Shorts: Cheltenham, Bristol Sport, Netball

The Jockey Club has announced that Virgin Bet will sponsor the December Gold Cup, the iconic race from The Christmas Meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse.

As part of the partnership, Virgin Bet will provide the opportunity to win a £1000 voucher for each member of Stable Staff who has won the Best Turned Out Award for their race.

In addition, Virgin Bet will donate £5,000 to the recently formed Gold Cup 100 Community Fund, created to mark the celebration of 100 years of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March 2024.

 Virgin Bet Marketing Director, Ric Leask, said, “We are thrilled to announce Virgin Bet’s sponsorship of the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

“We are passionate about delivering an unparalleled sports betting experience, and there’s no better way to showcase this commitment than by supporting one of the most prestigious events in the racing calendar.

“Cheltenham holds a special place in the hearts of racing enthusiasts, and we are excited to be a part of the excitement and tradition that the December Gold Cup brings.

“This sponsorship reflects our dedication to being a leading player in the horseracing world, and we’re delighted to continue to be deeply embedded within the highlight moments of the sport.”

The Virgin Bet December Gold Cup is set to take place on Saturday 16^th December, over an extended two and a half miles on the New Course at the Home of Jump Racing.

Bristol Sport Foundation has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer, with Sarah Mortiboys taking up the role at the sporting group’s charity.

Mortiboys is currently Head of Programme Development at Premiership Rugby.

Theresa Kingston, Chair of Trustees for the Bristol Sport Foundation, said, “We are pleased that Sarah has accepted the role of Chief Executive. We were delighted when she applied as her combination of working from within schools and working alongside them with national and local community sports organisations made her a strong candidate.

“Her experience over the last twenty years spans multiple sports, but the central tenet running throughout her work, is inspiring a love of sport. From the programmes she’s developed at Premiership Rugby and Dallaglio Rugby Works, to her experiences with Sport England and her founding of The London PE and Schools Sports Network spoke volumes about what Sarah can bring to BSF and made her the best choice to deliver our strategic aims.”

Sarah Mortiboys, added, “As a professional with more than 20 years’ experience working within education and sports sectors, particularly those in disadvantaged communities, I am a passionate believer in the importance of sport and physical activity, and how it can be used positively to develop and change lives.

I’m honoured to be offered the role and am excited to see what we can achieve together.”

Lightning Netball has extended a key partnership for the upcoming 2024 Super League season with clothing retailer Long Tall Sally.

Following Loughborough University’s title winning campaign the partnership has been extended for a further year with Long Tall Sally continuing as the main kit sponsors.

Rich Ellis, Head of Commercial Partnerships and Sport Facilities, said, “We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Long Tall Sally on board for another season.

“Long Tall Sally is a brand that resonates hugely with our players, staff, and supporters and remains at the forefront of women’s fashion. We all enjoyed an incredible campaign in 2023 by winning the Netball Super League title and we’re grateful to the team at Long Tall Sally for playing their part in a remarkable season.”

Antony Talbot, Trading Director at Long Tall Sally, added, “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Loughborough Lightning for the upcoming 2024 Super League season.

“After the tremendous success of the 2023 campaign, we’re thrilled to be the headline sponsor for another 12 months. Long Tall Sally remains dedicated to empowering tall women to feel confident by embracing their height and breaking boundaries, and we eagerly anticipate another season of shared triumphs and achievements.”