Charlotte, NC - March 26, 2008 - The 2008 Charlotte Jumper Classic will host some of the best show jumpers in the United States and hold one of the biggest purses in grand prix events in U.S. history, the $500,000 Grand Prix of Charlotte. The show runs from April 11-13, 2008, at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena.

A special demonstration at this year’s Charlotte Jumper Classic are the Budweiser Clydesdales. This will be the first time in the show’s five year history that the Budweiser Clydesdales will make an appearance. They will be prominently featured in the Charlotte Bobcats Arena Plaza on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. During the Saturday and Sunday competition sessions, the Budweiser Clydesdales will hitch up to their wagon and give demonstrations in the arena.

The Clydesdale breed was recognized in the 19th century and began along the River Clyde in Lanarkshire, Scotland. It was the breed’s hauling power and confident style that attracted North Americans to the Clydesdale. They are capable of pulling huge loads and were used prominently for farmers and especially for brewers that had to send heavy loads over long distances. Today’s Budweiser Clydesdales are even bigger than their Scottish ancestors. To qualify for the world-famous, eight-horse hitch, a Budweiser Clydesdale must meet certain requirements. Size, color and disposition are the important considerations.

Standing at 18 hands high (about 6 feet) at the shoulder when fully mature, Budweiser Clydesdales weigh approximately 2,000 pounds. They must be geldings, bay in color, have four white stockings and a blaze of white on the face, as well as a black mane and tail. A gentle temperament also is important, as hitch horses meet millions of people each year.

The Charlotte Jumper Classic is one of a few show jumping events where the Budweiser Clydesdales come to visit, and they are always very popular with equestrians and those new to the sport of show jumping. The Clydesdale hitches travel some 100,000 miles a year, and with each mile they cover, so continues the Anheuser-Busch tradition.

Also new this year will be Saddlebred demonstrations, which will run between competition sessions at the Charlotte Jumper Classic. They are hosted by the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA), whose Saddlebred Registry is the oldest breed registry in the United States for an American breed of horse. It was established on April 7, 1891, in Louisville, Kentucky. Today, there are over 8,000 active ASHA members, 50 ASHA Charter Clubs, and 40 ASHA Youth Clubs. ASHA carries out administrative, promotional and educational activities for the benefit of its members and the breed.

Join the Charlotte Jumper Classic in celebrating the horse! See the best show jumpers in the world and in between some of the most competitive jumping classes in the country, stay to check out the famous Budweiser Clydesdales and the energetic Saddlebreds.

For more information on the Charlotte Jumper Classic, please visit http://www.charlottejumperclassic.com.

2008 CHARLOTTE JUMPER CLASSIC FAST FACTS

EVENT: The Charlotte Jumper Classic

WHAT: The premier equestrian event in the Carolinas and home to one of the richest grand prix events in the United States. The Charlotte Jumper Classic is an American Grand Prix Association event, FEI sanctioned, CSI 5* show.

WHERE: Charlotte Bobcats Arena, 333 East Trade Street, Charlotte, NC 28202

WHEN: April 11-13, 2008
Friday, April 11 - 6:00 p.m.
$15,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Competition
8:00 p.m.
$50,000 Charlotte Welcome Stake

Saturday, April 12 - 12:30 p.m.
$15,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Accumulator
2:30 p.m.
$25,000 International Competition
8:00 p.m.
$25,000 Accumulator Competition

Sunday, April 13 - 1:00 p.m.
$50,000 Charlotte Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic
3:00 p.m.
The $500,000 Grand Prix of Charlotte for the Charlotte Bobcats Cup

HIGHLIGHTS: The Charlotte Jumper Classic is a signature fundraising event for the Bobcats Youth Foundation, which focuses on improving the lives of children and youth in the community. The upcoming 2008 Charlotte Jumper Classic will benefit the Bobcats Youth Foundation’s three signature initiatives - building reading and technology centers, resurfacing outdoor basketball courts and supporting the Presbyterian Hospital Community Care Cruiser, a mobile health clinic providing needed healthcare to disadvantaged children.

Thursday, April 10 - Welcome Reception featuring great food, spirits and entertainment, casual attire at an outdoor event that is Invitation Only
Friday, April 11 - Charlotte Jumper Classic Luncheon featuring Steve Stephens, CJC Course Designer and 2008 Olympics Show Jumping Course Designer. Tickets and table sponsorship available. Proceeds benefit the Bobcats Youth Foundation.
Tented rider hospitality village providing complimentary food and beverage
Expanded competition ring
Commemorative fifth anniversary gift items for riders and rider support team
Well appointed stabling area and schooling ring
Live broadcast of competition inside schooling ring area
Great entertainment
Wide array of vendors
Rider Pavilion to continue to educate the public on the growing equestrian industry and to introduce new fans to the sport. Features include mini horsemanship seminars and industry information for both the novice and seasoned rider
Host hotel within walking distance of the Charlotte Bobcats Arena
$700,000 in overall prize money
ADMISSION: Price level one seating - $25.00 per session
Price level two seating - $15.00 per session
Child’s tickets - $5.00 for all shows

VIP SEATING: VIP Seating is available to sponsors and donors and includes Front Court hospitality. For more information contact LaRita Barber at 704-688-8790, e-mail lbarber@charlottejumperclassic.com or visit http://www.charlottejumperclassic.com.

