2004 FEI Children's International Jumping Final

For the first time in the history of the FEIs worldwide jumping competition for children, the final will take place in sunny California -the same US state which was also chosen by the United States Equestrian Federation to host both Olympic selection trials for Dressage and Jumping in 2004.

Twenty-seven qualifiers are being staged this year throughout North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, India and Australasia, involving hundreds of children aged between 12 and 14, to decide the 32 finalists who will make their way to one of the most impressive venues the international sport has to offer.

Hummingbird Nest is a 140 acre world class equestrian facility located within the Simi Valley Park District in southern California. With its breathtaking mountain views, beautiful landscaping and spectacular clubhouse overlooking an international size Grand Prix arena, it is the perfect setting for the Children's Final which annually showcases the talents of the future generation of Olympians.

But sport is not the only thing on the agenda during the week the finalists have to prepare their horses and compete. The philosophy of the Children's Final extends far beyond the realms of the competition arena. Camaraderie and sportsmanship are valued as is the opportunity for these children to visit a new land and make new friends and have fun.

And everyone can rest assured that no stone has been left unturned in this department thanks to the efforts of organisers David and Suzanne Saperstein and their team who have arranged Theme Park tours, a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner, barbeques, discos and visits to Beverly Hills and Hollywood.

10,000 Visitors are expected for Opening and Closing Day Ceremonies. On November 27 and 28 Hummingbird Nest will open its gates to the public to join in the opening and closing ceremonies of the FEI Children's Final which will include performances by the world renowned UCLA marching band. Countless activities have been planned for the whole family on both days. Visitors can enjoy wagon rides, rodeo displays, skydiving shows, games, art classes, an art exhibition and craft fair, vintage cars, live music from jazz to Beatles and much more.

Also planned is an appreciation barbeque in honor of the firemen who fought the bush fires which threatened to destroy so much of the area around Los Angeles last summer.

The FEI 2004 Childrens International Jumping Final is a charity event benefiting the Mattel Children's Hospital at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).


Contacts:

Silke Azoulai
Director of Special Events
Hummingbird Nest Ranch
2940 Kuehner Drive
Simi Valley, CA 93063
Phone             +1 310 271 7469      
Fax +1 310 273 7469
E-mail: silke@hummingbirdnestranch.com

Deborah Riplinger
Fédération Equestre Internationale (F.E.I.)
E-mail: d.riplinger@horsesport.org

Media Inquiries
Inge van der Net
Best Communications and Management (BCM)
Phone             +31 40 844 7640      
Fax +31 40 844 7611
E-mail: i.van.der.net@bcm.nl


2004 Qualifiers

Nation - Date - - Venue
USA I - - 22 February - Wellington, FL
New Zealand - 7 March - Gisborne
Guatemala - 18 April - Guatemala City
UAE - - 23 April - Sharjah City
Hong Kong - 2 May - - Sheng Shui
USA II - - 23 May - San Juan Capistrano, CA
Columbia - 20 June - Cali
Canada I - 27 June - Bromont, QC
Russia - 11 July - Moscow
South Africa - 12 July - TBC
Argentina - 12 July - Rosario
Brazil I - 29 July - Pernambuco-Recife
Bolivia - - August - Cochabamba
Ecuador - August - Quito
Lebanon - 1 August - Faqra
Germany - 7 Aug - - Herford
Lithuania - 15 August - TBC
Belgium - 16 August - Saintes
Canada II - 29 August - Fort Langley, BC
Chile - - 5 September - Santiago
France - 26 September - Barbizon
Australia - 26 September - Worrigee NSW
Saudi Arabia - October - Riyadh
Zimbabwe - October - Harare
Puerto Rico - 3 October - San Juan
Brazil II - 17 October - Orlandia
India - - 19 October - New Delhi
Venezuela - 24 October - TBC
Italy - - September - TBC
Romania - TBC - - Sibiu

The (FEI) first introduced the Childrens competition in 1995 in order to promote the sport of show jumping among children (age 12 to 14) at an international level.

The first Final competition was held in Colombia in December 1996. Host countries for subsequent finals have included: Chile, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, South Africa, the United States of America, Brazil, and most recently Canada where Fábio Genes of Brazil claimed the gold medal, Femke van den Bosch of Canada the silver, and María Victoria Pérez of Puerto Rico the bronze.