Harrie Smolders & Cassandra Kahle Cap Off the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit with Top Finishes :: HITS

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Harrie Smolders & Cassandra Kahle Cap Off the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit with Top Finishes

Over the past ten weeks HITS has awarded $4 Million in Prize Money and celebrated its 40th Anniversary in the Horse Capital of the World®.  From Grand Prix Veterans to Lead Line Champions, HITS Ocala has awarded and lauded winners at every level. With the goal of 'Making Million Dollar Dreams Come True,’ judging from all the smiles and excitement, this year’s Circuit was a great success.

As it has every year, the final week of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit featured outstanding prize money in the Children’s/Adult and Junior/ Amateur Jumper Classics. Hunters were in the spotlight again with a $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and $5,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix, and riders earning the most points in over 100 divisions throughout the circuit were recognized in the Tack Shack of Ocala 2nd-Half Circuit and Adeptus Overall Circuit Parade of Champions. The seventh Great American $1 Million Grand Prix, the richest class in the world so far in 2020 and 2021 closed out the Circuit in the Grand Prix Stadium. Tune in LIVE at ShowHorseTV to see who will be crowned Champion of the 22nd HITS $1 Million Grand Prix.

Kicking-off the Ocala Championship (X) with a win in the $5,000 Open Welcome was Cassandra Kahle and HH MESSENGER, owned by Double H Farm. Kahle was the final rider to compete in Wednesday's featured class and topped the field in a time of 32.917.

2nd Place: Devin Ryan & IRSELINE VD HAGENHORST [33.421]
3rd Place: Declan Egan & FOLLOW ME [33.482]

Thursday welcomed Aaron Vale and CAMIRO BLUE PS, owned by April Miller, into the Winner's Circle to accept the blue ribbon in the $10,000 HITS Open Prix in a time of 32.968.

2nd Place: Eduardo Menezes & CALYPSO DES MATIS [33.764]
3rd Place: Conor Swail & GAMBLE [34.947]

Securing first place in Friday's $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix was Harrie Smolders and MONACO for Evergate Stables, LLC. Fence 14 in the jump-off proved to be the toughest challenge for riders, but Smolders cleared the course in 36.441 to claim the blue ribbon.
 
2nd Place: Sam Walker & EVITA [37.941]
3rd Place: Andre Thieme & CRAZY GIRL [38.054]

Saturday featured an exciting day of competition in the Grand Prix Stadium at HITS Post Time Farm with tremendous prize money offered for junior and amateur jumper riders. Leading the way in the 23rd Annual $25,000 M&S Children's/Adult Jumper Classic - High was Sophia Ayers aboard her own FOR FASHION. Ayers stuck to her plan in the jump-off, topping the field with a clean round in 27.726, to secure the win in the richest Children’s/Adult Jumper Class in the country.

2nd Place: Claire Campbell & ADOCTRO [29.252]
3rd Place: Bailey Schram & HIGHLANDER D'HOF TEN BOS [29.584]

Next up was the $10,000 Jr/A-O/Am 1.35m Jumper Classic where Amy Shafmaster claimed another victory, finishing her Circuit on a high note aboard CARLOS in a time of 30.503.

2nd Place: Laura Linback & SKAT 15 [32.862]
3rd Place: Mira Korber & PATENT PENDING 3E [4-Faults, 32.318]

Open Jumpers took the ring next, where it was evident that it would take a quick jump-off ride to be in the top placings of Saturday’s $15,000 HITS 1.40m Classic. With the top three riders separated by less than a second, it was Menezes and his own HAIRO who rose to the top as they laid down a clear round in 34.060.

2nd Place: Kahle & HH MESSENGER [34.546]
3rd Place: Harold Chopping & GERONIMO SCF [34.966]

Competition in the Stadium came to a close on Saturday afternoon with another high-stakes class, the $25,000 U-Dump Jr/A-O/Am 1.45m Jumper Classic. What a nail biter it was as just two riders jumped a clear first round and returned for the short course. Taking home first place was Tori Corts aboard her own BON JOVI, posting a time of 36.899.

