PRESS RELEASES
JustWorld International Ambassadors Kevin Babington
and Herve Godignon Victorious at CSIO La Baule
May 10, 2004
La Baule, France – Ireland’s Kevin Babington, a
rider representative for JustWorld International, and Herve
Godignon, a member of the ‘Jump for a Just World’
Advisory Board, both claimed victories at CSIO La Baule, France.
Babington ended the international outdoor event with a win
in the Grand Prix of La Baule on May 9, 2004. Riding his veteran
partner, Carling King, Babington was one of 18 riders to advance
to the second round of the major grand prix event. Having gone
clear in the opening round with a slower time, Babington was
seventh back in the order of go for the second round. Before
entering the ring to lay down what would become the winning
round, Babington watched France’s own Michel Robert put
in another clear round in a fast time of 41.95 seconds and knew
what he had to do to beat him. Babington left out strides where
he could to turn in a time of 41.60 seconds.
“Carling King was in top form, it was as good as he has
ever jumped!” praised Babington of Saly Glassman’s
13-year-old chestnut Irish-bred gelding by Clover Hill. “It
is a brand new facility with new footing and the conditions
were perfect.”
Babington’s time held all the way to the end with none
of the 11 riders who followed able to catch his time. Robert
finished in second position riding Galet d’Auzay, while
Dutch rider Wim Schroder placed third in a slower time of 42.54
seconds. Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum, who was a member of
the victorious Nations’ Cup team on Friday, was fourth
aboard Goldfever with a time of 42.57 seconds while the only
other double clear performance came from France’s Edouard
Couperie and Pro Pilot II.
“The last line was very difficult, it was a triple bar
to a triple combination to an oxer to finish, and it caught
quite a lot of the riders,” noted Babington, 35, who hails
from Tipperary and currently trains in Gwynedd Valley, PA.
Babington and Carling King have won three of the five grand
prix events they have contested so far in 2004, including the
$75,000 PDP Capital Masters Cup and the $100,000 Cosequin U.S.
Open Jumper Championship, both held in Wellington, FL, and have
already been named to the Irish Show Jumping Team for the upcoming
2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
For his victory at La Baule, Babington received 22,000 Euros
in prize money from the total purse of 100,000. As one of seven
JustWorld International rider representatives, Babington donates
a portion of all prize money won to the organization. JustWorld
International is a not-for-profit, humanitarian organization
whose mission is to prepare and empower students to become visionary
leaders and work for social justice.
In addition to Babington’s win in the Grand Prix, Herve
Godignon of France, who sits on the ‘Jump for a Just World’
Advisory Board, was victorious in the Speed Derby on Saturday,
May 8, 2004. Despite leaving all the rails in their cups, Godignon
barely touched the tape at the open water jump to incur four
faults, still good enough to claim the win over the challenging
course. Runner-up Michel Hecart of France incurred eight faults
with That’s Life while Schroder once again took third
place, this time riding Eurocommerce Rome.
Olaf Peterson of Germany set the newly designed Derby track
with assistance from French course designer Serge Houtmann,
also a member of the ‘Jump for a Just World’ Board
of Advisors.
Godignon, 52, was aboard his long-time partner, Calypso d’Herbiers.
Godignon has been partnered with the 14-year-old selle francais
stallion throughout the horse’s career, winning the Four,
Five, Six and Seven-Year-Old Young Horse French National Championships.
The win was especially meaningful for the veteran Olympian as
he had won the first grand prix event of his career at La Baule
in 1976.
Godignon will also be hosting a ‘Jump for a Just World’
benefit during his inaugural ‘Jump Eure’ show, held
July 1-4 at his facility, Haras Seabird, located exactly 50
miles from the heart of Paris, France.
“I agree with the purpose of JustWorld International,”
noted Godignon of his involvement. “I think it is important
to change the mentality, to educate people. I think it is a
great idea, and I am happy to try to help the people who benefit
from JustWorld’s work.”
Jessica Newman, Executive Director of JustWorld International,
was thrilled by the pair of victories by two riders involved
with the organization.
“To have both of these riders who give so much of themselves
to the humanitarian work of JustWorld sweep major victories
in the first CSIO of the year in Europe really makes me believe
that when you give of yourself, you are rewarded,” noted
Newman, 28, who sacrificed her own grand prix riding career
in order to concentrate on the formation and development of
JustWorld International after working with street children in
Honduras. “It is amazing to have riders and people of
their quality and integrity representing JustWorld International.
I feel very privileged and honoured to work with such great
people.”
JustWorld International offers fellowship programs for students
from around the globe to learn leadership skills, the tools
that they can use to make a positive difference in the world.
With seven project sites already located in such underprivileged
nations as Honduras, Cambodia, Romania and Senegal and several
other project sites awaiting funding, students have the opportunity
to work for change in a wide variety of environments on behalf
of JustWorld International.
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