Home of The John Smith's Grand National

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Jockey:
Jason Maguire
Trainer:
Donald McCain
Owner:
Trevor Hemmings

07.03.12 - THE GRAND NATIONAL

Sporting hero to launch Grand National Festival

North West sporting hero Beth Tweddle will launch this year’s John Smith’s Grand National Festival.

To kick off a momentous summer of sport in the UK, the Olympic athlete will be teaming up with West Derby group HPL Gymnastics to officially open the start of the three-day extravaganza of sport and entertainment before the first race on Liverpool Day, Thursday 12th April.

HPL Gymnastics, a feeder group to Beth’s City of Liverpool Centre of Excellence Club, will help their hero Beth and other Olympic athletes to kick off the festivities with a display in the racecourse’s parade ring.

Beth’s appearance is just one of the many events planned for Liverpool Day. Other highlights include the Red Devils parachuting onto the course and Liverpool band The Christians will be headlining on the Aintree Pavilion Stage, alongside an array of live music, raceday fashions and comedy.

Emma Owen, Marketing and PR Manager at Aintree Racecourse, said: “Liverpool Day is a celebration of Liverpool as one of Europe’s most cultured cities to mark the opening of the John Smith’s Grand National 2012 meeting.  We’re delighted that in such a busy year for Beth and Fran, plus others in our sporting parade, they’ve taken the time to join us and launch the three-day event.

“Liverpool is very much known for being a party city and in the coming weeks, we will be announcing our full entertainment line up, which is sure to be the icing on the cake for what is the biggest three days of racing and socialising in the calendar.”

Beth Tweddle will be joined by a number of Olympic heroes for the celebration on Thursday 12th April, including:
• British Swimming team members Fran Halsall, Natalie Massey, Michael Rock and James Goddard
• Southport runner Michael Rimmer
• British High-Jumper Steve Smith
• British Boxing team members Tom Stalker and Natasha Jonas

Tickets and restaurant dining packages are still available for all three days of the John Smith’s Grand National meeting.  Tickets start at £23 on Liverpool Day, with Restaurant Dining starting from £104 per person, inclusive of a Grandstand badge.  Seats are available from £26 and can be booked online at www.aintree.co.uk
 
Photo Caption: West Derby’s HPL Gymnastics warm up for their Liverpool Day performance on Aintree Racecourse

 
Press Contact: Kat Jones, Lauren Bond or Claire Robinson @ MC2 on 0161 236 1352
 

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