Wellington, FL – December 26, 2012 – Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) announces that the riders for the $100,000 Trump Invitational, held at The Mar-a-Lago Club on Palm Beach Island on Sunday, January 6, at 12 p.m., have been announced.
The riders that will be invited to compete in the inaugural $100,000 Trump Invitational are:
From the United States:
Kent Farrington
Laura Kraut
Reed Kessler
Mclain Ward
Lauren Hough
Katie Dinan
Brianne Goutal
Christine McCrea
Saer Coulter
Charlie Jayne
Candice King
Margie Engle
Jessica Springsteen
Leslie Howard
Kirsten Coe
Schuyler Riley
Catherine Pasmore
Lauren Tisbo
Quentin Judge
Paige Johnson
Nicole Bellissimo
Gabrielle Mershad
Nick Dello Joio
As well as:
Nick Skelton (GBR)
Ben Maher (GBR)
Alvaro de Miranda Neto (BRA)
Shane Sweetnam (IRL)
Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA)
Daniel Bluman (COL)
Danielle Goldstein (ISR)
Richie Moloney (IRL)
Tiffany Foster (CAN)
Tim Gredley (GBR)
Athina Onassis de Miranda (GRC)
Luis Larrazabal (VEN)
Mark Bluman (COL)
The Trump Invitational will be a fundraiser for the 2013 FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge, an event that raises and distributes over one million dollars annually for 32 lucky Palm Beach County charities in a pro-am team competition that takes place in late January. The FTI GCC event was founded by Mark Bellissimo and his daughter Paige, and has raised and distributed over $2.7 million over the last three years. The event is targeting to raise $1.3 million this year.
New tables have been added for the event after an initial sell-out. Limited table reservations are still available for the Trump Invitational. If you would like to buy a table at this historic show jumping event, please call Anne Caroline Valtin as soon as possible at 561.784.1133 or annecaroline@equestriansport.com. Tables will be fulfilled on a first come, first served basis.
Tina Konyot and Calecto V to Perform
Tina Konyot, an Olympian for the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, will perform a five-minute dressage demonstration following the first round and before the jump-off of the show jumping event.
“We are excited to have Tina and Calecto perform at the Trump Invitational,” said ESP CEO Mark Bellissimo. “With the amazing growth of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, more people in our area are recognizing and enjoying the sport of dressage. We want to showcase it along with show jumping at the Trump Invitational.”
Konyot will show her striking musical freestyle to the music of “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree.”
Konyot expressed, “Just visiting The Mar-a-Lago Club is spectacular. It’s an incredible venue. Just imagine getting to go there and do what you do best and love to do; ride your horse. Imagine how much fun that is! This event will be wonderful for show jumping too, and it will be a fantastic sight. I think it’s going to be very special.”
Konyot and Calecto V, a 14-year-old Danish Warmblood stallion, reached the pinnacle of the sport when they competed at this summer’s Olympic Games in London. Along the way, they have set some incredible milestones in their careers. They represented the United States at the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games and had top placings in Europe that year, including a top eight finish at the CHIO Aachen.
Mar-a-Lago, the former Marjorie Merriweather Post Estate purchased and restored by Trump in 1985, is one of the most spectacular mansions in the world and in the national register of historic places and a designated U.S National Landmark. It will be the first ever equestrian event held on Palm BeachIsland and will serve as an exciting kick-off to the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, the 12-week circuit that runs at the Palm Beach InternationalEquestrian Center on January 9 – March 31, 2013.
Show jumpers Georgina Bloomberg, Paige Bellissimo, and dressage enthusiast Kim Van Kampen Boyer will co-chair the event, and it will include sponsorship by the Suncast Corporation, G&C Farm, and Gut Einhaus. Along with top show jumping competition, there will be a seaside garden party and brunch for spectators, as well as a meet and greet rider poolside party after the event.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) has 12 weeks of world class competition running from January 9 through March 31, 2013. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach InternationalEquestrian Center in Wellington, FL. All 12 weeks are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, with approximately $7 million in prize money awarded. Please visit www.equestriansport.com for more information.
