Charlotte, NC - April 9 - Beezie Madden and Judgement, winners of the 2004 Grand Prix of Charlotte, were one of ten clear horse and rider combinations on Saturday night, in round one of this year's main event. The first round of the $150,000 Grand Prix of Charlotte was the featured event on Saturday night at the 2005 Charlotte Jumper Classic at the Charlotte Coliseum in North Carolina.

The $150,000 Grand Prix of Charlotte for the Bobcat Cup, a member event of the American Grand Prix Association (AGA) Tour, is a two round competition. The scores received on Saturday night carry over to the finals on Sunday afternoon. The Sunday scores are then added to the Saturday night totals to determine the winner. If there is a tie after the two rounds, there is one jump-off against the clock to decide the eventual champion. Scoring was under FEI Art. 273.2.1-3.1-4.1. with two different rounds and a jump-off against the clock.

Madden, fresh off a victory in the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational in Tampa, Florida, on April 2, 2005, will go for two major victories in a row on Sunday afternoon. Madden, a 2004 Olympic Team Silver Medalist, was the 2004 AGA Rider of the Year and leads for the 2005 title coming into the Charlotte Jumper Classic.

Joining Madden on the clear list for tomorrow's second round are her Athens teammates, McLain Ward and Chris Kappler. Laura Kraut and Great Britain's Ellen Whitaker, two of the hottest riders on the Florida tour, were also clear on Saturday night and enter Sunday's competition with a clean slate. Joining Whitaker with clear rounds and adding to the international flavor for Sunday's grand finale are Greg Wathelet of Belgium and Maryline Vorpe of Switzerland. Jimmy Torano, Kimberly Frey and Callan Solem round out the ten riders that will return fault free in the Sunday final.

The $150,000 Grand Prix of Charlotte, with the second richest purse in American show jumping, features a first place prize of $45,000. The afternoon session is scheduled for a 2pm start at the Charlotte Coliseum.

Results from Round One, $150,000 Grand Prix of Charlotte.

On Sunday, the riders with the highest scores return first, lowest scores come back last.

2-Jimmy Torano-USA-Marcel-0.00-60.13

3-Maryline Vorpe-SUI-Mercure Du Chable-0.00- 60.68

4-Gregory Wathelet-BEL-Mozart Des Hayettes-0.00-60.83

5-Beezie Madden-USA-Judgement-0.00 -62.14

6-Kimberly Frey-USA-Marlou-0.00-62.33

7-Laura Kraut- USA -Anthem-0.00-62.37

8-Callan Solem-USA-Allison-0.00-65.53

9-Mclain Ward-USA-Sapphire-0.00-65.87

10-Ellen Whitaker-GBR-Ak Locarno 62-0.00-65.91

11-Judy Garofalo-USA-Harlem De Mescam-4.00-62.47

12-Todd Minikus-USA-Gardenio-4.00-62.74

13-Margie Engle-Usa-H C's Alibi-4.00-62.95

14-Aaron Vale -USA-Artur 28-4.00-63.23

15-Danielle Torano-USA-Gibson-4.00-63.39

16-Nona Garson-USA-Sun God-4.00 -63.91

17-Eric Flameng-BEL-Roxanne-4.00-64.16

18-Robert Maguire-GBR-Two Mills Showtime-4.00-64.44

19-Michael Whitaker-GBR-Portofino 63-4.00-65.10

20-Paige Johnson-USA-Kadena R- 4.00-65.12

21-Laura Linback-USA-Remember Me 9-8.00-60.01

22-Robin Sweely-USA-Qarco V't Merelsnest-8.00-61.20

23-Kent Farrington-USA-Madison-8.00-61.60

24-Philippe Putallaz-SUI-L'amie -8.00-63.10

25-Leslie Howard-USA-Mivenno-8.00-63.29

26-Debbie Stephens -USA -Cosequin's Ceo-8.00-64.86

27-Eric Lamaze-CAN-Tempete V/H Lindehof-8.00-65.39

28-Cayce Harrison-USA-Coeur-8.00-66.81

29-Candice King-USA-Coco Cabana-10.00-73.09

30-Gregoire Oberson-SUI-Joker Maladrie Dela-12.00-66.05

31-Vicky Young-GBR -Royal Dane-12.00-68.91

32-Michael Morrissey-USA-Crabamboli-13.00-70.45

33-Ken Berkley-USA-Carlos Boy-13.00-72.27

34-Lauren Hough -USA-Casadora-16.00-67.13

In other Charlotte Jumper Classic action on Saturday.....

