2006 Tournament of Champions

Caledon Equestrian Park, Palgrave, ON
September 20-24, 2006


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2006

Caledon, Ont. - The 2006 Tournament of Champions, one of Canada’s premier show jumping events, returns to the Caledon Equestrian Park in Palgrave Ontario, September 20 – 24 with one of the richest show jumping purses in eastern Canada. Over $260,000.00 in prize money will be offered this year, not only in the major feature competitions, but also for a new futurity program and the 2006 Canadian Jumper Development Series and National Young Horse Championships.

Signature events at the 2006 Tournament of Champions will continue with the $175,000.00 John Deere Canada Cup Championships, including the CSI-W $100,000.00 World Cup Qualifier presented by Ashland Stables, the Subaru Celebrity Ride ‘n’ Drive, BMO Nesbitt Burns Great Canadian Hunter Challenge and MVS Solutions Next Generation division. Tournament of Champions is proud to host the national finals for the Canadian Jumper Development Series plus the first ever Canadian Performance Futurity for Canadian bred 4 year olds with $3,000.00 plus bonuses awarded to nominated horses in the Tournament’s hunter and jumper classes.

Hallmark charity events at the Tournament of Champions will continue with both CARD (Community Association for Riding for the Disabled) and the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada fundraising events scheduled for Thursday and Saturday respectively. To date over $500,000.00 has been raised at the Tournament for these very significant charities.

The Tournament of Champions continues it status as a CSI*** ranked event, and will be joined this year by international course designer Robert Ellis from Great Britain.

The Grand Prix Club concept, introduced in 2005, will be expanded for 2006 with a catered VIP area open Thursday through Sunday for Club members and guests, plus private seating overlooking the grand prix ring.
TSN will continue as the primary broadcast carrier for Tournament of Champions feature events including the $175,000.00 John Deere Canada Cup. In 2005, televised coverage reached a record audience of 1.25 million viewers, the highest ever recorded for equestrian sport on TSN.

The 2005 John Deere Canada Cup Champion Ian Millar, riding InStyle, received an impressive oil portrait created by renowned artist Jozef Milczarski during a Tournament of Champions reception held in Wellington Florida and hosted by Uplands Farm owner Jennifer Rogers. Millar graciously re-presented the painting to InStyle owner Sue Grange. Portraits by Jozef has become a new tradition for Canada Cup winners at the Tournament of Champions.

Only 35 minutes from downtown Toronto, the Tournament of Champions site is located on Hwy 50, just south of #9 Hwy. Admission on Thursday and Friday is FREE; Saturday and Sunday is $5.00 per person or $10.00 per car including parking. The show gates open daily at 10 am and close at 5 pm.

The 2005 Tournament of Champions is proud to support both the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada CARD (Community Association for Riding for the Disabled) and the Rotary Club of Palgrave

Website: www.tournamentofchampions.ca
Email: info@tournamentofchampions.ca
Consumer Information
905-939-8666

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Photographs available upon request

Media Contact: 
Liz Shaughnessy
(905) 880-8053
lizs@bellnet.ca

Event Contact:Mac McQuaker 
905-939-8666
info@tournamentofchampions.ca