Defending Champion Beezie Madden Leads Group of Ten Clear Riders Into Round Two of $150,000 Grand Prix of Charlotte

Charlotte, NC – April 9, 2005 – 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.

• 1-Chris Kappler-USA-Primeur 58-0.00-58.79
• 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