Cayce Harrison and Quickstar II Z Win $10,000 Amateur Owner Jumper Top Score

Twenty top Amateur Owner jumper riders got the Saturday evening performance underway with their Top Score Competition. When the dust had cleared Cayce Harrison and Quickstar IIZ emerged victorious with a total of 1040 points which included the 200 bonus points Harrison collected at the 5'1" Charlotte Bobcats vertical.

Lumina 2 and Georgina Bloomberg set the early pace with a 920 point total.

The only threat to Harrison's lead came at the eighteenth spot in the order when Lisa Silverman and Obelix fell just 10 points shy of Harrison's total. Silverman finished in second place with 1030 points.

"It was a great win. I'm very excited. Surprised, really," admitted Harrison. "I've never done well in Gamblers Choice classes and I was dreading doing two in the same day."

"It helps to have a plan, and then leave the jumps up so you can ride the plan you worked out. That happened for me tonight, said Harrison. "And McLain (Ward, her trainer) talked with me earlier and told me the key to these classes is not going fast, but staying calm and being direct and definitive about your plan."

Results Class # 6 -Amateur Owner Top Score Competition - 04-09-05 - Charlotte Coliseum

2 -Lisa Silverman -Obelix R -1030 -59.770

3 -Georgina Bloomberg -Lumina 2 -920 -54.310

4 -Danielle Torano -Mirage -870 -53.899

5 -Sophie Coppedge -Anvia -830 -59.043

6 -Cara Raether -Olympus -800 -55.992

7 -Katherine Miracle -Outkast -770 -60.143

8 -Robin Sweely -Discovery -630 -58.568

9 -Derek Braun -Jet Blue -610 -60.266

10 -Miranda Fischer -De Lempicka -570 -75.168

11 -Alexa Weeks -Riane -530 -52.054

12 -Larry Hollahan -Sky King -500 -52.612

Belgium's Wathelet Outscores USA's Leslie Howard for International Top Score Win

Twenty-nine challengers elected to gamble on the $15,000 Arent Fox Top Score Competition, the featured event on the afternoon card at the 2005 Charlotte Jumper Classic. Scoring was FEI Art. 270, with a joker and a fixed time allowed. The competition is also known more popularly as the Gamblers Choice.

Ken Berkley and Maestro, owned by Rivers Edge Farm, took the early lead with 1140 points. Berkley rode out of the fifth spot in the order. He lost the lead seven horses later to Leslie Howard and Youp. Howard tallied eighty more points than Berkley to take the lead with 1220 points. Three horses later Aaron Vale, a winner on Friday night, just missed Howard's top total, but moved ahead of Berkley into second place. Vale totaled 1200 points on Picasso S2, owned by Millstream.

A smooth and well thought out ride by Belgium's Gregory Wathelet proved to be the best on Saturday afternoon. Wathelet was aboard IQ Bal Des Hayettes. Wathelet's route over the Steve Stephens designed Gamblers Choice course netted the rider from Belgium 1050 points over the initial course and a fault free effort over the 200 point "Joker" secured the victory. Wathelet finished with 1250 points, thirty points better than Howard.

"I worked out a plan at the beginning and I stuck to that plan in the class, said Wathelet. "But, the one exception to the plan really worked to my advantage when I was able to catch a four stride instead of the five I walked. I didn't see Leslie Howard, but one less stride might have been the one that won the class for me," said a smiling Wathelet.

Wathelet was very emotional about hearing the national anthem of his home country of Belgium. "I was very excited and honored to hear my country's national anthem being played," Wathelet said. "I was the only rider representing Belgium in that class and to win is very, very special for me."

Results Class # 3 - International Top Score Competition, "Gamblers Choice" -FEI Art 270 - 04-09-05 - Charlotte Coliseum

2 - Leslie Howard - USA - Youp -1220 - 56.32

3 - Aaron Vale - USA - Picasso S2 -1200 - 54.42

4 - Mclain Ward - USA - Goldika 559 -1160 - 53.98

5 - Ken Berkley - USA - Maestro -1140 - 57.51

6 - Aimee Aron - USA - Ostara -1130 - 58.43

7 - Candice King - USA - Caliskan -1120 - 54.97

8 - Laura Linback - USA - Quintin -1120 - 57.89

9 - Michael Whitaker - GBR - Flair Time -1040 - 52.23

10 - Jimmy Torano - USA - Morgan -970 - 54.41

11 - Robert Maguire - GBR - Mr. Cawley -880 - 54.31

12 - Margie Engle - USA - H C's Wapino -820 - 57.00 Auer and Regina Race to Win $10,000 Wells Fargo Junior Jumper Speed Stake

Earlier, on the Saturday matinee program, Cody Auer raced to the victory in the $10,000 Wells Fargo Junior Jumper Speed Stake.

