Sara Branch, Global Sales Director for world-leading structured cabling systems manufacturer, Brand-Rex, has qualified for the Horse of the Year Show 2006. Branch qualified on her horse, Bally Brennan, at the Bakewell Show at the beginning of August 2006 and joins the other 27 qualifiers from around the country for the Lightweight Show Hunter at the Horse of the Year Show, 4th to 8th October 2006 at the UK NEC, Birmingham. This is the third time Branch has qualified for the show; previously she succeeded in 2002 at the Cheshire Show and in 2004 at the Bakewell Show.

Commenting on her qualification Branch said: 'I'm exceptionally pleased, it is a bit of a struggle to compete whilst holding down a full-time job, most competitors solely focus on this professionally'.

'The night before the show my flight was delayed so I only had 3 hours sleep before I was up at 2am to plait Bally Brennan before being on the road at 4am'.

Branch joined Brand-Rex in March 2006 from networking and communications business BeldenCDT, where she held the position of EMEA Sales Director, responsible for business worth GBP 170 million. Bankruptcy

She has also previously held board-level positions at both CDT and Pinnacle Communications.