PARKING: More than 30,000 parking spaces are available within walking distance of the arena. To purchase advance parking for an event, or view directions, please visit the directions or parking page at http://www.CharlotteBobcatsArena.com for additional information. Prices range from $7.00-15.00 per day.

DIRECTIONS:
I-77 from the South - Exit at either John Belk Freeway (I-277) or Trade Street
I-77 from the North - Exit at either Brookshire Freeway (I-277 East), 5th Street, Trade Street or John Belk Freeway (I-277)
I-85 from the South - Exit at the Billy Graham Parkway, take the Billy Graham Parkway to I-77 North, exit at either I-277 North or Trade Street
I-85 from the North - Exit at the I-77 exit at either John Belk Freeway (I-277) or Trade Street

Inside the City:
Brookshire Freeway (I-277) from the West - Exit at either I-77 South or Brevard Street. NC49/US29 from the Northeast - Follow Tryon Street to Uptown, Charlotte Bobcats Arena is one block east of the intersection of Trade and Tryon Streets
Airport - Follow Josh Birmingham Parkway 1.4 miles to Billy Graham Parkway South. Proceed on Billy Graham Parkway to I-77 North. Exit at either John Belk Freeway (I-277) or Trade Street

HOST HOTEL:
Marriott Charlotte City Center
100 West Trade Street
Charlotte, NC 28202 (.2mi away)
1-800-228-9290 or 704-358-6579
*Ask for Charlotte Jumper Classic rate*
http://www.marriott.com

ADDITIONAL NEARBY HOTELS:
Holiday Inn Charlotte, Center City, 230 N. College St., 704-335-5400 (.1mi away)
Hilton Charlotte, 222 East Third St. 704-377-1500 (.2mi away)
Hilton Garden Inn Charlotte Uptown, 530 E. Second St., 704-333-9213 (.3mi away)
AmeriSuites Coliseum, 4119 South Stream Blvd, 704-357-8555
Renaissance Charlotte Suites Hotel, 2800 Coliseum Centre Drive, 704-357-1414
Sleep Inn Coliseum, 701 Yorkmont Road, 704-525-5005
Wyndham Garden Hotel, 2600 Yorkmont Road, 704-357-9100

THE FACILITY:

Box office locations and hours:

Charlotte Bobcats Arena offers event guests convenient ways to purchase tickets to arena events online, by phone, at the arena’s on-site box office window, or at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center box office.
Online at CharlotteBobcatsArena.com - The arena offers tickets to its events at CharlotteBobcatsArena.com. The Bobcats’ in-house ticketing solution allows guests a fan-friendly system through which they can view schedules of all upcoming arena events then search for tickets by price, by seat or by best available option. The Bobcats partnered with ticket enabler Paciolan for this state-of-the-art infrastructure.

Telephone - Tickets are available via toll-free phone at 1-800-495-2295.
Charlotte Bobcats Arena Box Office - Charlotte Bobcats Arena box office is located on the Club Concourse level in the lobby mid-way between the Trade Street and Fifth Street entrances. It features 16 box office windows, with six accessible from the outside. Box Office Hours - Box Office hours are 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Saturday; and closed Sunday.
Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Ticket Outlet - Blumenthal Performing Arts Center ticket outlet is located in Founder’s Hall at 130 North Tryon Street in Uptown Charlotte. Ticket Outlet Hours: Ticket Outlet hours are 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday-Saturday; and closed Sunday.

Guests with disabilities:

Charlotte Bobcats Arena takes pride in its efforts to meet the needs of all guests. The arena satisfies, and in many cases, exceeds the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. These are some of the services available to our guests with disabilities:

Access to Charlotte Bobcats Arena - We recommend that guests with disabilities access the arena on the Fifth Street side near the disabled drop-off location. Guests with disabilities also can access the arena through the Trade Street entrance during regular box office hours (10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Saturday; and closed Sunday).

