Fairfax Continue Support of British Showjumping as the New Sponsor for the Winter JA Classic Championship

As a part of their continuing support of showjumping, British Showjumping is pleased to announce Fairfax Saddles as the new title sponsor of the British Showjumping Winter JA Classic Championship. Fairfax is also sponsoring the British Showjumping Pony, Children, Junior and Young Rider Teams and the Winter JA Classic Championship is a perfect fit alongside this.

The Winter JA Classic Championship is for Grade JA ponies ridden by Pony or Pony Associate Members. This competition provides riders and ponies with the opportunity to gain experience during the winter ahead of the viewing trials that are held in the summer.

This year, the winner of the Fairfax Winter JA Classic Championship will be presented with the newly developed Fairfax Jump saddle.

Following on from the success of the Fairfax Performance girth (which was kept secret to give a competitive advantage to Team GBR), Vanessa has been focusing on creating a showjumping saddle which improves the horse’s performance. The new Fairfax Jump saddle was developed and tested using the same pressure mapping and gait analysis technology. It incorporates a patented new panel design, which allows the horse’s shoulder greater freedom of movement and so enables greater knee flexion. A trial involving eight international riders and a gait analysis high-speed camera proved that this saddle enables the horse to be neater in front.

With a background in International showjumping and having ridden in the Winter JA Classic Championship herself as a pony rider, Vanessa Fairfax understands the needs of the professional rider. Fairfax’s showjumping saddles are designed by professionals for professionals and the team behind these saddles have a background in international competition and saddle design together with two decades of English saddle-making experience.

Vanessa Fairfax, Director of Fairfax Saddles Ltd said, “It's great for Fairfax saddles to be associated with such a prestigious series in the Pony Calendar, and further extends our close association with the performance riders of the future. On a personal note, I have fond memories of this championship as I won it way back in 1987 - jumping and saddle design has come a long way since then!"

Maria Clayton, Head of Communications at British Showjumping commented, “We feel extremely fortunate to have forged such a strong relationship with Fairfax Saddles so early on in our business relationship. Fairfax, having recently secured the title sponsorship of our Youth Teams for 2013, were keen to look at a Youth Series that they could align with. It was from here that the Winter JA Classic Series was identified, with Fairfax also offering to add to the stature of the Championships by awarding a performance saddle to the winner. Their passion in finding ways to assist us in delivering our own objectives is second to none. If you were asked to put together a ‘wish list’ of things you would like from a sponsor aligning with your Youth Riders, Fairfax would tick every box and more!”

Competitors will have ten opportunities to qualify for the Winter JA Classic Championship and up to 30 combinations will go forward to the Championship Final. The qualifying classes are as follows:

SOUTH VIEW - 5th and 6th JANUARY 2013

HAND EQUESTRIAN CENTRE - 19th and 20th JANUARY 2013

INGLISTON EQUESTRIAN CENTRE - 2nd and 3rd FEBRUARY 2013

ARENA UK - 2nd and 3rd MARCH 2013

ADDINGTON MANOR - 16th and 17th MARCH 2013

Fairfax Saddles Ltd Editor’s Notes:

Fairfax’s primary aim is to improve the performance of the competition horse. All the saddles and girths are developed using the most advanced technology and are tested extensively. All research and design work is carried out under the direction of Vanessa Fairfax, an ex-International showjumper and University qualified designer. The company is based in Walsall and manufactures all its own products.

For further information please contact Ben Roberts on 01922 711676 or Ben.Roberts@Fairfaxsaddles.com