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HITS » The HITS Ocala Winter Circuit is Underway!

The HITS Ocala Winter Circuit is Underway!

Sharn Wordley & Aaron Vale win the Week I Grand Prix
The 41st HITS Ocala Winter Circuit kicked off this past week with the Ocala January Classic. Horses and riders brought their best to the new year, with plenty of highlights for Jumpers and Hunters alike. Read on for a recap of the week's featured competition.
 
David Tromp won the first featured Jumper class of the week, Wednesday's $2,500 Open Welcome. Tromp & INCOGNITO posted a fast time of 69.678 with only one rail down on the final jump to earn the first special blue ribbon of the circuit.
  • 2nd Place: Amanda Flint & HUDSON VDL [4-faults, 70.125]
  • 3rd Place: Flint & IRVINGTON VDL [8-faults, 68.970]
Of six who advanced to the jump-off, the only double clear ride in Thursday's $5,000 HITS Open Prix was posted by Rowan Willis aboard CONLANDO 55. The pair completed the short course in 44.459.
  1. 2nd Place: Genevieve Munson & CONTENDRO STAR [4-faults, 39.465]
  2. 3rd Place: Daniel Geitner & LOTUS VAN HET HAGEHOF [4-faults, 41.052]
The $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix was held on Friday, with Sharn Wordley taking his turn in the winner's circle. Riding MICK JAGGER in the second-to-last run of the jump-off round, Wordley posted a quick time of 44.997, with no faults.
  • 2nd Place:  Jenni McAllister & ESCADA VS [47.808]
  • 3rd Place:  Aaron Vale & CHACCMAN [4-faults, 44.539]
Saturday played host to the $5,000 Post Time Classic, where the trophy went to Lisa Goldman-Smolen & BENGTSSON. The first of seven competitors to return to the short course, Goldman-Smolen crossed the timers in an unbeatable clean time of 40.030
  • 2nd Place:  Rowan Willis & CONLANDO SS [40.458]
  • 3rd Place:  David Tromp & INCOGNITO [4-faults, 40.292]
On a crisp Sunday, the sun broke through just in time for the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix. Of the competitors that took to the course designed by Kerry Kocher, only three completed a clear first round to advance to the jump-off. First to return was Junior rider Genevieve Munson aboard ZONDERLING. A refusal at the third jump of the course took them out of the running.

Next to return was David Jennings. Jennings led CENDATUS PS to a clean round, but lamented himself for being too conservative with Aaron Vale & OBI WAN still to go. Knowing the time to beat, Vale did just that, edging Jennings to claim the victory. Vale navigated OBI WAN through the course in 46.421, a half-second faster than Jennings' time and good enough for the win. While Vale was pleased to get the win, his daughter Kinser was even more excited, and immediately started negotiating with her father to claim the winner's check for herself! 
  • 2nd Place:  Jennings & CENDATUS PS [46.930]
  • 3rd Place:  Munson & ZONDERLING [9-faults, 55.348]
Jumper Classic Winners
  • $1,000 M&S Child/Adult Jumper Classic - Low: Olympia Davidson & CEN
  • $1,000 M&S Child/Adult Jumper Classic - Medium: Isabella Royal & CAN CAN VL
  • $2,000 M&S/NAL/WIHS Child Jumper Classic - High: Eleanor Pieters & TIBRI'S
  • FRANZIE 95
  • $2,000 M&S/NAL/WIHS Adult Jumper Classic - High: Gabby Adams & GARINCO VAN DE LIJNSAERD
  • $2,500 Pyranha/NAL Junior/Amateur 1.25m Jumper Classic: Laurel Blakemore & ANGEL'S ENVY
  • $5,000 Junior/Amateur 1.35m Jumper Classic: Paige Jones & CADANS Z
The Adeptus Leading Jumper Rider Award is presented each week to the rider accumulating the most points in one of the Open 0.65m to 1.40m divisions.

Congratulations to this week's winners (tied): Caitlin Burns& Olympia Davidson
Featured classes for Hunter riders took place on Saturday. In the $5,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix, David Wilbur guided INFERNO HX to a first round score of 82 and a second round score of 85, winning with an overall score of 167. 

2nd Place:  Cassandra Kahle & HALDETTE [160]
3rd Place:  Elizabeth Naber & CALVORNO WP Z [159]
In their first show since returning from an injury, Mairin Lanahan & MY WINGMAN claimed the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix. The pair posted the best score of both rounds, 80 and 81 respectively, for a winning total of 161.
  • 2nd Place: Evana Somareddy & CAMBASTIAN [157]
  • 3rd Place:  Emma Covarrubias & ENDLESS JOY [155.5]
Hunter Classic Winners
  • M&S Bit O' Straw Hunter Classic: Jordan Barker & BENSON K
  • $500 M&S/NAL/WIHS Child Hunter Classic - Horse: Emma Tester & CICOLE
  • $500 M&S Child Hunter Classic - Pony: Alice Geoffroy & RECESS
  • $500 SmartPak M&S/NAL/WIHS Adult Hunter Classic: Julia Debaecke & IN LOVE
  • $1,000 CWD Junior Hunter Classic 3'6": Ella Witt & GAVALIA
  • $1,000 Antares Junior Hunter Classic 3'3": Mia Sassi & WATERFALL Z
  • $1,000 Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic 3'6": Luke Sassi & COCORRADO BB
  • $1,000 Eastern Hay Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic 3'3": Karen C Howey & COASTLINE
  • $1,000 Perfect Products Pony Hunter Classic: Rowan Bomar & TOBIE VAN DE LUFKENSHOEVE
Click here for the full listing of results from the HITS Ocala January Classic.
Click here for the HITS Ocala January Classic photo galleries.