Why does Randox sponsor Equine Sports events?
Why does Randox sponsor Equine Sports events?
Why does Randox sponsor Equine Sports?
1 September 2021: Why does Randox sponsor Equine Sports?
Some may be wondering, why is a healthcare company so invested in the equine industry? Why would they sponsor the world’s most famous steeplechase – The Randox Grand National?
It’s a labour of love… Peter FitzGerald’s fond attachment to the equestrian world, together with 40 years’ experience in the in vitro diagnostics industry, was the perfect match.
Clinical diagnostics is at the heart of Randox and our experience and expertise has paved the way for the development of innovative and accurate diagnostic products for Equine Health.
You could say ‘it runs in our blood.’
With 70% of all medical decisions based on the analysis of blood, Randox are set to release the VeraSTAT-V, a stable-side Equine Serum Amyloid A test device designed to detect levels of inflammation in horse blood in a matter of minutes.
The ability to quickly detect and monitor your horse’s health, at the stable side, brings huge benefits to both horse and owner. Early detection of inflammatory states means treatment plans can start sooner, recovery periods are shorter, and the horse can return to work healthy much earlier.
When performance is key, monitoring inflammation is vital.
Whether it’s detecting inflammation related to joint injury, or screening for infection before or after transport, competition or surgery, the VeraSTAT-V is a valuable means to monitor Equine Health.
At Randox, we have enjoyed a long-standing partnership with the Jockey Club and will continue to deliver innovative diagnostics solutions to the Equine Industry for the years ahead.
Interested in finding out more?
For all Equine SAA and/or Veterinary related inquiries, please email marketing@randox.com or visit www.randox.com/veraSTAT-V for more information.
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Randox Grand National 2021 trophy pays tribute to COVID pandemic key workers
Randox Grand National 2021 trophy pays tribute to COVID pandemic key workers
Saturday 3rd April 2021
The headline sponsor of the Randox Grand National has unveiled the trophy for the 2021 event with a tribute to key workers of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shown to the public for the first time on Saturday 3rd April during ITV Racing’s Opening Show, the 2021 trophy has been designed for the second year by Silversmith Cara Murphy from Northern Ireland.
The unique design of the silver and gold trophy, which includes illustrations of the COVID-19 virus on its base, acknowledges a historic year and the collective efforts of all key workers during this time.
Dr Peter FitzGerald, Randox Managing Director, said;
“It is only fitting that the trophy for the 2021 Randox Grand National recognises the momentous impact COVID-19 has had on all of our lives, and we pay tribute to the incredible dedication and sacrifice of all key workers in fighting the coronavirus.
“In establishing and running the largest throughput COVID-19 laboratory in the UK, Randox staff have stood shoulder to shoulder with our colleagues in the NHS and elsewhere, and we salute their commitment and achievements.
“As we reflect on the year gone by, and importantly, look ahead to the future, it will be vital that we take forward the lessons we have learnt from the pandemic – the importance of early and accurate testing and the role diagnostic technology can play in meeting future health challenges.
“I believe the 2021 Randox Grand National trophy will serve as a reminder of this message, and of the truly important things in life – our friends, our family, and our health.”
In recognition of Randox’s role in the UK National Testing Programme, the 2021 Randox Grand National trophy features an intricate stem made of the DNA double helix that forms the basis of the testing methods used to detect COVID-19.
At the head of the stem is a striking sphere to signify the circle of Randox’s corporate logo that has become synonymous with a blood drop on which so many of the company’s health tests, including those within Randox Health’s world-leading health checks, are conducted.
Silversmith Cara Murphy commented;
“This has been a tough year for everyone and it has been an honour to work with Randox to create the 2021 Randox Grand National trophy to commemorate the incredible and dedicated efforts of Randox staff in the UK’s National COVID-19 Testing Programme.
“Whilst we are unable to meet together in person for the 2021 Randox Grand National, their hard work has played such a key role in bringing us to a more positive place and one step closer to normality.
“In years to come the winner of this year’s trophy will look at the COVID virus engraving on its base and be able to reflect not only on their success in the Randox Grand National, but on the incredible challenges and achievements of these times.”
