Omaha, Nebraska – Jan 31, 2018: The Omaha Equestrian Foundation (OEF) will host the $100,000 Championship final of its inaugural InIt2WinIt Speed Jumping Series Championship on April 13 at the International Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska. OEF is excited to give riders who were unable to compete in any of the qualifying events a chance to compete in the $100,000 Championship through a lottery.
The InIt2WinIt Speed Jumping Series held qualifying events from September 2017 through January 2018 at HITS Balmoral in Chicago, the American Royal in Kansas City, the Lake St Louis Hunter/Jumper Show in St. Louis and the National Western Stock Show in Denver. The Series was designed to give riders from the Midwest more opportunities to compete at a higher level while staying in the region.
Riders were able to qualify at any one of the qualifying events, on cumulative points won throughout the qualifiers, or through wild card invitations. To round out the field in the $100,000 Championship that will be held at 1.45 meters, OEF will be hosting a lottery.
Recognizing the cost of traveling to and entering the qualifiers, those who did not make it to a qualifier but would like to compete for the $100,000 purse are being asked to pay a $3,500 fee should they be selected through the lottery. This fee will include entry and stabling fees and will only be payable if they are in fact selected.
Riders who have competed in any of the qualifiers and wish to enter the lottery will receive a $500 discount for each of the four qualifying events they have entered. The lottery is open only to riders who have competed at the 1.40-meter level. The application can be found online at https://www.internationalomaha.com/init2winit-lottery-entry. The entry deadline is February 15.
“The initial year of our InIt2WinIt series has been an incredible success and we are thankful to all of the riders who have competed,” said Lisa Roskens, OEF founder and chairman. “There is a lot of excitement about the $100,000 Championship and we are happy to be able to invite riders who were unable to make it to any of the qualifiers to take part through a lottery. Out of fairness to those who paid to enter the qualifiers we are asking those who are selected to pay a fee which we plan to use to make next year’s series even better.”
The International Omaha on April 12-15, 2018
will be held at the site of the highly successful 2017 FEI World Cup Finals, the CenturyLink Center on Omaha’s downtown riverfront. In addition to the $100,000 InIt2WinIt Championship, it will feature a $130,000 International Grand Prix in jumping and a Dressage Team Challenge featuring Grand Prix, Freestyle, Youth, Amateur and Para Equestrian riders. Spectators also enjoy outstanding shopping, demonstrations, educational exhibits, entertainment and dining, all under one roof.
International Omaha will also present an opportunity to watch legendary rider, trainer, and clinician, George Morris, give a modified clinic as part of the Jumping Showcase in the main arena, instructing some of the Midwest’s best young equitation riders. In addition to the ticketed Jumping Showcase, Morris will also conduct demonstrations in the Demonstration Arena that will be free to the public.
Olympic dressage team Gold Medalist Hubertus Schmidt of Germany will also conduct a clinic in the main arena. The highly acclaimed rider, trainer and coach has been described as one of the most prolific trainers in the world, training dozens of horses to Grand Prix level.
The four-day event will provide expanded educational opportunities for emerging athletes and young people as well as family fun for all ages. There will be exhibits and demonstrations, along with shopping at over 120 vendors, a range of dining choices, and live entertainment featuring some of Omaha’s finest. —- OEF
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