Glenfarclas are to back a series of five major Cross Country Steeplechases this season across three countries, concluding at the Festival next March.

The Series, which includes all three of Cheltenham's Cross Country races, takes in additional races at Pau in South-West France in January, and Punchestown in February to create a monthly highlight for Cross Country specialists.

The three Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeplechases at Cheltenham, which are all covered by Channel 4 television, take place on Friday, 14th November, at The Open, Friday 12th December at the Boylesports International and Tuesday 10th March at The Festival. The Pau and Punchestown events take place on January 18th and February 1st respectively.

In a new twist this season; Glenfarclas will be backing an innovative incentive to encourage international competition. Any horse remaining in the same ownership throughout, and running in both the French and Irish legs of the series, will be eligible to run at the Festival for double prize money, meaning that a qualifying winner would get a bonus in excess of £30,000 and potentially, the race could be worth up to £100,000, double the advertised prize fund, which would make it the most valuable Cross Country race in Europe.

Peter McNeile, Cheltenham’s Director of Sponsorship, said: “We are delighted to welcome Glenfarclas as sponsors at our three biggest meetings each season and the new bonus is a fascinating and exciting twist to a unique pan-European series. Glenfarclas is a brand famed for its single-mindedness and I’m confident that this bold move will further increase the international competitiveness of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeplechase at The Festival. As a whisky drinker myself, I am equally confident that Glenfarclas will appeal to the racing enthusiast too.”

John Grant, Chairman of Glenfarclas, said: “We are very proud to be associated with such a prominent series of races at Cheltenham and believe it to be in perfect synergy with the Glenfarclas brand. This commitment to an initial three year partnership is a sign of our confidence that this is the right vehicle for Glenfarclas at a difficult time for everyone. We look forward to a long and successful relationship with Cheltenham”.

Charles Hamer, Marketing Director for Pol Roger, which has sole distribution rights for Glenfarclas in the UK, added: “We are delighted to be sponsoring the Glenfarclas Cross Country series. This is a great opportunity for us to work with Cheltenham to showcase our brand across Europe. The five events, particularly the race at The Festival, will provide a tremendous platform for the brand. It would be terrific if the new Glenfarclas Bonus produced even more interest in what is already a unique series of races.”

To view pictures of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeplechase races please click here to visit our flickr photostream.

Glenfarclas sponsored the 29th Welsh International Bonspiel, which was held at Renfrewshire’s Greenacres Curling Rink on the 24th to 27th October.

Sixteen teams entered this year, and the winning Welsh rink of the Glenfarclas Trophy was led by Skip Adrian Meikle, assisted by his daughters Charlotte & Danielle Meikle, and Andrew Tanner, Blair Murray, and Hugh Meakle, the Immediate Past President of the Welsh Curling Association. The picture shows the winners in action.

Glenfarclas is proud to sponsor the largest curling competition in England, the Glenfarclas English Masters. This year the bonspeil was held on the 25th and 26th October at Fenton’s Rink in Kent. The tournament was keenly fought in a round robin format with the winning team only decided on the very last stone - always the sign of a good contest!

We raise our glasses to the winning team of Michael Opel, Henry Carter, Kerr Alexander, Skippered by Jamie Malton, all of the South of England Curling Club.

You can read more about curling in Kent at www.fentonsrink.co.uk