CITY LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL
Show Jumping - April 17-20, 2008
at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center
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 annual 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. Read the Press Release>
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
Click here for the Jacksonville Class List/Daily Schedule PDF
See their Resource Guide article in HorsesintheSouth.com>
Click here for the Prize List (PDF - 4MB file size)
Check out Gina Franco’s blog about City League, too!
Keep checking back on HorsesintheSouth.com for announcements on the other shows venues! See City League's multiple Premium Directory Listings under Events & Shows and Event Venues too.
SPOTLIGHTS: BARBAROTM Jewelry by Jane Heart
Jane Heart announces the introduction of her original, licensed jewelry designs of the charismatic race horse Barbaro. Through his valiant fight to recover from a broken leg and then laminitis, he touched our hearts with his courage and incredible spirit. In cooperation with Gretchen Jackson, Jane has adapted a favoritepicture of Barbaro, looking out of his stall the morning of the Preakness, to an inspirational heart design. The trademark Barbaro is used under license. Read more>
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each piece will go to the Fund for Laminitis Research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Read more in our business Resource Guide>
Jane Heart introduces the charm necklace with her equestrian designs to show the close bond between horse and rider. Jane's interpretation of this popular trend includes four symbols to help guide you on your path to achieving your heart's desires and lifetime goals. See the necklace in our business Resource Guide>
CONGRATULATIONS: The Northeast Florida Dressage Association’s recognized show, Dressage on the First Coast 
, presented by Title sponsor Deep Creek Plantation was on April 5-6, 2008. This show was an Official Region 3 USDF Qualifying Competition for the 2008 North American FEI Junior and Young Riders’ Championships with Judges: Axel Steiner FEI “O” (CA), Hilda Gurney FEI “I” (CA) and was also held at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center (JEC). The Northeast Florida Dressage Association (NFDA) wants to thank all of the participants, competitors and officials of the show. Be sure to mark your calendars for next year's show on April 4-5, 2009! All are always welcome to any of the NFDA schooling shows, too and that include spectators. The next show is on May 17 at the JEC.
Click on the link to read the local newspape media coverage http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/040708/met_265776931.shtml . Click on this link to see a video of the show http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/040708/met_265776931.shtml .
Watch for more pictures of the show to be added soon on DressageontheFirstCoast.com>
HorsesintheSouth.com has a PREMIUM DIRECTORY PORTAL and BUSINESS RESOURCE GUIDE: We have made a ton of additions to our Equine Directory Portal to include a whole new section for Events & Shows so that all of you vendors and show management can list your websites or business information. Remember, if you don’t see a category available for your equine-related business, just ask us to add one. It’s easy with our custom Content Management System. Feel free to add your listing in multiple places, too.
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