Blue Riband (disambiguation)

Blue Riband may refer to:

The Blue Riband, an award held by the ship with the record for a transatlantic crossing
Blue Riband (biscuits), chocolate biscuits made by Nestlé and sold in the United Kingdom and Ireland
Blue Riband gin, a popular Indian gin made by United Spirits Limited.
The Blue Riband Trial Stakes a flat horse race in the United Kingdom for three-year-old thoroughbreds
Blue Riband (greyhounds) a former category one greyhound competition
"The Blue Riband," English translation by Benjamin Thorpe (1853) of the folktale from Marne, Germany, published as "Der blaue Band" by Müllenhoff.

Blue Riband may be used to describe the most prestigious race or sub-category in or of a particular sport.

In the summer Olympics, they currently are:

In athletics, the men's 100 m running and traditionally also the men's 1500 m (or mile).
In rowing, the Men's Eights, raced over 2000 m.
In swimming, 100 m freestyle.

Examples in other sports/events:

In cycling the blue riband is the Tour de France.
In kayaking and canoeing championships the blue riband race is the men's K1 1000 m.
In rowing, at Henley Royal Regatta, the blue riband event is the Grand Challenge Cup, for Men's Eights, usually competed by National Squad eights.
In motorsport, the Monaco Grand Prix remains the blue riband race on the Formula One motor-racing calendar due to its historical significance, tight and difficult nature, and glamorous location.
In a Musical Eisteddfod, the blue riband is the most prestigious singing prize awarded to classical soloists.

In addition the term has become synonymous with premium quality or prestige outside of the sporting arena, particularly in the USA. However the contemporary version blue ribbon is more prevalent in this context.

See also