Wheelchair and Companion Seating - Wheelchair and companion seating is available at various locations throughout Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Wheelchair users shall be limited to one (1) wheelchair and three (3) companion seats per event [or any combination of seats not exceeding four (4) seats]. Additional companion and/or wheelchair seats will be sold on a case-by-case basis. To purchase wheelchair and companion seating, please call VOICE: 1-800-495-2295 or TTY/TTD 1-800-735-8262. Please be advised that Charlotte Bobcats Arena reserves the right to take appropriate legal action against individuals who fraudulently obtain wheelchair and companion seating.

Assistive Listening System (ALS) - Charlotte Bobcats Arena has been equipped with the most advanced ALS. Assisted listening devices are available to guests who are hard of hearing, blind or partially sighted at no charge at Guest Services. A driver’s license, credit card or some form of identification will be required as a deposit. Guests who choose to bring their own headset and receiver may access the system on a standard FM broadcast.

Guide Dogs and Service Animals - Animals are not allowed in Charlotte Bobcats Arena; however, an exception is made for guests with guide dogs or service animals. Please contact our ADA Coordinator if any accommodations are required.

Interpreting Services - Guests requiring interpreting services for concerts should contact our ADA Coordinator no later than three weeks after concert ticket sales begin.

If you require assistance while visiting Charlotte Bobcats Arena, please contact an usher or staff member, or visit our Guest Services, where Representative will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Please e-mail us with any additional questions regarding guests with disabilities.

CHARLOTTE JUMPER CLASSIC
333 East Trade Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Tel: 704-688-8790
Contact: LaRita Barber, Executive Director
E-mail: lbarber@bobcats.com
Web site: http://www.charlottejumperclassic.com

Michael Thompson
Director of Corporate Communications, Charlotte Bobcats Arena
704-688-8856

Cindy Carrasquilla
Corporate Communications Manager
704-688-8815

MEDIA CONTACT
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
13833 Wellington Trace
Unit E-4 #221
Wellington, FL 33414
Tel: 561-753-3389
Fax: 561-753-3386
E-mail: pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
Web site: http://www.phelpsmediagroup.com

CLINTON CORNERS-Blue Danube, an 8-year-old horse raised and trained in Clinton Corners, took first place in show jumping at the DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix in Ocala, Fla.
Blue Danube was raised and trained at Tatra Farm in Clinton Corners. Blue Danube is a warm blood thoroughbred cross.

Of the 46 horses entered in the grand prix, only Blue Danube and Shandor 41 advanced to the jump off.

Aaron Vale, Blue Danube’s rider, stated that, “We saw bigger fences in the first round than we had all circuit. It was a long course with some of the harder fences at the end.”
Blue Danube was the last horse to jump. Shandor 41 jumped first and had three rails down. Vale and Blue Danube had a hard rub on the first jump, but the rail stayed up, and the duo easily traversed the rest of the course, clearing it in 41.248 seconds.

Tatra Farm will receive $30,000 of the $100,000 total purse of prize money. The rest will be distributed among the other twelve placing riders and horses.

Patricia Garthwaipe Towle, the owner of Tatra Farm where Blue Danube was trained, was very excited with the win.

It was also an exciting day for Pavel Blaho, Towle’s business partner. A year ago, Blaho underwent emergency surgery and spent the next five months in intensive care.

But Blaho’s recovery went well enough that he was able to fly to Florida to watch the competition and to see Blue Danube’s win. This was Blaho’s first outing since the surgery, and Towle was happy that it turned out to be such a joyous day.

Towle was excited about Blue Danube’s win, adding, “we were able to breed a top notch US horse.”

Blue Danube comes from very good breeding. His grandfather won the Olympic gold medal in 1984 in show jumping.

Blue Danube is a young horse, only 8, and this grand prix was only his third. “He just started competing in grand prix,” Towle commented.

The Florida show jumping circuit begins at the end of January. Rider and horses start preparing for the circuit in December. The competition on March 16 is the grand finale and signals the closing of the Florida circuit.

While Blue Danube is a relative newcomer to the grand prix, he is no stranger to competition. When he was 4, he competed in the International Jumping Futurity held in Raleigh, NC. He also made it to the national finals in Wellington, FL. when he was 5.

“He’s been developing to be a star,” Towle said.

Towle’s young jumper program has also produced other winning horses. Adonis, Blue Danube’s half-brother, was a reserve champion at the nationals when he was 5.

Blue Danube also has four sisters currently in training at Tatra Farm, located in Clinton Corner. They are still young, but Towle expects great things from them in the future.

For now, Blue Danube will rest for two weeks. “It’s been really intense,” Towle stated, referring to the recent competition schedule. She added that he deserves a rest, and that they will figure out what is in Blue Danube’s future after the two-week break.

The young jumper training program at Tatra Farm is part of the Young Jumper Championships. Young Jumper Championships is designed to identify the most promising young show jumping prospected competing in the United States. This program was developed in cooperation with the International Jumper Futurity.

