Posted April 9, 2006

Thrilling Gambler's Stake Competition Kicks Off Saturday Night Competition at Charlotte Jumper Classic

Miasha Fisher and Kitty Win the $10,000 Class

Charlotte, NC - April 8, 2006 – The Saturday evening competition of the Third Annual Charlotte Jumper Classic began with the crowd favorite “Gamblers Stake” Amateur Owner/Junior Top Score competition where riders choose their own path in hopes of accumulating the largest amount of points in a specified amount of time. After the time expired, riders had the option of “gambling” on the Charlotte Bobcats vertical jump worth an extra 200 points. If riders hit the Bobcats jump and knocked down a rail, 200 points was deducted.

The lead changed three times with the first three riders in the class of 23. Miasha Fisher from New York and Kitty went fourth and delivered a winning score of 1,020 points. The crowd waited four more riders until William Whitaker of Great Britain and Cash Junior wowed the crowd with a second place performance of 970 points. Carolyn Kelly, the third rider in the class ended up placing third on her mount Omona A. W. The enthusiastic crowd cheered on each performance, especially that of Fisher’s which beat out the competition by 50 points.

“I felt like I was going really fast, said and exuberant Fisher. “This is the first time that I have competed in this type of competition and I was nervous. My horse was great and I love her very much,” she added.

Top Results of Class 6 – Gamblers Stake Amateur Owner/Junior Competition, A-270

Miasha Fisher – Kitty – 1,020 pts./61.80
William Whitaker – Cash Junior – 970 pts./58.0
Carolyn Kelly - Omona A. W. – 950 pts./56.64
Robin Sweeley – Coming Star – 900 pts./46.77
Tonya Henning – Mill Creek Roselinda – 880 pts./51.89
Jeanne Hobbs - Montrachet – 830 pts./56.33

The Charlotte Jumper Classic continues with Grand Prix Sunday, April 9 at 2:00 p.m. and features the Charlotte Adult Jumper Classic, Charlotte Amateur-Owner Junior Classic and the exciting finale – the $150,000 Grand Prix of Charlotte.

Tickets for Sunday’s Grand Prix are $10.00 - $20.00 and just $5.00 for kids. Tickets are available online at CharlotteBobcatsArena.com, or by calling 1-800-495-2295. Tickets also can be purchased in person at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena box office and the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center ticket outlet.

The Charlotte Jumper Classic is a charitable event for the Charlotte Bobcats Charitable Foundation. Net proceeds from the 2006 Charlotte Jumper Classic benefit the Presbyterian Hemby Children's Hospital.

Charlotte Bobcats Arena, located in the heart of Uptown Charlotte, opened in fall 2005 and is home to the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats, WNBA’s Charlotte Sting, and ECHL’s Charlotte Checkers. The state-of-the-art arena is host to more than 125 events a year including sports, concerts and family entertainment.

CONTACT: Jamie Banks, Charlotte Bobcats Arena, (704) 688-8789 (o); (704) 258-3901(c); jbanks@BobcatsSE.com

PHOTO CAPTION: Miasha Fisher on her horse Kitty make a jump during the “Gambler’s Stake” Amateur Owner/Junior Top Score Competition during the 2006 Charlotte Jumper Classic Saturday, April 8, 2006 at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena in Charlotte, N.C. Fisher won the competition with a score of 1020. Photo by Chris Keane