Another popular element returning for the 2021 Randox Grand National are the team trophies. In their first year as sponsor, Randox introduced the concept of presenting the entire winning team with individual trophies, to celebrate the combined effort that goes in to achieving such a special victory.
For further enquiries please contact Amy Millar in the Randox PR team: amy.millar@randox.com or 028 9442 2413
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Randox extends Grand National Festival Sponsorship for a further five years
Randox extends Grand National Festival Sponsorship for a further five years
22 December 2020: Randox extends Grand National Festival Sponsorship for a further five years
Randox has reached agreement with The Jockey Club for a five-year extension to its sponsorship of the world’s greatest steeplechase, the Grand National, and the three-day Grand National Festival staged at Aintree Racecourse.
The new agreement will run from 2022-2026, following on from the existing five-year deal which runs until next year. This ten-year sponsorship will be the second-longest partnership in the history of the Grand National.
As well as retaining headline naming rights for the three-day Grand National Festival, Randox will continue to sponsor all three races over the iconic Grand National fences; the Randox Foxhunters Chase on Liverpool’s NHS Day, the Randox Topham Chase on Ladies Day, and the iconic Randox Grand National on Grand National Day itself.
As the largest healthcare diagnostics company from the UK and Ireland, Randox undertakes research, development, manufacture and distribution of innovative laboratory tests and analysers. In 2019 Randox manufactured more than 4 billion tests and was active in 145 countries. The company employs more than 2,000 staff, including more than 450 research scientists and engineers, with key facilities located in Co Antrim and Co Donegal.
Randox focuses on the provision of comprehensive, accurate and timely testing in order to identify risk to health, improve clinical diagnoses and promote preventative healthcare; aiming to achieve better healthcare outcomes whilst reducing the burden on clinical services.
In early 2020 Randox recognised the threat from COVID-19 and, based on almost 40 years of diagnostic experience, quickly developed a test to accurately identify the virus. Testing at scale commenced within weeks to support both the UK’s National Testing Programme and private clients.
In March 2020, the company was processing 150 COVID-19 tests a day, but through investment and the enormous effort of its staff, Randox has been able to boost its laboratory testing capacity to process 90,000 COVID-19 samples per day for the UK Government’s National COVID-19 Testing Programme, making it the most productive laboratory in the UK and Ireland, and amongst the largest in Europe. It anticipates this climbing to 100,000 daily tests.
Dr. Peter FitzGerald CBE, Founder and Managing Director of Randox, said:
“We have thoroughly enjoyed working with The Jockey Club’s team at Aintree and look forward to another successful five years, when we are once again able to come together to celebrate the Randox Grand National.”
“This terrible pandemic has increased understanding of the importance of diagnostics and testing across our society. As a company founded with the ultimate aim of saving lives, we will work hard to convert that better understanding into the improvement of people’s health in the future.”
Noting how the Grand National will now be known as the Randox Grand National from 2021 with ‘Health’ being removed from the name, Dr. FitzGerald, adds:
“2020 has been a year of massive change and Randox has been at the forefront of countering the greatest pandemic to sweep these islands in 100 years. As a result, we are comfortable that our core company name is now synonymous with ‘health’ so are very happy to combine with Aintree to rebrand the world’s greatest steeplechase as, more succinctly, ‘the Randox Grand National’.
“We are excited for this new era of our partnership, of horse racing, and of society – in which COVID has taught us to appreciate the important things in life – our friends, our family, and our health. We very much look forward to the next five years.”
With around 9.5 million people tuning in each year in the UK through broadcast partners ITV, The Randox Grand National attracts one of the largest live TV audiences in sport. In 2017, ITV won a BAFTA for their exceptional coverage of the world’s greatest steeplechase. Worldwide the event attracts an estimated television audience of around 600 million.
Randox also continues as the Official Healthcare Partner of The Jockey Club. Founded in 1750 and today British Racing’s largest commercial group, The Jockey Club runs many of the sport’s most iconic assets which, as well as The Randox Grand National Festival, include the The Festival™ at Cheltenham, The Derby Festival at Epsom Downs and the National Stud, with all profits going back into the sport thanks to being a company incorporated by Royal Charter.
