Silver Oak Jumper Tournament Gains International Support

Source: News Release/PMG Inc.

Silver Oak Jumper Tournament Gains
International Support

Global Champions Tour to Honor David Birdsall; Silver Oak Selected as Observations and Selection Sites for the Bolivarian Games

Hampton Falls, NH - - The Silver Oak Jumper Tournament, scheduled for August 7-11, 2013, picked up two highly prized endorsements this week in support of the popular Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, jumpers only, level 5 event. First, Jeff Papows, the show's Chairman & CEO, was thrilled to gain the endorsement of the Global Champions Tour, who will also honor David Birdsall's memory and dedication to the sport of Show Jumping during this years' event.

Further, the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament was selected as one of only two United States horse shows in 2013 to be used as Selection Trials for the Bolivarian Games, held every four years in the southern hemisphere. The Games are named in honor of Simon Bolivar, who played a key role in Latin America's successful struggle for independence. The event, ongoing since 1938, is open to athletes from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela. This year's contest will be held November 16 through the 30th in Trujillo, Peru. The famed Hampton Classic is other U.S. site for the observation and selection trials.

"That's high quality company to be in," said Papows. "We are thrilled and delighted to welcome these athletes to New Hampshire. It is a great honor for us to host the trials for the Bolivarian Games and I can't tell you how excited we are that the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament was chosen. The work of Peter and Mark Leone has been instrumental in making this happen and we owe them a huge thank you," Papows noted.

"The caliber of competition at Silver Oak will allow us to select the best riders for the games." said Jose Manuel Ramos of the Dominican Republic Equestrian Federation.

The Global Champions Tour, by all standards, the premier worldwide series for the sport of Show Jumping, will honor David Birdsall on August 11th 2013. Birdsall passed away suddenly and tragically earlier this year. The GCT will dispatch their United States Ambassador to the sport, Victoria McCullough, who will present a Global Champions Tour Medal in Birdsall's name at the 2013 Silver Oak Jumper Tournament. In bestowing this honor, the Global Champions Tour is recognizing Birdsall's devotion to his daughter's pursuit of excellence in the sport and his perpetual generosity to all in the sport he touched. The Global Champions Tour, through McCullough's presence, is also underscoring the importance of quality Show Jumping events such as the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament, which help create a feeder system to "the tour", by providing the quality event that prepares horses and riders for the high caliber Global Champions Tour.

Adding to the excitement and continuing the International flavor and flair of this year's event, Papows disclosed that he has already been contacted by major farms in Europe who are making flight arrangements to bring their horses to compete this year in New Hampshire. That group includes, for the first time, competitors from the country of Greece.

"David would be proud to see these developments," Papows smiled. "He loved this sport and I know he would be excited to see the international interest. When you add that kind of sport to the already high caliber of North American athletes who have graced the Silver Oak venue every year, it's clear that this year is going to be something very special."

This year's show will be held on August 7-11, 2013. All classes are USEF AAA rated, with $170,000 in prize money. Focusing strictly on jumpers, the event offers divisions for Children, Adults, Masters, Juniors and Amateurs (both high and low), plus a world-class International open jumper division.

Olaf Petersen, Jr., one of the world's most respected course designers, will build this year's tracks.

The horse show benefits the Children's Wish Foundation International, which helps make the wishes of unfortunate children fighting serious illness a reality

Silver Oak Equestrian Center, located right off Route 95 less than 50 miles from Boston, has built a reputation as one of the leading equestrian sports venues in New England. Its 150-acre facility is dedicated to providing a first-class experience for equestrian competitors and spectators alike. Silver Oak's unique grounds offer one of the country's largest grass Grand Prix and Derby fields along with four all-weather rings featuring world-class GGT footing.

Prize lists for this year's event can be found here: http://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?i=154084