€25,000 Chesapeake Benefit Cup Held for JustWorld International


Presentation of the €25,000 Chesapeake Benefit Cup. Left to right - Victoria McCullough of Chesapeake Petroleum, JustWorld Junior Ambassador Marquee Cincotta-Stephens and Jessica Newman of JustWorld International and make the presentation to winner Kent Farrington (mounted). Photo Credit - Sportfot

Michael Morrissey was among the JustWorld Rider Ambassadors that competed in the €25,000 Chesapeake Benefit Cup. Photo Credit - Sportfot

March 16, 2007 – Wellington, Florida – The €25,000 Chesapeake Benefit Cup held at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL, on Thursday, March 15, was for the benefit of JustWorld International, a not-for-profit, humanitarian organization founded to work as a catalyst for positive change in the developing world by helping underprivileged children.

The €25,000 Chesapeake Benefit Cup is part of the CSI5* CN WorldWide Wellington Finale featuring the Global Champions Tour, now in its second year. Wellington is the opening event of the international show jumping series featuring stops at eight of the top venues in the world. JustWorld International is the official charity partner of the Global Champions Tour.

A total of 63 riders attempted to take top honors in the €25,000 Chesapeake Benefit Cup including JustWorld International Rider Ambassadors Markus Fuchs, Candice King, Michael Morrissey, and Eric Lamaze who finished third riding Hickstead. American rider Kent Farrington topped a 17-horse jump-off to win the class riding Up Chiqui while Laura Kraut, winner of the inaugural class held for the benefit of JustWorld International in 2004, was the runner-up.

"Anything for charity is always great, so whatever we can do to help as riders is a good thing," remarked Farrington, a professional rider who trains several JustWorld Amateur Rider Ambassadors including Jessica Speiser.

Following the success of the €25,000 Chesapeake Benefit Cup, Victoria McCullough, Vice President of the Board of Chesapeake Petroleum, opened her home, Vendetta Farm, in order to welcome the Global Champions Tour to the Winter Equestrian Festival. The casual and fun evening featured cocktails, hors d'ouerves and a live band that had guests dancing well into the night.

As for her decision to invite the competitors into her home to kick off the Global Champions Tour McCullough explained, "That is why I open my home instead of renting some glorious location; I want people to be close to me the way that we are when I go to Europe. The evening is all about fun. I think we need to remember why we all started in this sport and why we keep doing it."

An active show jumping competitor, McCullough will be competing at events on the Global Champions Tour this summer as a JustWorld Rider Ambassador.

"The Global Champions Tour provides the perfect means to perform with your horse," said McCullough. "The beauty of this tour is that you can go from place to place and feel welcome in every location. I can't imagine anything more perfect. If there was one word I would use to describe both the Global Champions Tour and JustWorld International, it would be 'elegant'. JustWorld is the most extraordinary young charity, and I am committed to it and behind it one hundred percent."

Over the past four years through its fundraising endeavors, JustWorld International has raised almost $2 million for its project sites in Honduras, Cambodia, Kenya, Senegal, and Brazil. The Wellington show jumping community and the Winter Equestrian Festival in particular have been extremely supportive of JustWorld International and its fundraising endeavors, especially the Fundraising Dinner and Training Show, which celebrated its fourth successful year on January 20 and 21 at Belle Herbe Farm.

"Between the Global Champions Tour and support for JustWorld's charitable efforts, the international equestrian community has shown that our sport brings people together on a global level both to compete and to care," said Jessica Newman, Executive Director of JustWorld International. "Victoria McCullough and Chesapeake Petroleum have been at the forefront of these movements. I am honored by their support, and I am proud to be part of this group of people who want to improve our sport and our world."

Founded in 2002, JustWorld International raises awareness and funds in the equestrian community to support humanitarian projects that benefit impoverished communities and children in the developing world. Cooperating with local partners, JustWorld International implements sustainable, culturally sensitive education, health and vocational projects. For more information on JustWorld International and its upcoming fundraising events, please visit www.justworldinternational.org.