Dickon White, North West Regional Director for Jockey Club Racecourses, who runs Aintree, said:
“I am delighted that Randox has agreed to extend their sponsorship for the Grand National Festival for a further five years. It’s been a fantastic partnership over the past few years and we’ve been extremely impressed with their operation as well as their dedication to one of sports’ most iconic events.
“At a time when we are facing massive challenges in British racing, it is a tremendous boost to The Jockey Club, and a huge endorsement to the Grand National itself, that a new multi-year deal has been agreed with Randox.”
“The Randox Grand National continues to go from strength to strength and we look forward to working closely with Dr FitzGerald and his talented and committed team in the coming years.”
For further information please contact: Amy Millar – PR Team Leader on Amy.Millar@randox.com
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Tiger Roll wins back-to-back Randox Health Grand Nationals
The sponsor of the Randox Health Grand National has congratulated Tiger Roll, Davy Russell, Gordon Elliott and Michael O’Leary as they secured their spot in the history books at Saturday’s Randox Health Grand National.
Dr. Peter FitzGerald, Managing Director of Randox Health, had high praise for both Aintree Racecourse and his Randox Health team, saying;
“We were delighted to once again partner with the Jockey Club and Aintree Racecourse, together bringing the Randox Health Grand National to the millions who avidly awaited the unfolding of this iconic event.
“Over the last two years of our sponsorship, the theatrics that this Festival has produced have been second-to-none and this, our third year, was no exception. The atmosphere was electric and the cheers of the crowd deafening as Tiger Roll, steered by Davy Russell, stretched himself ahead of the competition to become the first consecutive winner of this most famous race since the days of Red Rum.
“It is a tale which will be forever etched in the history books of Aintree Racecourse and steeplechase racing.
“Congratulations to Tiger Roll’s jockey Davy Russell, trainer Gordon Elliott and owner Michael O’Leary who once again delivered a fairytale of determination and dedication as the small but mighty Tiger Roll stormed to victory for a second time.
“Whilst our partnership with the Randox Health Grand National and the wider Jockey Club is an opportunity for us to spread our message of preventative health, it is also a chance to show our commitment, at a national level, to this wonderful sport. I have been a keen equestrian all my life and Randox, historically, has given its name to many local Point-to-Point and Polo meetings near our headquarters in Northern Ireland.
“It’s the perfect fit, therefore, to unite our company ethos, of helping people to extend and enjoy their lives, with the people’s race, the Randox Health Grand National. Together, we can encourage people to live healthier for longer, in order to enjoy events such as this glorious Festival for as long as possible.
“Our message of preventative health is an important one, particularly in a health-conscious world, and that’s why we have been offering the public a 20% discount across all our health packages and services over the course of the Randox Health Grand National and until the end of April 2019.
“This year, we also highlighted our STI at-home test kit Confidante. Sexual health is a serious issue but all too often such infections are stigmatised and access to services may be problematic – causing considerable difficulties for individuals who believe they may benefit from testing. This can lead to increased health challenges at a personal level, and potentially much higher rates of infection.
“Confidante allows for 10 STIs to be tested in a private and fully confidential manner, with the results provided directly to the individual. Improving ease-of-access to such testing is an important issue to support the health needs of those who require testing of and to help reduce the overall rates of sexual infections within society.
“The Randox Health Hub at Aintree Racecourse provided race-goers with an opportunity to engage with Confidante directly through our Secret Cinema where viewers entered a private booth, unaware of the humorous short film which awaited them. Many were in good spirits as a camera caught their reactions and all were entered in to a draw to win a FitBit on each day of the Festival
“I would like to thank the millions who joined us at the Randox Health Grand National 2019 to witness history being made – whether in person at Aintree Racecourse or tuned in to the screen or airwaves. We look forward to continuing our partnership in the coming years as we deliver the world’s most famous steeplechase and share our preventative health message.”
