PRESS RELEASES
Global Champions Tour Crosses Borders with Welcome
Party
March 3, 2006
Wellington, Florida - A welcome party was held Thursday, March
2, at Vendetta Farm to launch the Global Champions Tour, sponsored
by CN Worldwide, an innovative new show jumping series that
crosses continents to link together six of the most prestigious
competitions in the world.
More than 200 guests gathered at Vendetta Farm, home to Victoria
McCullough. McCullough is the sponsor of the 50,000 Euro 'Jump
for a Just World' Grand Prix, Presented by Chesapeake Petroleum
held Friday, March 3, during the CSI5* Wellington, Florida,
as well as a Rider Ambassador for JustWorld International, the
official charity of the Global Champions Tour.
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"Jessica Newman, Gene Mische, and Victoria McCullough
welcome guests to the launch of the Global Champions Tour."
Photo credits - Anne Gittins
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McCullough welcomed the crowd, which included numerous Olympians,
by expressing her personal excitement for the Global Champions
Tour.
"It is with great pleasure that we welcome the Global
Champions Tour into our sport, as it will bring together people
from all around the world to compete with enthusiasm,"
said McCullough. "To be able to participate in this tour
is a dream come true for a competitor like myself as it will
promote friendships and an interchange between cultures, all
while competing in a sport that we love."
Olympic Gold Medallist Jan Tops of the Netherlands, innovator
of the Global Champions Tour, then explained his motivation,
which is to increase the profile of show jumping to become similar
to that of tennis and golf. He also spoke of the importance
of presenting all six events in a television-friendly package,
and, much to the delight of the riders, announced that .6 million
Euros in cash bonuses would be awarded to the top placed competitors
in the Global Champions Tour, with 250,000 Euros alone being
awarded to the overall winner.
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"Jan Tops, innovator of the Global Champions Tour."
Photo credits - Anne Gittins
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Gene Mische, President of the CSI5* Wellington organizing committee,
expressed his pride in hosting the first event of the Global
Champions Tour. As the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington
has grown to become a premiere winter show jumping circuit,
it has also become extremely attractive to competitors from
around the world, drawing more and more international entries
each year. In recognition of his efforts to tirelessly improve
the sport, a commissioned painting by artist Rodney Skidmore
was presented to Mische.
JustWorld International was introduced as the official charity
of the Global Champions Tour, and Executive Director Jessica
Newman, herself a former grand prix competitor, thanked the
organizers for choosing JustWorld, recognizing that is presented
an incredible opportunity for members of the equestrian community
to be made aware of the important work the not-for-profit organization
was doing in developing countries on behalf of underprivileged
children.
The first event in the Global Champions Tour will take place
on Sunday, March 5, with the 150,000 Euro CN Worldwide Florida
Open Grand Prix, Presented by Cosequin. The top two finishers
in the Grand Prix will automatically be invited to compete in
the next leg of the Global Champions Tour held at CSI5* Cannes,
FRA, from June 8-11. The additional four member events, all
at a five-star level, are Monaco, MON, held June 22-24, Estoril,
POR, held July 21-23 and Valkenswaard, NED, held August 17-20.
The sixth and final event in the 2006 Global Champions Tour
will take place at Lanaken, BEL, from September 15-17.
In total, the Global Champions Tour offers more than 2.5 million
Euros in combined prize money as well as unprecedented cash
bonuses of 600,000 Euros to the top competitors in the point
standings at the Tours conclusion. For more information, please
visit www.globalchampionstour.com.
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