Tatra Farm also boards as well as trains horses. For more information call 914-475-1391.
 

EQUESTRIAN competitor Chris Chugg has jumped the horse flu hurdle and is heading towards the Olympic Games.

The road to Beijing has been a long one from Diamond B Farm in Glossodia where Chugg lives.

Competing in showjumping events at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, Chugg took time out between winning two first places and a third on the first day of competition to speak with the Penrith Press about his Olympic preparation.

“Showjumping at the Easter Show is very important because it falls in April and … it’s important not to ship the horses in two hemispheres in the same season,” he said.

“It’s a super warm-up because this arena is the same size, if not bigger, than the Olympics.”

Chugg will leave for Europe on April 16 to compete with his pride and joy, Vivant.

He bought Vivant in Belgium six years ago on behalf of the Australian Sport Horse Breeders.

The pair will compete in Germany in June, along with the other Australian equestrian competitors, for a place in the Australian Olympic team.

“I’ve spent six years working with this horse and he’s probably a year off being experienced enough to do his best at the Olympics,” Chugg said.

“Because the EI (equine influenza) slowed the season down, this horse has missed a whole season while the European horses have kept going.

“We have a 90 per cent chance of getting to the Olympics and a 50 per cent chance of doing our best.”

Chugg said the bond between him and Vivant is priceless.

“He’s a mate,” he said. “I could probably sell him and make a tidy profit, but our dream is to keep him on to the London Olympics in 2012.”

BRITAIN’S top sporting family are set for another year of dominance.

Five members of Huddersfield’s Whitaker family have been selected to compete at the British Open Show Jumping Championships at the NEC in Birmingham.

The Championships run from April 3 to 6 and feature the country’s top 12 showjumpers competing for £150,000 and the coveted title.

As the Whitakers make up five of the top 10, they are odds on to take the trophy back to Kirklees.

The family were originally based at Hurst Farm in Outlane, where brothers John and Michael were introduced to the sport by parents Donald and Enid.

John, 52, first began riding at seven and, after 45 years in the sport, he is now the No1 British rider in the British Show Jumping Association’s yearly rankings.

Closely following John in the table is Michael, 47 and hot on their heels are Robert, 24, Ellen, 21, and William, 18, who are ranked at fourth, sixth and seventh respectively.

The top-ten riders list is: 1 John Whitaker MBE (Yorkshire), 2 Michael Whitaker (Yorkshire), 3 Nick Skelton (Warwickshire), 4 Robert Whitaker (Yorkshire), 5 Tim Stockdale (Northamptonshire), 6 Ellen Whitaker (Yorkshire), 7 William Whitaker (Yorkshire), 8 Robert Smith (Warwickshire), 9 William Funnell (Surrey), 10 David McPherson (Kent).

And those five Whitakers could yet be joined by a sixth family member at the Open – 19 year-old Joe Whitaker.

Seventy-second placed Joe won a team bronze at the European Juniors Championship in 2006, and is attempting to enter the Open via qualifying.

Joe and sister Ellen are trained by father Steven, 48, at their base in Barnsley, and he believes at least four of the Whitakers have a great chance of representing their country in the 2012 Olympics.

Steven said: “Both John and Ellen have had an unbelievable 2007.

“John is really in his prime at the moment, and he has had to be to take the top spot away from Michael. Ellen is the No1 female showjumper in the world and is showing great form coming into the British Open.

“Robert is also beginning to prove himself as a formidable competitor, and I think any of those four could easily represent Great Britain at the Olympics.”

So who is Steven tipping to take the British title?

“At the moment I would say Ellen,” he said.

“I am sure my brothers will have something to say about that, but she is really focused at the moment and has two new world-class horses.

“But every day is different and there are at least 50 other tournaments a year – many that the family compete in against each other.

“It is nothing new to them and they just get on with trying to win each competition.”

The four-day event will also feature the British Open Indoor Cross Country Championship, attracting such famous names as last year’s winner Raf Kooremans, world No3 Clayton Fredericks and World Champion Zara Phillips, the former BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Tickets for the show can be bought by contacting the Box Office on 08700 100 216 or by visiting www.britishopenshowjumping.com

Four of the world’s top 10 show jumpers will compete at next week’s British Open Show Jumping Championships (3-6 April 2008).

Britain’s Michael Whitaker will be joined by Switzerland’s Markus Fuchs, Ireland’s Jessica Kurten and Germany’s Christian Ahlman jumping at Birmingham’s NEC.
In addition, John, Robert, Ellen and William Whitaker have accepted invitations to jump at the British Open, along with Tim Stockdale, William Funnell, Nick Skelton, Robert Smith and Guy Williams.
Two more riders will be awarded wild cards from this weekend’s Addington Manor easibedplus Classic.
www.britishopenshowjumping.com