For more information about the Randox Health Grand National 2019 please contact the Randox PR team by emailing randoxpr@randox.com or phone 028 9442 2413.
Liverpool school pupils are first to lay eyes on the Randox Health Grand National 2019 trophy
School pupils across Liverpool are today enjoying an exclusive sneak-peek of the 2019 Randox Health Grand National trophy, as part of a tour hosted by Olympic Gold Medallist and Aintree ambassador Sam Quek, and acclaimed former jockey Carrie Ford.
The trophy, which has travelled to King’s Leadership Academy, Maricourt Catholic High School and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, will be officially unveiled to the public during the Opening Ceremony of the Randox Health Grand National Festival on Thursday 4th April.
Etched in solid silver and gilded with gold, the 2019 trophy, which has been designed for the third year by Shannon O’Neill, is aptly shaped like a human antibody, to carry again the sponsor’s message of health and science which so successfully resonated with the racing fraternity in 2017 and 2018.
“We’re incredibly excited to unveil the 2019 Randox Health Grand National trophy during this year’s Opening Ceremony,” said Dr Peter FitzGerald, Managing Director of Randox Health.
“Our sponsorship of the world’s greatest race is incredibly special to us, as it is a powerful way to share our preventative health message across the globe. With its unique design, the trophy reflects the outstanding science on which Randox Health is based and the use of world class antibodies to identify disease.
“At the base of the trophy, a collection of Randox Biochips – our most innovative health testing technology – have also been brought to the fore. We’re thrilled that with each new trophy we can reflect on the scientific advances of the year gone by and share a new chapter of the Randox story.”
Those who have the opportunity to view the stunning Randox Health Grand National trophy up close, will notice small spherical structures within the stem of the festival’s most coveted prize. Alluding to proteins, one of the building blocks of the human body, this design element draws attention to an area of research in which Randox is investing significantly.
Dr FitzGerald continued; “We strongly believe that the future of healthcare lies in proteomics, the study of proteins. By utilising this innovative method of disease detection, we can identify illness within an individual before it becomes symptomatic. Proteins are released into the blood at the very earliest stage of disease development and, when they are detected, serve as the earliest warning to initiate preventive care.
“Whilst Randox leads the world in proteomic Biochips – the screening for multiple proteins at the same time – there is still much to be done. We can currently test for hundreds of different proteins at once, however, we know that there are up to 30,000 different proteins that we may wish to monitor.
“As we continue to develop diagnostic tests for these proteins, we can begin to imagine a world in which sickness is actively prevented at the earliest stage, rather than managed. In proteins lies the key to living healthier for longer.”
Another popular element returning to the presentation of the winning Randox Health Grand National prizes are team trophies. In 2017, their first year as sponsor, Randox Health introduced the concept of presenting the entire winning team with a trophy, to celebrate the combined effort that goes in to achieving such a special victory. In 2018, they went to trainer Gordon Elliott, jockey Davy Russell, and head groom Louise Dunne.
The Randox Health Grand National trophy will be available to view in the Randox Health Hub at Aintree racecourse at 11:30am and 15:30pm on each day of the Randox Health Grand National Festival.
The Importance of Equine Health
With the Grand National around the corner, Randox Reagents have investigated the importance of equine health, focusing on racehorses.
Maintaining good health in racehorses is vital as proper management can reduce the incidence of many disease conditions. Racehorses are bred, raised, and trained to perform as athletes. Therefore, it is vital that the performance health of racehorses is continually assessed to ensure that they are physically fit, happy and healthy.
Racehorse’s have a busy life. They are broken in from 18 months of age, usually using traditional methods such as long reining, followed by accepting a rider and training alongside other horses. At 2 years of age, the real training begins which focuses on fitness and speed rather than ‘schooling’ the horse in the conventional way. This training is undertaken alongside another horse to teach the trainee horse how to race but at the same time, it is taught to settle and listen to the jockey.
In peak season, the horse’s weekly exercise regime consists of: two days of fast gallop work with steady trotting or cantering the rest of the week, with a rest day on Sunday’s (depending on races scheduled for the horse).