Scoring was USEF Table III, Faults Converted Into Seconds and there were eight starters.

Auer, riding Esther Kane Waring's Regina, was the first challenger and her speedy time held up through the class. Auer raced across the finish line in 47.95 seconds. Alex Parrish and Tandoori finished second in 48.88 seconds and the yellow ribbon for third place went to Ratina Z and Carolyn Kelly. Kelly clocked in at 49.69 seconds.

Results Class #9 - Junior Jumper Speed Stake -Table III - 04-09-05 - Charlotte Coliseum

2- Tandoori - Alex Parrish - 48.88

3- Ratina Z - Carolyn Kelly - 49.69

4- Blast - Carolyn Kelly - 58.29

5- Lorano - Nikko Ritter - 58.86

6- Cats Charly - Alex Parrish - 60.18

7- Jolie Dame Du Marais - Cody Auer - 60.87

8- Heaudine - Aimee Aron - 63.21

EVENT:
Charlotte Jumper Classic

WHAT:
Preeminent Jumper Show in the Carolinas. An AGA event, FEI sanctioned, A Rated, CSI*** show.

WHERE:
Charlotte Coliseum - 100 Paul Buck Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28217

WHEN:
April 8-10, 2005

Saturday, April 9, 2005 - 12:00 pm
Junior Speed Stake
Top Score Competition

Saturday Evening - 7:00 pm
The Grand Prix of Charlotte Round One

Sunday, April 10, 2005 - 2:00 pm
Charlotte Junior Grand Prix
Charlotte Amateur/Owner Grand Prix
The Grand Prix of Charlotte Round Two

ADMINSSION:
Price level one seating - $25.00 per session

Price level two seating - $15.00 per session

VIP SEATING:
VIP Seating is available to sponsors and donors and includes Crown Club hospitality. For more information contact Monica Treadway at 704-713-1530, e-mail mtreadway@charlottejumperclassic.com or visit www.charlottejumperclassic.com.

PARKING:
$5 payable at the gate

DIRECTIONS:
From I-77:
Take Exit 5 (Tyvola Rd.) off of I-77 and head west on Tyvola following the directional signage. Enter the Coliseum parking lots by turning right onto Paul Buck Blvd. approximately three miles down Tyvola.

>From I-85:

Take Exit 33 (Billy Graham Pkwy.) off of I-85 and proceed east down Billy Graham to the Tyvola Road exit. Turn right onto Tyvola Rd. and proceed to Paul Buck Blvd. Turn left into the Coliseum.

THE FACILITY:
Charlotte Coliseum - www.charlottecoliseum.com . The Charlotte Coliseum first opened in 1988 as one of the largest arenas in the nation. It remains Charlotte's largest entertainment venue seating 24,000 spectators for concerts and high-profile athletic events. The Coliseum pulls fans from across the country to see stars of the sports world, including teams from the NBA, NCAA, and the WNBA. It has hosted the NBA All-Star game, the NCAA Men's Final Four, the NCAA Women's Final Four and several ACC basketball tournaments. The Charlotte Coliseum has attracted such major entertainment figures as U2, Garth Brooks, Eric Clapton, the Grateful Dead and Janet Jackson. Other major events have included Jubilate, one of the premiere Christian New Year's Eve celebrations in the United States, a visit by Mother Teresa, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus and Walt Disney's World on Ice.

PRIZE MONEY:
Amateur/Owner Competition - $10,000
International Competition - $15,000
Junior Competition - $10,000
Charlotte Welcome State Qualifier - $30,000
Junior Speed Stake - $10,000
Top Score Competition - $15,000
The Grand Prix of Charlotte Round One
Charlotte Junior Grand Prix - $25,000
Amateur/Owner Grand Prix - $25,000
The Grand Prix of Charlotte Round Two - $150,000

HIGHLIGHTS:
Net proceeds to benefit the Bobcats Charitable Foundation. The mission of the Bobcats Charitable Foundation is to enrich the quality of life for those in need - with a focus on children and youth - and build bridges between communities. The Foundation supports organizations serving children and youth with an emphasis on literacy, fitness and wellness and exposure to the arts.

Saturday, April 8, 2005 - 5:00 - 7:00pm - Pre-Show outdoor entertainment and tailgating for tickets holders of the 12:00 and /or 7:00 session with a performance by Carmine and The Blue Moons and activities for kids of all ages.

Sunday, April 10, 2005 - VIP Donor Thank You Brunch - Invitation only event.