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Articles: Press Release
Olympic Gold Medalist Joe Fargis Claims First Victory at Capital Classic
Show Jumping Tournament
Contact:
Kenneth Kraus of Phelps Media Group, Inc.
at (561) 753-3389 or at pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
Ottawa, Ontario - July 11, 2006 - American Olympian Joe Fargis claimed
the first win of the Capital Classic Show Jumping Tournament on
Wednesday. The international show jumping tournament runs July 12-16 at
the Nepean National Equestrian Park in Ottawa, ON.
A total of 41 horse-rider combinations took to the grass grand prix
field to attempt the 1.40m track set by renowned course designer Conrad
Homfeld of the United States. Homfeld is one of five course designers
currently being considered for the 2008 Olympic Games.
With the fastest clean round emerging as the winner, Joe Fargis of the
United States accomplished the task riding Diams III. The pair was
clear in a time of 56.62 seconds. Fargis also took fourth place with
Ingaletta in a time of 58.60 seconds. Enjoying a long career, Fargis
won both Team and Individual Gold Medals at the 1984 Los Angeles
Olympics.
Placing second was Chris Pratt, 37, of Belfountain, ON, riding Bequia, a
nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Susan Grange. They were
more than a full second off of the time set by Fargis, stopping the
clock at 57.67 seconds. Pratt, along with teammates Ian Millar and Eric
Lamaze, is using the Capital Classic Show Jumping Tournament to prepare
for the 2006 World Championships to be held in Aachen, Germany, at the
end of August.
Another Olympic Gold Medallist, Chris Kappler of the United States, took
third place riding VDL Maseratie. Kappler, who hails from Pittstown,
NJ, was a Team Gold and Individual Silver Medallist at the 2004 Athens
Olympics.
Show jumping action resumes at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday. Featured events
include the $20,000 Open Welcome on Friday at 6 p.m., the $35,000
Brookstreet Jumping Derby on Saturday at 3 p.m., and the grand finale,
the $60,000 'KUBOTA' Big Ben Memorial Grand Prix on Sunday at 3 p.m.
Frankie Chesler of Orangeville, ON, will attempt to defend her Grand
Prix title, but faces stiff competition from names like Millar, Lamaze,
and past winners Yann Candele of France (2004) and Canadian Olympian
John Pearce (2003).
Located in Ottawa's west-end at the Nepean National Equestrian Park, at
the Moodie Drive exit off of the 417 Highway, the 'Kubota' Capital
Classic Show Jumping Tournament attracts more than 10,000 spectators
annually. Admission is $7 per person Wednesday, Thursday and Friday,
and $10 per person on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, please
visit www.capitalclassic.ca .
Open Jumper 1.40m - Final Results
Rider Hometown Horse Faults Time
1. Joe Fargis United States Diams III 0 56.62
2. Chris Pratt Belfountain, ON Bequia 0 57.67
3. Chris Kappler Pittstown, NJ VDL Maseratie 0 58.13
4. Joe Fargis United States Ingaletta 0 58.60
5. Tracy Weinberg United States Linda Z 0 58.89
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