The most important bodily systems for top athletic performance in racehorses include:
Skeletal system (including bone, tendons and ligaments) problems such as torn or stretched ligaments or tendons or a broken bone will be very painful, inducing lameness and prohibiting performance
Muscles enable the horse to perform. Fatigued or damaged muscles will result in poor performance as the horse cannot generate enough energy and strength to maintain its high performance
Respiratory system (nasal passages, throat and lungs) problems prohibits the normal flow of oxygen through the body, which prohibits the energy required for exercise
Cardiovascular system (heart, blood vessels, volume of blood and red blood cells) problems prohibits the movement of oxygen from the lungs to the muscles, again prohibiting the generation of energy required for exercise.
Central nervous system (CNS) problems can result in the loss of coordination and the fine control that accompanies minor problems to the CNS can significantly prohibit exercise performance
Due to the intense training that racehorses undergo, it is vitally important that their health is continually assessed to diagnose and treat injuries and the jockey allows the horse time to recover from the injury. The most common sites of injury include: forelegs, back and pelvis such as bowed tendon (tendonitis), strained suspensory ligaments, splints, osselets, sesamoid fractures, condylar fractures, knee fractures, bone chips, bucked skins and pin firing. It is vitally important that racehorses are allowed time to rest and heal after an injury. Training or racing a horse whilst injured can be detrimental.
Randox Equine Panel
Randox offer 10 scientifically proven assays for equine health which are made from the same high-quality material as our human assays, providing accurate and precise results. These assays have extensive measuring ranges for the accurate detection of disease or inflammation which are suitable for use with serum, plasma and whole blood. Instrument specific applications (ISA’s) are available for an extensive range of biochemistry analysers suitable for use with manual, semi-automated and fully automated analysers.
The Randox range of assays, suitable for equine use, cover a range of biomarkers:
Adiponectin is used to assess equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) which is characterised by obesity, regional adiposity, insulin resistance, and susceptibility to laminitis. Laminitis is one of the most common causes of lameness in horses. It is a painful and potentially crippling condition, which in severe cases usually results in the horse being humanely euthanised.
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) levels directly correlate with the severity of muscle inflammation or damage, or liver damage. The highest levels of AST will be seen around 24hours after muscle injury and persist for 2-3 weeks.
CK-NAC is a sensitive marker for the detection of musculoskeletal diseases; and is useful to assess the extent of severe muscle trauma, crush injuries, and burns and the likelihood of developing rhabdomyolysis.
For health professionals
If you are a veterinarian or laboratory who are interested in running equine assays, Randox offer a wide range of high-quality routine and niche assays including: albumin, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, calcium, GLDH, glucose and urea. These can be run on most automated biochemistry analysers.
Instrument Specific Applications (ISA’s) are available for a wide range of biochemistry analysers. Contact us to enquire about your specific analyser.
For more information, email reagents@randox.com
Dungloe to host Randox Health Grand National Celebration Event
In celebration of this year’s Randox Health Grand National, the sponsors of the world’s greatest race are hosting a Family Fun Day in Dungloe, Donegal on Saturday 14th April.
Held at Randox Teoranta, the world-leading life sciences, engineering and manufacturing facility, the event will mark how far the company has come as it takes to the world stage for the Randox Health Grand National, and recognise the support the company has received from the local community since its establishment in Dungloe in 2008.
Randox Managing Director, Dr Peter FitzGerald, commented;
“Our aim to offer world-leading science, engineering, software and manufacturing careers in west Donegal, so that people working in these fields no longer have to move away from home to find work, has been incredibly well-received. We’re therefore delighted that we will be able to join together in Dungloe on Randox Health Grand National Day to celebrate how far we have come.
“With performances from Laura Aisling Academy of Irish Dance and Fitness, and traditional music played by the Rosses Community School, it is sure to be a wonderful event celebrating all aspects of our Irish heritage – including of course traditional music and dance but also the thriving equestrian scene and the many Irish horses who will be running in the Randox Health Grand National!”
Taking place between 1pm and 6pm on Grand National Day, the event is free for all the family, with plenty of entertainment, including a bouncy castle, live music and dance, and a rodeo bull, as well as food, drink, craft stalls and a large screen for the public to watch the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree in Liverpool.
