Posted April 9, 2006

Paige Johnson Delivers a Win in a Jump Off at Charlotte Jumper Classic

Charlotte, NC - April 9, 2006 - Paige Johnson and La Martinee were the class of the field during a large jump off for the $25,000 Charlotte Amateur Owner/Junior Jumper Classic at the final day of Charlotte Jumper Classic competition. Paige, daughter of Bob Johnson, was thrilled to win in Charlotte.

“Winning here in Charlotte at the new arena is the best feeling,” she said. “The Charlotte Jumper Classic is quickly becoming one of the best shows in the country. It was my dad’s birthday yesterday, and this is a great present. I couldn’t be happier.”

Nine riders out of 26 qualified for a jump off with a clear opening round in the class. The first clear round of the jump off came from Robin Sweeney and Coming Star, up second in the class with a time of 37.93. Thrills and spills followed without another clear round until the very last rider, Paige Johnson atop La Martinee. The nearly 5,000 person crowd was on the edge of their seats as Paige delivered a clear round, beating Sweeney for the top spot by 2.01 seconds.

Jump-Off Results – Amateur Owner/Junior Jumper Classic, 7 – A, 238.22

Paige Johnson – La Martinee – 0/35.92
Robin Sweeley – Coming Star – 37.93
Katherine Miracle – Madonna – 4/37.51
Jeanne Hobbs – Night and Day – 4/39.70
Derek Braun – Jet Blue – 8/37.08
Hilary Dobbs – Quincy B – 8/38.51
Sarah Segal – True Love 12/39.27
Natalie Johnson – Jerremy - eliminated
Whitney Goulart – Norolient - eliminated

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.

The Charlotte Jumper Classic is an annual event and an important stop on the million-dollar AGA Grand Prix circuit. The Fourth Annual Charlotte Jumper Classic will take place April 13-15, 2007 at Charlotte Bobcats Arena for a purse of $400,000.

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: Paige Johnson jumps on her horse La Martinee during the Charlotte Amateur Owner/Junior Jumper Classic during the 2006 Charlotte Jumper Classic Sunday, April 9, 2006 at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena in Charlotte, N.C. Johnson won the class with a 35.92 in a jump off. (Photo by Chris Keane)