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Superstars of Show Jumping are Scheduled to Compete at $300,000 Charlotte Jumper Classic
This year’s event, the last major indoor competition before the Budweiser World Cup in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 20, is vitally important as riders prepare for that worldwide competition. Headlining the list of the top equestrian stars planning to make the trip to Charlotte this year, is the 2004 winner of the $150,000 Charlotte Jumper Classic, Beezie Madden. Madden returns to defend her title following her clutch performance at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, where her ride secured the Show Jumping Silver Medal for the United States. Joining Madden in Charlotte will be two of her Olympic teammates, Chris Kappler and McLain Ward. Kappler, in addition to the team Silver Medal, won the Individual Bronze Medal at Athens. Kappler was second in last year’s Charlotte Jumper Classic. Notable international Olympians making their Charlotte debut will be Michael Whitaker of Great Britain and Philippe Rozier of France. Whitaker, a four time member of the British Olympic team, comes to Charlotte, fresh off a victory in the $75,000 Grand of Tampa on March 27. Whitaker won the team Silver Medal in Los Angeles in 1984 and competed at Atlanta, Sydney and Barcelona. Rozier is a two time French Olympian having competed in the Games at Sydney in 2000 and Los Angeles in 1984. Michael Whitaker’s niece, nineteen year old Ellen Whitaker, the current Leading Lady Rider in Great Britain is also on this year’s Charlotte line-up. Other show jumping stars from Belgium, Switzerland and Canada round out the international card. Laura Kraut, the current leader for the AGA Rider of the Year title, and the hottest rider on the Florida tour, will make Charlotte a key stop on her schedule as well. Kraut is one of the leaders in the Budweiser World Cup standings and will compete in Charlotte just prior to her trip to Las Vegas. Kraut was a member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Show Jumping team. Kraut took home third place honors in the Jumper Classic last year. 2000 Olympian and eight-time American Grand Prix Association Rider of the Year, Margie Engle, has confirmed for Charlotte. Joining Engle at the Charlotte Jumper Classic will be her 2000 Sydney Olympic teammates, Lauren Hough and Todd Minikus. A stellar field of top juniors and amateurs also dot the roster for this year’s event. Georgina Bloomberg headlines a list that also includes Cayce Harrison, winner of the USET Foundation’s Maxine Beard Award and the current leader for AGA Rookie of the Year and top amateur rider Paige Johnson, daughter of Charlotte Bobcats owner and Jumper Classic President, Bob Johnson. Bloomberg, winner of two $25,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series events in Florida, is also among the leaders for a berth in the Budweiser World Cup and the AGA Rider of the Year title. Aimee Aron and Cara Raether, both red hot on the Florida tour, will compete in Charlotte as well. PHOTO CREDIT: Reddy Teddy and top amateur rider, Paige Johnson. Photo by Randi Muster CHARLOTTE
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Charlotte,
NC – March 29, 2005 – The Second Annual Charlotte Jumper
Classic CSI 3* returns to the Charlotte Coliseum on April 8-10, 2005,
and this year’s event will showcase some of the world’s
greatest equestrian superstars in one of America’s richest show
jumping events. The $150,000 Grand Prix of Charlotte, for the Charlotte
Bobcat Cup, a member event on the American Grand Prix Association (AGA)
tour, is the highlight of four days of exciting jumping competition
featuring top Olympians and champions from around the world.
