A Grand Prix Show Jumping Extravaganza with Entertainment and Trade Show. Over $400,000 in total prize money for the 2008 series
Excitement! Thrills! Speed! Fun! That’s Grand Prix Show Jumping! Come one, come all – SPECTATORS WELCOME!
“We’re transforming Show Jumping into a spectator sport, something that people haven’t done for hundreds of years.” Vick Russell, City League Co-Founder
City League International
Show Jumping is coming to Jacksonville for its first event of their League series on April 17-20, 2008 at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center. City League’s mission is to support endeavors for the prevention and treatment of cancer. City League will achieve this by transforming Show Jumping into a spectator sport through establishing City teams, riders, and fans throughout the Southeast.
Teams of Grand Prix-level show jumping horses and riders from FIVE CITY LEAGUES will be navigating jump course obstacles as much as 5 feet high and 6 feet wide, with each rider trying to beat the time of the other rider. Each team will compete in three events over the course of the long weekend, which will end with a Saturday evening Grand Prix.
Grand Prix show jumping requires a lot of athleticism, courage, strength, talent and a passion for the sport for both the rider and the horse to compete at these speeds to navigate the very tight twists and turns of the grand prix course. It’s truly an amazing site to see a horse look like it is so effortlessly flying over these jumps at such a fast speed. You will watch in wonderment and awe to see how these riders stay on their horses in such small saddles – what balance!
And, these riders don’t get to go in to the ring before the class and practice with their horses on the course beforehand – they only get to ‘walk the course’ on foot before the class begins. That takes a really sharp memory and a lot of skill. Yes, the grand prix horses love to jump, too. You’ll see horses of small stature competing equally (and winning) against horses of larger size. These horses are great athletes and love to do their ‘job’.
To add to the entertainment for everyone, during breaks in the competition on the weekend, Todd Duncan and his XTremeK9 Frisbee Dogs will captivate the fans, along with a Wild, Wild West Show.
There will be plenty of opportunities available for those who want to shop, too – just look for the vendors in their kiosks and trailers. Pony rides and a bounce house for the children will be there to make the extravaganza an affair the whole family can enjoy.
Hunter and jumper classes for any equestrian participant will be going on during each day – spectators are welcome to come watch them compete, too.
The evening schedule is: At 7 p.m. Thursday, teams will compete in the Team Speed Class. Then, at 7 p.m. Friday, fans can watch the Team Jump-Off, and at 7 p.m. Saturday, the Individual Gold Grand Prix and Award Ceremony will take center stage.
$5000 Mona's Embroidery & Engraving Team Speed Class Thursday April 17th, 7pm start
$10000 Team Jump-off Class Friday April 18th, 7pm start
$25,000 JavaFit Individual Gold Medal Grand Prix Saturday April 19th, 7pm start
Saturday evening Saturday April 19th, under the tent during the Grand Prix - Green Gate Gathering Dinner! All proceeds will be donated to the Donna Hicken Foundation and the Green Gate Foundation - to benefit needy cancer victims and their families with direct financial support as well as to provide communities with assistance in early cancer detection.
5:30 pm Cocktails; 7:00 pm Dinner. Please call Pauline Russell (828.817.5176) or Rebecca Miller (803.507.7006) for details.
Couple's Ticket - $100, Single Ticket - $60
Tickets available at TICKETMASTER and JEC-SMG box offices
Adult
Weekend
Pass
- $25
Children 5 and under - FREE
Ages 6-15 - $5 per night
Adult Tickets also available per night
2008 City League International Show Dates
April 17-20 ~ Jacksonville, Florida
May 29-June 1 ~ Alpharetta, Georgia
July 23-27 ~ Knoxville, Tennessee
August 13-17 ~ Asheville, North Carolina
September 17-21 ~ Greensboro, North Carolina
Semi-Finals and Finals TBA
Show Jumping is engaging, high profile, and fast paced. It reaches an affluent, upwardly mobile market segment that is passionately loyal to products and services that support their equestrian interests. We have incorporated the key elements of the sport of Show Jumping into a sponsorship program that provides a highly competitive vehicle for effective corporate marketing.
-Television networks will broadcast City League International
-Newspaper advertising and various media coverage
-On-site signage and display
-VIP treatment
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