Kubota Cup "Kicks Off" at Brandon

Lights – Cameras – Action! The Kubota Cup Canadian Show Jumping Series will "kick off" Thursday, March 31 at 1:30pm with a public introduction at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, a prelude to the exciting $35,000 Kubota Cup Grand Prix at 6:30pm April 2 in Brandon.

Local VIPs, top Canadian show jumpers and other celebrities along with the personalities who have made this Series a reality will be at the Kubota Canada display booth at the Keystone Center to officially launch the national show jumping series which is set to ignite a renewed interest in the sport and its athletes.  It will all be captured by the production crew from Generator Productions which is creating a 13-part television series based on the Kubota Cup to be aired on national television this fall. Canadian viewers will be invited to come "Along For The Ride" as they are told the story of show jumping in Canada and the human and equine personalities involved in this exciting sport.

The seven-venue Canadian Show Jumping Series, spanning the country from the Pacific Coast to the Atlantic Coast, has been made possible through a multi-year commitment from Kubota Canada Ltd., the title sponsor of the Kubota Cup Grand Prix. Canada’s top show jumping riders and local grand prix talent, as well as the riders and horses who are future Canadian Olympians, will be vying for a portion of that purse. They will also be looking to accumulate valuable points to count towards the Western Canadian Kubota Cup Championship which will be awarded at the Twin Oaks Derby in Richmond, B.C. on August 14, and which comes with a Crystal Trophy and Kubota RTV Utility Vehicle.

The Grand Prix course will be set by noted international course designer Richard Jeffrey of England. It will be challenged by local grand prix riders Eric Martin and Mieke Bosma, both of Oakbank, as well as Olympians Jonathan Asselin of Calgary and Lisa Carlsen of Edmonton. Winter Fair regular and crowd favorite Karen Cudmore of Omaha, NB, who won the Saturday night Grand Prix last year, is sure to be looking to repeat her victory ride.

"We will cultivate a new generation of world class show jumpers through the development of this national competition tour which will nurture the skills of our developing athletes as well as the aggressive leadership amongst our high performance athletes," says Sandra Fraser, the Series’ founder and manager. "It takes long term commitment from sponsors such as Kubota Canada to help make this happen."

"With the likes of Karen (Cudmore) and Jonathan (Asselin) setting the standard in Brandon, the determined and competitive spirit of our Western Riders will set the bar for the 2005 Kubota Cup Canadian Show Jumping Series."

 

Thursday, March 31
10am – 1pm – Kubota Cup Media Accreditation
Media Room, Salon B, Keystone Center
Media can pick up their press packages and accreditation for seating at the Kubota Cup Grand Prix
 
1:00pm - Kubota Cup "Kick Off" National launch of Canadian Show Jumping Series
Kubota Cup Corporate Booth, Keystone Centre (between the exhibit hall and stabling)
The Kubota Cup Series will be launched in style with the riders, local and national VIPs, show organizers from across Canada and Kubota Canada spokesmen who will talk about their considerable financial commitment to the sport
 
2:30pm – Kubota Cup Press Conference
Media Room, Salon B, Keystone Center
Photo and interview opportunities with national event organizers, sponsors and riders
 
Friday, April 1
2:30pm – Grand Prix Rider Autograph Session
Kubota Cup Corporate Booth (Riders TBA)
 
Saturday, April 2
5:30pm – Media course walk
Main Arena
Accredited media will get an up-close-and-personal look and guided tour of the Grand Prix course
 
6:30pm - $35,000 Kubota Cup Grand Prix
Designated seating for accredited media
 
9:00pm (approx.) - Press Conference
Media Room, Salon B, Keystone Center
Top three finishers in Kubota Cup Grand Prix