Guests to the Family Fun Day will be joined by radio personality Seán Bán Breathnach, who will be presenting RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta’s sports programme Spórt an tSathairn live from the event.
Seán Bán Breathnach, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, commented;
“I’m really looking forward to the live programme. It will be a great day out for the community thanks to Randox Health, and there’s sure to be a brilliant atmosphere so I’d encourage people to come along. I can still remember listening to my first ever Grand National, back in 1958, on our new family wireless radio. That year, for the first time in many years, it was won by an Irish horse Mr. What, and who knows, maybe we’ll be lucky again this year!”
Following the reveal of the new Randox Health Grand National trophy on Thursday 12th April, the event will also host an art competition, for which school students in the area have been asked to submit their own trophy designs for the world’s greatest race. Winners will be announced on the day.
For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Randox PR on 028 9442 2413 or email randoxpr@randox.com
Randox Health Grand National Trophy 2018 tour comes to schools across Northern Ireland
Randox Health are today pleased to announce that in early March, the 2018 Randox Health Grand National Trophy will be coming to schools across Northern Ireland. This is the second year of the trophy tour, to mark Randox Health’s sponsorship of the world-renowned steeplechase.
At Randox, our ambition is to continually improve people’s health around the world. That is why we took on the sponsorship of this famous event, to spread our message about the importance of preventive healthcare. As the first healthcare company to be involved with the sport, we are credited with bringing a very positive era to it.
This year we are offering a number of schools in Northern Ireland the opportunity to take part in a two – three-hour trophy-making masterclass, with the designer of both the 2017 and 2018 trophies – the silversmith Shannon O’Neill.
Shannon will guide a class of students through the process of designing and constructing a trophy, albeit in less-rare materials than the ones used in the actual trophy! We will again be able to bring the trophy to the schools for pupils to see and hopefully be inspired.
We will provide all necessary equipment, and aim for each pupil to have a paper-version of their trophy to take home. The pupils will have the chance to ask Shannon questions about working on the trophy and find out about the skills involved in being a silversmith.
In order to ensure the schools who would most welcome this unique opportunity can participate, please contact us by the 26th January 2018 to take part in our schools tour with the Randox Health Grand National Trophy 2018. The tour will take place over three days, with final dates being agreed shortly; we hope to be able to include every school that is interested!
We look forward to hearing from you.
To apply, please contact our Public Relations team at randoxpr@randox.com or 028 9442 2413
Randox Health to sponsor Aintree’s Becher Chase
Randox is pleased to announce that Randox Health will be sponsoring the Becher Chase at Aintree Racecourse in a three-year deal.
The £145,000 Randox Health Becher Chase is the centrepiece of Becher Chase Day at Aintree on Saturday, December 9, the only fixture outside of the Randox Health Grand National Festival to feature action over the Grand National fences.
Dr Peter FitzGerald, founder and Managing Director of Randox Health, emphasised Randox Health‘s commitment to both racing and the city of Liverpool.
He said: “We’re delighted to sponsor the Becher Chase, which year-on-year is becoming a more prominent day in the racing calendar for high-calibre horses to compete. With the ongoing work being done by the team at Aintree, that’s no surprise.
“Aintree is a spectacular course and though we will obviously miss the return of One For Arthur, having an open field as we begin the run up to the most exciting race in the whole calendar – the 2018 Randox Health Grand National – will add an unexpected frisson for racing fans.”
As previously announced, Aintree’s Listed Chase over three miles and a furlong on Becher Chase Day, won last year by Many Clouds, has been re-named in honour of the 2015 Grand National winner and upgraded from Listed to Grade 2 level. It will be run as the £50,000 G2 188Bet.co.uk Many Clouds Chase.
John Baker, Managing Director of Aintree Racecourse, added: “We’re thrilled that Randox Health has decided to extend their sponsorship of the Grand National by adding the Becher Chase as well.
“Randox is a committed, valued and exciting partner for Aintree and Jockey Club Racecourses and we look forward to working closely with the team at Randox for many years to come.
