Wellington, FL – March 3, 2010 –Challenge of the Americas is excited to announce the members of its dressage quadrille teams for the 2010 Challenge. Held on Saturday, March 13, 2010, at the beautiful International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, FL, the Challenge is in its ninth consecutive year as an annual fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The evening will showcase equestrian sport with a four-bar show jumping competition, musical grand prix team quadrilles, and a unique figure skating dressage exhibition held in memory of Ingred Lin, who passed away from breast cancer this year.
Presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC), the 2010 Challenge will once again feature three grand prix team quadrilles performed by the “who’s who” of top riders in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and Europe. Each team is made up of six horses and riders that will perform intricate musical quadrilles on the main field at IPC.
This year’s United States team, sponsored by Purina Mills, will be made up of Betsy Steiner riding Solar HM, an 11-year-old Lusitano owned by Becky and Vern Thornton; Pamela Goodrich riding Tacoma M, a ten-year-old Dutch mare owned by Aurelia Tansey; John Zapati riding Fabio, a 15-year-old Oldenburg owned by Christine Hewitt; James Koford riding Liberty, a 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood owned by Barbara Marks; Bill Warren riding Romantic, a 12-year-old Oldenburg owned by Team Romantic LLC; and Mary Ann Grant riding Tamaro, a 15-year-old Spanish bred PRE stallion, owned by Linda Cramer.
Team International The Seley Parker Group of Merrill Lynch will include Marco Bernal riding Farewell, his eight-year-old Westphalian stallion; Shannon Dueck riding Sentimiento I, a nine-year-old PRE stallion owned by Tamara Gerber; Yvonne Losos de Muniz riding Royal Affair, an eight-year-old Hannovarian owned by Marismas Sporthorses; Lou Denizard riding Karola I, his 15-year-old KWPN; Kelly Layne riding Raja, her 11-year-old Westphalian; and Heather Bender riding Winwood, her 14-year-old Hannovarian.
SSG Glove’s Team Canada will include Stephanie Jensen riding Addiction, her ten-year-old Swedish Warmblood; Leah Wilson riding Amusant, her 15-year-old Hannovarian; Chris Von Gartzen riding Luberon, her 11-year-old Oldenburg stallion; Brittany Fraser riding Tolando, her ten-year-old Dutch Warmblood; Cheryl Meisner riding Lucky Strike, a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood owned by John Risley; and Krystalann Shingler riding Camaron IX, a 15-year-old PRE stallion owned by HGF.
This will be John Zapati’s second year competing in the Challenge and he is looking forward to another great performance on Fabio, who also did the quadrille last year. Zapati has a busy schedule like everyone involved, but enjoys the fun, relaxed environment of practices each week leading up to the Challenge. He also finds it very important to raise money for breast cancer research and feels good about helping in the fight. “I have four sisters and I think it is an important cause for all of us, especially this year, because our friend Shannon Dueck had breast cancer and is recovering. It hits home a little bit more now and I have also had some people in my family who had the same issues, so this is very important to me.”
Zapati is good friends with teammate Betsy Steiner, who is looking forward to her ninth year riding in the Challenge. Steiner has been involved since the very beginning, and returns each year to support the cause. “I know so many people that have had breast cancer and have been survivors, so I continue to support this event every year,” Steiner stated. “Mary Ross is great, and I think that more than anything, if we can help do something to give back and also have fun, that is the most important thing. I hope everybody comes out; I think it is going to be really exciting and different this year. This is an event that everybody likes and enjoys coming to, so I just feel very privileged to part of it each year.”
Kelly Layne is an Australian rider who will be participating in the Challenge for the first time this year as part of the international team. Layne moved to the United States just two years ago and located to Florida in September. When asked to be involved in the Challenge, Layne said absolutely, and explained that it sounded like “an absolute hoot” and to do it for a charity is even better. “It is very exciting and I couldn’t have imagined it even three weeks ago that I would be a part of anything like this,” Layne stated. “I have really enjoyed getting to know people. There are so many people from so many different nations and we all live in one town, so for me it has been very exciting. I have done this type of thing before in Australia, so I am a little bit familiar with quadrilles, and hopefully I can be an asset to the team.”
Following The Challenge of the Americas will be an elegant evening of dinner and dancing at the Challenge Gala. The Challenge Gala, always a sell-out, will once again be held in IPC’s spacious and decorative catering tent off of Piaget Field. VIP COTA/Gala Tickets are available for $250 per person and general admission Challenge tickets will be $20 at the gate, $15 pre-purchase at the Palms West Chamber of Commerce. Children under 12 are admitted free. For more information, please visit the Challenge of the Americas website, www.challengeoftheamericas.com, or contact Mary Ross at 561.852.2591.
Photo Credit: The Ninth Annual Challenge of the Americas competition will be held March 13 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. Photo by Susan J. Stickle. Photograph may be used only in relation to this PMG press release.
2010 CHALLENGE OF THE AMERICAS FAST FACTS
EVENT: The Ninth Annual Challenge of the Americas Competition and Gala
WHAT: A Grand Prix international musical freestyle and team quadrille dressage challenge featuring a special figure skating dressage performance and four-bar show jumping exhibition. The Challenge Gala, an elegant evening of dinner and dancing, will get underway immediately following the “The Challenge of the Americas” competition. An awards presentation will be featured and guests will have the chance to meet and socialize with riders and judges.
WHERE: The International Polo Club Palm Beach
3667 120th Avenue South
Wellington, FL 33414
WHEN: Saturday, March 13, 2010
SPONSORS: The International Polo Club Palm Beach; SSG Gloves – Team Canada; Purina Mills – Team USA; The Seley Parker Group of Merrill Lynch– Team International; MatchnRide.com; USDF; Cunningham & Cunningham Livestock Insurance; Platinum Seamless; Back on Track; Red Barn Feed & Supply; Palm Beach Equine Clinic; Neiman Marcus; Wellington Classic Dressage; ViaGen, Inc; Dover Saddlery; Ecogold; The Tackeria and Incredible Ice.
HONORARY MEDIA MEMBERS: "The Mo and Sally Morning Show" on KOOL 105.5; Roxanne Stein from WPTV News Channel 5
BENEFICIARY: Challenge of the Americas benefits the Breast Cancer Research Foundation
ADMISSION: VIP COTA/Gala Tickets are available for $250 per person and general admission Challenge tickets will be $20 at the gate, $15 pre-purchase at the Palms West Chamber of Commerce. Children under 12 are admitted free.
CONTACT: To make reservations for the Challenge Gala & VIP Box Seating, contact Mary Ross at 561-852-2591.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Boulevard
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com
