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2000
Budweiser World Cup Champion Rodrigo Pessoa Eyes Return to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV—January 13, 2003—Three-time Show Jumping
World Cup champion Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil appears well on his
way to a return trip to Las Vegas where he won the Budweiser World
Cup Final in 2000.
Pessoa
currently leads the World Cup standings of the Western European
League with 58 points following six of fifteen qualifying events.
Pessoa is one of the world’s elite show jumping riders vying
for the right to represent their countries at the 2003 Budweiser
World Cup Final at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV,
April 16-20, 2003.
Pessoa
became the first World Cup rider ever to “three-peat”
when he won the FEI Show Jumping World Cup Final for the third consecutive
year at the Budweiser World Cup 2000 in Las Vegas. He had previously
won the title in 1998 in Helsinki, Finland and in 1999 in Gothenburg,
Sweden.
The
World Cup Final is an annual showdown among the top show jumping
riders in the world, as they compete for the prestigious title of
World Cup Champion. This will be the fifth World Cup Final held
in the United States. Previous Finals were held in Baltimore (1980),
Tampa (1989), Del Mar (1992) and Las Vegas (2000). The excitement
of international show jumping competition amid the bright lights,
theatrical shows, fine dining, and shopping found in Las Vegas promises
a grand time for all.
The
World Cup competition takes place over five days starting with a
warm-up class on Wednesday afternoon, April 16. Thursday evening,
April 17, kicks off the main event with the first leg of the World
Cup Final, a heart-stopping speed class run under Table C specifications—with
faults converted into penalty seconds. Riders go all out in the
speed class, knowing that in order to have a chance at a top placing
in the Final standings they need to produce a slick, fast ride.
The
second leg of the Final takes place the following evening, Friday,
April 18. This leg features a lengthy and grueling first-round course
followed by a jump-off round where competitors again show their
mastery of the speed format.
Saturday,
April 19, is a day off from World Cup competition, but not from
top show jumping action as the prestigious Grand Prix of Las Vegas
takes place in the afternoon. Some riders bring multiple mounts
to the Final and use a second horse in the Grand Prix, which also
features World Cup horses not going in Sunday’s last leg. So
once again spectators have a chance to watch a class filled with
the national and international stars of the sport.
The
grand finale of the weekend is Sunday afternoon, April 20: the final
leg of the Budweiser World Cup Final, a challenging two-round class
run under Table A with a jump-off if needed to break a tie for first
place. The field of starters is winnowed down to only the top riders
who are granted the privilege of returning for the second course.
The rider with the fewest faults emerges as the new World Cup Champion.
A
variety of ticket packages for all price ranges and interest levels
is now available for purchase. All-Session Plaza Level Priority
seating is available for $300 per person. All-Session Balcony Level
Priority seating is available for $150 per person. VIP Packages
are available for $1,000 and include one premier All-Session seat,
access to the private VIP hospitality area complete with complimentary
deluxe food/beverage each day and preferred parking. Daily individual
tickets for the five days of competition range from $10 to $85 depending
on the seating and the session.
To
order tickets or for more information on the excitement of the 2003
Budweiser World Cup Final, please visit www.worldcuplasvegas.com
or call (702) 260-8605 or toll-free (866) 388-3267.
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