John Smith’s ends National sponsorship

John Smith’s is to end its sponsorship of the Grand National after the 2013 renewal of the race.

The beer producer has lent its support to the National since 2005 and said it had been a “difficult” decision to end its sponsorship of the three-day April meeting.

John Smith’s spokesman David Jones said: “We will continue to be involved with the sport at other courses, including York, Newcastle and Brighton.

“The Grand National has been one of the jewels in our sponsorship crown and this decision was difficult.

“We will be exploring ways in which John Smith’s can continue to be involved in the three-day meeting and talks with Aintree will take place in the coming months.”

Aintree chairman Lord Daresbury is confident the meeting will not be short of suitors. He said: “I’m sad about it. With a new management team in place, it comes at a bad time and puts more pressure on us all.

“It would naturally have been easier if John Smith’s had been willing to extend the contract again, but I am completely confident the race will attract plenty of new interest.

“I genuinely believe it is a commercial decision. The image of the race has patently been a consideration, though I’m sure it was not the overriding one. I’m sure they got tremendous value out of the sponsorship and the branding exposure at the course was unprecedented.”

John Smith’s brand manager Karen Crowley said it was “the right time to move on” after a nine-year association with the National meeting.