Charlotte, NC - April 9, 2006 - Grand Prix Sunday at the Third Annual Charlotte Jumper Classic began with an exciting jump off in the $15,000 Charlotte Adult Jumper Classic. The original field of 15 was narrowed down as six riders delivered a clear round to qualify for a jump off on the Steve Stephens designed course.

Tiffany Avon on Netherland Star began the jump off with two refusals and elimination. Up next was Patricia Hennessy on Little Tom, who delivered an eight fault performance. Lynn Jeckel on her mount Rapunzel produced the first clear round of the jump off to take the lead. Jeckel kept the top spot until Rachel Mikrut from Cave Creek, AZ and Waldo came up in the fifth spot where Mikrut beat Jeckel’s time by 2.2 seconds with a clear round of 24.64.

“In an arena this size, the turns come up very quickly, said Mikrut. If you let your horse get out of hand it’s really hard to get them back. My horse did especially well on the last line – that’s the line back to the barn where there he gets treats!”

Mikrut has done well at the Charlotte Jumper Classic, as she and Waldo placed second in the $10,000 Amateur Jumper Speed Stake Saturday night.

Jump Off Results – Charlotte Adult Jumper Classic – 9, C-239

Rachel Mikrut – Waldo – 0/24.64
Lynn Jekel – Rapunzel – 0/26.86
Kris Kennedy – Quest D’Or – 4/24.19
Patricia Hennessy – Little Tom – 8/22.07
Tiffany Avon – Netherland Star – Elimination

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: Rachel Mikrut completes a jump on her horse Waldo during the Charlotte Adult Jumper Classic during the 2006 Charlotte Jumper Classic Sunday, April 9, 2006 at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena in Charlotte, N.C. Mikrut won in a jump off with a time of 24.64. Photo by Chris Keane.