anthony Ffooks, Organiser of Wilton Horse Trials, added: "We are delighted to welcome Whitehead Vizard to the sport of Eventing. The sport and the Event are very much on the up and up at the moment. Wilton House, with its 460 year history and 21 acres of gardens and parkland is the ideal venue for a great day out. We regularly welcome many of our Olympic sporting heroes, as well as many other Internationals, and I am hoping for a record crowd of spectators in July."

The Great Britain team recently retained the European Championships title for the sixth successive occasion. The individual and team gold medal was won by Zara Phillips, daughter of The Princess Royal, who won the individual gold 32 years ago, at the age of 21.

She was also The 2006 Sports Personality of the Year. Wilton House stands on the site of a ninth century nunnery founded by King Alfred.

This, in turn, was replaced by a twelfth century Benedictine abbey which, with its surrounding lands, was surrendered at the time of the Dissolution of the monasteries, to King Henry V111, who gave them to William Herbert around 1542. Wilton House has remained in the family since that time and is the home of the Earl of Pembroke.

ENDS

The picture above is copyright free, (please click on thumbnail for enlarged version). It shows, from left to right: Event Organiser Anthony Ffooks, Olympic silver medallist William Fox-Pitt and Andrew Hodder, of Whitehead Vizard.

For further information about Whitehead Vizard, please contact Andrew Hodder, Whitehead Vizard Solicitors, Close Gate Chambers, 60 High Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2PQ. Tel: 01722 412141 or e-mail him at: ah@Whitehead-Vizard.co.uk.

For further information about The Whitehead Vizard Wilton Horse Trials, please contact Anthony Ffooks, Church Farm, Lamyatt, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6NP. Tel: 07779 588274 (Mobile) or e-mail him at: ant@lamyatt.demon.co.uk. Website: www.wiltonhorsetrials.co.uk