Last year’s winner, Marshall Whyte riding Quinlan, is congratulated on his victory in the $50,000 Friends of Rocky Mountain Grand Prix by Rocky Mountain Show Jumping’s John Anderson (left) and David Chalack, President and CEO of the Calgary Stampede. Photo by Karen Linkletter

March 18, 2010 – Calgary, Alberta – Rocky Mountain Show Jumping will host two weeks of competition sanctioned by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) during its Rocky Mountain Classic I and Rocky Mountain Classic II show jumping tournaments held in August of 2010 in Calgary, AB.

This marks the first time that Rocky Mountain Show Jumping will host FEI-sanctioned competition. The CSI2* Rocky Mountain Classic I will be held August 18-22 while the CSI2* Rocky Mountain Classic II will be held August 25-29. Both weeks of competition will feature a $50,000 Grand Prix held on Saturday. In addition to prize money, competitors in the CSI2* events will also gain valuable points towards the FEI Rolex World Rider Rankings.

“We are ecstatic to join the international scene and to be able to offer FEI-sanctioned events to our competitors,” said John Anderson, President of Rocky Mountain Show Jumping. “Bringing more FEI-sanctioned competition to western Canada will help our riders to further advance and gain recognition internationally. In today’s increasingly competitive environment, the opportunity to compete under FEI rules and earn points towards the world rankings is a huge incentive for riders.”

Rocky Mountain Show Jumping hosts its tournaments at Anderson Ranch in Calgary’s south end, a world-class facility featuring permanent stabling for 300 horses and a grass grand prix field complete with natural obstacles.

“We have been working hard to develop our facility over the past decade, and the time has come to raise the bar and take things to the next level by hosting international FEI competitions,” noted Anderson, an active Grand Prix competitor who rode at the 1986 World Championships and the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games and most recently represented Canada in the $350,000 BMO Nations’ Cup at the 2009 CSIO5* Spruce Meadows “Masters” Tournament. “Upgrading our events to CSI status will allow us to continue to grow and increase our profile internationally, which can only help us to develop further in the future.”

Rocky Mountain Show Jumping is quickly developing a reputation as one of Canada’s premiere show jumping destinations. In addition to hosting FEI-sanctioned competition, the CSI2* Rocky Mountain Classic II will host the Western Canadian qualifying event for the 2010 FEI Children’s Final in Doha, Qatar. The Rocky Mountain Classic III, which will run September 1-5, will play host to the Western Canadian Young Horse Finals.

For more information on Rocky Mountain Show Jumping, please visit www.rmshowjumping.com.