2nd Place: Vanessa Mannix & KITTING DES HAUSSEURS [38.642]
3rd Place: Shafmaster & UMBRELLA TER WILGEN Z

Jumper Classic Winners
 
$1,000 M&S Child/Adult Jumper Classic - Low: Katelyn Coveny & HIGH JACK
$1,500 M&S Child/Adult Jumper Classic - Medium: Aiva Gamelin & SANITA PJ

$2,500 Pyranha NAL Jr/A-O/Am 1.25m Jumper Classic: Pippa Spingler & FRYBALIA SMH
 
Friday evening featured the 25th annual HITS Equitation Championship, where junior riders competed over a first round course consisting of gymnastics, trot fences, and combinations. The top 12 riders then returned for a second round which included technical, jumper-type elements. Riders were responsible for their own course walk, schooling, and preparation. Those who demonstrated proficiency and excellence in their schooling and preparation were awarded one or two bonus points toward their overall score as well.

Taking home the Championship title in this year's competition was Kate Egan with flourishing scores of 91 and 87 for a total of 178. 

2nd Place: Madison Ramsey [172.5]
3rd Place: Schuyler Dayner [172]
 
 
In the final week of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, hunters competed for the top prize in the second $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby of the season. Taking the top placing and returning to the Winner's Circle was Kahle, who took the reins aboard CANNON CREEK for Redfield Farm. Kahle scored 181.75 in the first round and followed that up with a 198 in the second round for an overall score of 379.75.

2nd Place: Dorothy Douglas & MTM LOLAH LOL [374]
3rd Place: Chopping & CATCHPHRASE [373]
 
 
Katelyn Coveney capped off her HITS Ocala Winter Circuit by winning the $5,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix aboard her own MTM FASHION. Coveney was awarded scores of 86 and 85 for a two round total of 171. This also marked Coveney's fourth Platinum Performance win of the season! 

2nd Place: Emma Covarrubias & ENDLESS JOY [168]
3rd Place: Chloe Stix & ECLECTIC [166]
 
 
Hunter Classic Winners

$1,000 USHJA Green Hunter Incentive: Hunt Tosh & WOODFORD

$1,000 A-O Hunter Classic - 3'6": Anna Wells-Sharp & PLAY THAT SONG
$1,000 Eastern Hay A-O Hunter Classic - 3'3": Meghan Rohrbaugh Bear & CARISTO

$1,000 Antares Large Junior Hunter Classic - 3'6": Haley Barnes & GOLDEN GLOCK WS
$1,000 CWD Small Junior Hunter Classic - 3'6": Grace Debney & LMALDO
$1,000 Junior Hunter Classic - 3'3": Coveney & MTM FASHION

 $1,000 Perfect Products Pony Hunter Classic: Campbell Clement & HOWI DO IT

$500 M&S/NAL/WIHS SmartPak Adult Hunter Classic: Sydney Smith & COLLINS
$500 M&S/NAL/WIHS Child Hunter Classic: Casey Alworth & ON THE DARKSIDE
$500 M&S/NAL/WIHS Child Hunter Classic - Pony: Hannah Williams & PLAY IT LOUD

M&S Bit O' Straw Hunter Classic: Pamela Treanor & CONTENDOR
 
Click here for the full listing of results from the HITS Ocala Championship.

As the 40th Anniversary of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit comes to close, HITS is making plans for 2022 in the ‘Horse Capital of the World®.’ Make your plans early as HITS enters a new decade of competition at HITS Post Time Farm where unprecedented competition, world-class facilities and premier show management make a recipe for success! Before returning to Ocala next year, there is a busy summer show schedule ahead!

We hope to see each and every one of you this summer whether it be in the at HITS Saugerties, HITS Chicago, HITS Culpeper or the Vermont Summer Festival. HITS offers competition for every level of rider at world-class facilities with the top management in the country. Each of HITS Summer Series is host to USEF-Rated competition, along with several USHJA Hunter and Jumper Championships to look forward to and eight weeks of FEI competition at HITS Saugerties.
 
Make your Plans for the HITS Summer Horse Show Series

HITS Culpeper, Virginia

Six Weeks in the Heart of Virginia's Horse Country
Prize List  |  Class Listing  |  Schedule  |  Entry Blanks
 
HITS Chicago, Illinois
13 Weeks at the Charming Lamplight Equestrian Center
Class Listing  |  Entry Blanks

HITS Saugerties, New York
Eight weeks, featuring of FEI competition with NEW FEI CSI4* during the Summer Series
Spring Series Class Listing  |  Entry Blanks

Vermont Summer Festival
Six Weeks in Beautiful Manchester, Vermont - Enter early, stalls will sell out!
Class Listing  |  Entry Blanks