“Becher Chase Day is going from strength to strength and with the quality of horses entered in both the Becher and Sefton Chase in recent years, we’re confident it’s going to be another fantastic day over the iconic Grand National fences at Aintree.”
The G3 Randox Health Becher Chase is a handicap chase over three and a quarter miles of the Grand National course. It serves as an early-season trial for the Randox Health Grand National.
Two winners have gone on to win the Grand National; Amberleigh House and Silver Birch. Earth Summit won the race in 1998 following his Grand National win the previous season.
The second race of the day over the Grand National fences on Becher Chase Day is the £70,000 188bet.co.uk Grand Sefton Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs.
In addition to Randox Health’s sponsorship of the Becher Chase and after a successful partnership for Sandown Park Racecourse’s Gents Day this summer, the company will also sponsor the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at the Esher venue on Saturday, December 9. This is part of the three year agreement with Jockey Club Racecourses to sponsor Becher Chase day.
Entries for the 2017 Randox Health Becher Chase, plus the 188bet Grand Sefton Chase, which also takes place over the Grand National fences, close at noon today Tuesday, November 14 and will be revealed tomorrow, Wednesday, November 15.
Tickets for the 2017 Randox Health Becher Chase raceday are available to purchase at aintree.thejockeyclub.co.uk or by calling 0344 579 3001. Racegoers can also buy tickets directly from the sales office at Aintree Racecourse. Hospitality packages are currently available to purchase, please call 0151 522 2911 for more information.
Randox Polo Tournament returns to Bushmills
Hot off the heels of its first ever Randox Health Grand National, global healthcare company Randox returned this weekend to Bushmills to again host its International Polo Tournament. Renowned polo players from across the world joined the founder of the Co Antrim-based firm, Dr Peter FitzGerald, to play in the coastal town.
Following a successful event last year, which was the first of its kind held in Northern Ireland, the 2017 Randox Polo hosted almost 450 guests, including Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mrs. Joan Christie OBE, and Mayor of the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Joan Baird, who delivered the match ball of the first polo game. Former Miss Northern Ireland and fitness blogger Tiffany Brien, added a touch of glamour to the event.
On display was the company’s latest venture – the Randox Health Mobile Clinic. The unveiling of the bespoke Mercedez-Benz vehicle marks a departure from traditional models of healthcare provision, as the company’s advanced health screening programmes are now available to people anywhere in the country, using its travelling team of trained scientists and phlebotomists.
It was a victory for the Randox team in their first game of the tournament, as they went head-to-head with Scotland, but it was the Republic of Ireland team who emerged winners of the International Polo Tournament when they scored more goals than Team Randox in the final match of the day.
Randox, a recognised supporter of the arts, launched the weekend with a performance from Camerata Ireland Cameratino, an ensemble composed of acclaimed Irish flautist Eimear McGeown, and a String Trio including Violinist Sarah Sew, Violist Nathan Sherman and Celloist Gerald Peregrine, in Dundarave Estate.
The musical element continued on Saturday with a Beating of the Retreat by the Royal Irish Regimental Band, including the highly popular “Highland Cathedral,” and a unique version of “Run” by Snow Patrol.
Local Bushmills residents weren’t put off by the wet conditions, and turned out to watch both the polo tournament, and the fireworks display which rounded off the event.
Randox Founder and Managing Director, Dr. Peter FitzGerald, a keen horseman who played in the polo tournament, commented;
“Given that our inaugural tournament in 2016 received such positive feedback from the Bushmills community, we are delighted to have been able to once again bring the event to the beautiful North Coast and its residents, and to bring the Randox Health message to our Polo guests. By prioritising your health and wellbeing you can make the most of life’s special moments and occasions – like this great polo tournament.
“We’re very lucky that the resilient spirits of the local Bushmills community weren’t dampened by the rain, and everyone was able to enjoy a wonderful afternoon together on the beautiful north coast.”
For more information about the Randox Polo Tournament in Bushmills contact the Randox PR team: Call 028 9442 2413 or email randoxpr@randox.com
