As summer comes to a close, we have a chance to reflect on some of the amazing sporting partnerships that BMW has been associated with.
The year started with another outstanding season of tennis highlighted by the ASB Classic. A number of the world’s best players arrived in Auckland for two weeks of world-class tennis. The standard of tennis was exceptional, with some early upsets seeing Venus Williams exit the women’s event and both David Ferrer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga knocked out in the men’s semi finals. BMW would like to acknowledge the winners of the women’s and men’s tournaments respectively – Sloane Stephens and Roberto Bautista Agut.
As part of BMWs involvement, a selection of lucky tennis goers actually had the chance to go head-to-head with some of the world’s best tennis players in the ‘BMW Return the Serve’ competition. Congratulations go to Celia Jenkins who successfully returned Tamira Paszek’s serve into the court and was subsequently drawn from 10 others qualifiers to win the BMW Prize Pack including the use of the all-new BMW X1 and a new Wilson tennis racquet and bag.
Later in the quarter, the focus shifted from tennis to the racecourse, where BMW celebrated their ongoing partnership with the Auckland Racing Club as the exclusive vehicle sponsor for the 2015/16 season.
BMW Derby Day is the glamour day of Auckland Cup Week with the running of New Zealand’s richest Group 1 Race – the BMW New Zealand Derby, with over $1.2million in prize money on offer. Ellerslie Racecourse put on a day to remember with fantastic races and infield entertainment including Fashions in the Field, where the winner Stacey Hanley won the use of the all-new BMW X1 as part of her prize. BMW would like to congratulate owners of Rangipo, John and Margaret Thompson , trainer Tony Pike and jockey Vinnie Colgan for an outstanding win in the ultimate race of the day, the BMW NZ Derby.
Most recently BMW was delighted to be a main sponsor of the BMW ISPS Handa Golf NZ Open held at The Hills and Millbrook Golf Courses in Arrowtown. The tournament is a cornerstone on the PGA Tour of Australasia it is unique in the Asia Pacific region with the Pro-Am format allowing amateurs to play inside the ropes during the heat of competition.
The tournament lived up to the highest expectations with Matthew Griffin pipping Hideto Tanihara on the final day, where it came to very last hole before victory was secured by Griffin. It was a fitting finish to a fantastic four-day tournament for the players and spectators, and we’re extremely proud to be part of this event incredibly popular New Zealand event.
