Ainsley Hayes, Event Coordinator of the National Capital Show Jumping Tournaments. Photo Credit - Linda Scott Harris

August 13, 2009 – Ottawa, Ontario – The National Capital Show Jumping Tournaments bring international show jumping competition to the Nepean National Equestrian Park in Ottawa, ON, from August 12-16 and 19-23.

An incredible amount of infrastructure is necessary to produce a two-week international equestrian tournament.

“There is so much that goes in to setting up an event of this size and calibre, and many people are not aware of the incredible amount of logistics that take place behind the scenes, let alone the economic impact that it has on the City of Ottawa,” said Ainsley Hayes, Event Coordinator of the National Capital Show Jumping Tournaments. “We literally bring in a village, set it up, and make it our home for two weeks. Then we are gone again, leaving the grounds in pristine condition for the next event that takes place at the Nepean National Equestrian Park.”

Here is a look at the National Capital Show Jumping Tournaments, by the numbers.

Number of competitors – 2,000
Number of horses – 500
Number of stabling tents – 18
Number of stalls – 650
Number of employees – 46
Number of commercial vendors – 29
Number of food vendors – 6
Number of garbage cans – 92
Number of recycling bins – 92
Number of dumpsters – 49
Tonnes of waste produced – 7.94
Tonnes of recycling – 4.32
Tonnes of manure – 207.38
Number of hotel nights – 2,059
Average number of meals eaten out per exhibitor, per day – 2
Number of loads of horse laundry – 1,200
Number of loads of gravel for stabling area – 15
Number of competition jumps – 150
Number of tent feet – 540
Number of bleachers – 60
Number of portolets – 30
Number of tractors – 8
Number of dollars spent in the City of Ottawa – approximately $6 Million
Number of hay bales – 2,000
Number of bags of wood shavings – 9,912
Number of tables in the VIP Tent – 35
Number of competition rings – 4
Number of days to set up before competition – 7
Number of days to clean up after competition – 7

The first week of competition at the National Capital Show Jumping Tournaments features the $10,000 Marshes Open Welcome on Friday, August 14, at 2 p.m. Saturday features the $15,000 ATCO Derby at 2 p.m. while the $25,000 National Capital Show Jumping Tournaments Grand Prix begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 16.

Week two, sanctioned by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), will feature the $10,000 CompetitiveJumpers.com Open Welcome on Friday, August 21. On Saturday evening, August 22, the $15,000 Modified Grand Prix and a BBQ will be held in support of the United Way City of Ottawa Campaign. The National Capital Show Jumping Tournaments concludes with the $75,000 Brookstreet Grand Prix on Sunday, August 23.

Competition begins each morning at 8 a.m. and is open to the general public. Admission is $5 per person on Thursdays and Fridays, and $10 per person on Saturdays and Sundays, parking included, in support of the United Way City of Ottawa Campaign. Children five and under are admitted free.

For more information on the National Capital Show Jumping Tournaments, please visit www.hayesco.ca, or call (613) 769-7221.