Sponsorship

Just like her mother and many of the royal family, Zara has always been keen on horses and she qualified as an equine physiotherapist from Exeter University.

Zara Phillips made her team equestrianism debut in 2004 at the UAE International Horse Trials at Windsor. Despite a fall on the cross-country course, Zara bravely remounted to finish. In September 2005, Zara took two gold medals at the European Eventing Championships. This was the beginning of her career as an elite standard equestrienne. In August 2006, Zara went one better when she won the individual gold medal in the three-day eventing competition at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany.

Much to Zara's delight she was voted the 2006 BBC Sports Personality of the Year by the British public and to cap it all, in December 2006, when the New Year Honours were announced she was made an MBE. BGC who have supported Zara Phillips since 2003 look forward to her continued success as she prepares for the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

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Tony landed his first jockey title in 1995/96 with 175 winners. In 1997, he bagged a Scottish Grand National victory on Belmont King and completed the Cheltenham Festival double on Make a Stand in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle and Mr Mulligan in the Gold Cup.

Not content to rest on his laurels, in 1998 Tony astounded the commentators by riding 253 winners in a season, breaking Peter Scudamore's record of 221. That same year saw him equal Fred Winter and Jamie Osborne's record of five wins at the Cheltenham Festival. Fittingly, it was at Cheltenham, racing's premier course, that Tony partnered Majadou to victory on December 11, 1999, becoming only the fifth jockey to ride 1,000 winners over jumps.

He has now surpassed Richard Dunwoody's all-time record of 1700 winners and beaten his own for the fastest century. Hopes are high for his performance at the Grand National, the only event to elude him so far.

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Mick started riding in Ireland, moving to England when he was 18, where he began to establish his career as a top jockey. He was so successful that Nicky Henderson saw fit to retain him as stable jockey in the early 1990s, a partnership that has flourished ever since.

Fitzgerald has ridden an incredible 1,200 winners, 12 of them at Cheltenham, where he was rewarded with the accolade of top jockey in 1999 and 2000. The highlights of his career include the Martell Grand National on Rough Quest in 1996, the King George VI Chase and the Gold Cup in 1999 with See More Business, and the Queen Mother Champion Chase in the same year with Call Equiname. His victory at Musselburgh on 30th January 2001, where he partnered Jonjo O'Neill's Carbury Cross, put him on the scoresheet at all 42 British jumps racecourses.

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At just 17, he appeared as a semi-finalist in the 1996 Welsh Open, becoming one of the youngest players ever to reach the last four of a major ranking event. His first major tournament success followed in 1998 when he took the 1998 Regal Welsh Open, making him the second youngest winner of a major professional event. He won the prestigious Benson & Hedges Masters title in 2001 and 2002, when he also won the Regal Welsh. In 2004, he became the third player to win three Masters titles. These victories and his magnetic, vibrant personality made Paul the pin-up boy of snooker, in huge popular demand.

In 2005, just as Paul was approaching the height of his powers, he was diagnosed with cancer. Despite this terrible blow, Paul was determined to fulfil his professional playing commitments on the 2005/06, displaying his characteristic spirit and dignity. To the delight of his family and fans, Paul's wife Lindsey gave birth to a daughter, Evie Rose, on Boxing Day 2005. Paul is greatly missed as a father, husband, sportsman and friend.

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The statistics alone testify to their skill and determination. Overall, Sascha and Nyree have won over 600 medals of which over 60 are from major championships. They have broken over 40 British, 3 European and 20 world records, currently holding 6 world records in major ranking events.

Since Sascha’s first Paralympic medal, a silver in the 100m Breast Stroke at Atlanta 1996, he has been virtually invincible: undefeated in major events in 100m Breast Stroke and the 200m Individual Medley, he won his first Paralympic Gold medals in Sydney 2000, defended both titles in Athens 2004 and looks set to repeat this performance at Beijing 2008.

Nyree made her international debut at the 1999 European Championships in Braunschweig, Germany. Since then, she has dominated the 100m Breast Stroke, 200m Individual Medley and, 400m Freestyle. Athens 2004, saw her biggest medal haul, where she won three golds (including the 100m Breast Stroke gold on her birthday) two silvers and a bronze. Sascha and Nyree now have their sights set firmly on retaining their Paralympic titles in Beijing 2008.

The 'Paralympic Movement' has moved on dramatically from its early days at Stoke Mandeville in 1984 when only 1100 athletes from 40 countries took part. By 2004, over 4000 athletes from 136 countries were competing at Athens. Public interest in disability sport has flourished, with sell-out events for major championships and growing media coverage. Beijing 2008 will be the biggest event so far in Paralympic history; London will be watching closely to see how they can surpass this example in 2012.

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