PRESS RELEASES
Norman Dello Joio Launches Global Champions Tour with
a Victory
March 5, 2006
Wellington, Florida - A victory for American Olympian Norman
Dello Joio officially opened the eagerly anticipated Global
Champions Tour on Sunday, March 5, in Wellington, Florida.
The Global Champions Tour, sponsored by CN WorldWide, is an
innovative new show jumping series that links together six of
the most prestigious competitions in the world. The first of
those six events was CSI5* Wellington, and 61 of the best known
show jumping athletes in the world gathered to contest the 150,000
CN WorldWide Florida Open Grand Prix, Presented by Cosequin.
As will be the case in all of the Global Champions Tour Grand
Prix events, 18 riders advanced to the second round, creating
the perfect package for television broadcast.
Included in the top 18 were four clear rounds, posted by Americans
Norman Dello Joio and Kim Prince, Samantha McIntosh of Bulgaria,
and Dutch rider Harry Smolders. In the second round, McIntosh,
Dello Joio and Prince were again clear to force a jump-off.
McIntosh led the charge riding Loxley, posting a clear in a
time of 41.51 seconds. Dello Joio followed and, much to the
delight of the large crowd, poured on the speed with his veteran
partner Glasgow, and stopped the clock at 40.94 seconds. Prince
was the final challenger with Couletto K. James, but when a
rail fell early on course, she pulled up knowing that the best
she could do would be third place.
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Norman Dello Joio and Glasgow officially launched the
Global Champions Tour with a victory in Wellington, Florida."
Photo credit - Randi Muster
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The Global Champions Tour sees the top two riders in the Grand
Prix automatically qualify for the next leg of the Tour, which
will take place at CSI5* Cannes, FRA, from June 8-11. From there,
the tour moves to Monte Carlo, MON, Estoril, POR, Valkenswaard,
NED, and finally Lanaken, BEL, from September 15-17. The prize
money at all six events totals 2.5 million Euros, with .6 million
in cash bonuses awarded to the top eight finishers in the overall
standings.
Of his intention to continue competing in the Global Champions
Tour, Dello Joio simply said, "I have no plans at the moment
other than getting through next week, but I think that the Global
Champions Tour is a wonderful concept."
Second place finisher McIntosh was much more definite about
her plans.
"It was a big undertaking to come from Europe, and I am
glad that I was able to be successful," said McIntosh,
who is based in Germany. "All the shows involved in the
Global Champions Tour are top class shows that I would like
to compete at anyway, so I will keep going on the Tour and hope
to be successful."
Duarte Guedes, organizer of the CSI5* Estoril, was on hand
to witness the Global Champions Tour kick off. "I am really
impressed by the beautiful atmosphere of Wellington, I had heard
a lot about it but never imagined that it would be so great.
I am very proud that Estoril was chosen to be a part of this
Tour, because it means we are considered to be among the top
events of the world."
JustWorld International is the official charity of the Global
Champions Tour, and fundraising activities held throughout the
week were for the benefit of the not-for-profit organization
dedicated to working in developing countries on behalf of underprivileged
children.
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