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CULPEPER,
VA (August
27, 2006)—Evan Coluccio rode Champigny
to win Sunday's $40,000 HITS Grand Prix at HITS
Culpeper capping off a week of show jumping at
the HITS Constitution Classic Horse Show. He negotiated
the fastest double-clear round on Anthony D'Ambrosio's
challenging course.
Coluccio
earned some valuable points with the win as every
grand prix at all HITS horse shows, including
HITS Culpeper and HITS Saugerties is a qualifier
for the United States Grand Prix League Finals.
The finals for the league will be held in Culpeper
on October 1, where $100,000 in prize money will
be on the line. The event is limited to the top
30 United States Grand Prix League horse/rider
combinations. Coming into Sunday's $40,000 HITS
Grand Prix, Coluccio and Champigny were
34th in the standings. After collecting $12,000
in prize money for Alex Carl, Coluccio assured
himself a spot in the prestigious Finals.
Grand Prix riders
have one more chance to earn points for the $100,000
USGPL Invitational Grand Prix. On September
3 in Saugerties riders will vie for the top prize
in the $50,000
Tavern on the Green Catering Grand Prix. Riders
that still aren't qualified can earn a spot in
the Finals in the $25,000 Wild Card Grand Prix
on Friday, September 29 at HITS Culpeper. The
class is open to everyone and the horse/rider
combination that finishes the highest that is
not already qualified gets a spot in the Finals.
Seven
horses advanced to the jump-off, with Coluccio
stopping the clocks in the jump-off at 40.386.
Coluccio was the fifth horse to tackle the first
round course and the second to go clear. First
to go in the jump-off was Robert Kraut and Life
to Live. They set the Great American Time
to Beat at 45.074 after a posting clean round.
The lead was short-lived
when Coluccio and Champigny shaved nearly
five seconds off their time when they stopped
the clocks at a blistering 40.386.
Laura
Linback and Remember Me 9 went third and
their clear ride produced a fourth place finish
for Woodrun Farm. Linback has placed in the top
five at the last three Grand Prix Classes at HITS
Culpeper aboard Remember Me 9. Currently,
she is in the top 20 in the USGPL standings and
with all of her success at Commonwealth Park this
circuit she should be a force to be reckoned with
in the Finals.
The
fourth consecutive clean round went to Ian Silitch
aboard Rivano. The duo's time of 42.546
was good enough for second place and $8,800 in
prize money for Rachel Spencer. Tracy Magness
was next to ride aboard Tarco Van Ter Moude.
Heartbreak at the final hurdle spoiled her chance
of winning the top prize as she took down fence11B.
Her time of 40.413 was just off Coluccio's pace.
Mary
Lisa Leffler and Gerona 92 were next to
challenge Coluccio's time. But the best the horse/rider
combination could muster was a third place finish
as their clear round time of 42.837 wasn't fast
enough to eclipse Coluccio. Last to ride was Linback,
who took a pair of horses into the jump-off for
Woodrun Farm. Rails down on fences 5B and 6 forced
her to tip her hat and retire aboard Grand
So So 2.
Show Jumping at HITS
Culpeper resumes at the USGPL Finals on September
27. HITS features the $10,000 Pre-Green Hunter
Classic, the $15,000 Junior/A-O Jumper Low Classic
, the $25,000 Junior/AO Jumper High Classic, the
$25,000 Wild Card Grand Prix and the $100,000
USGPL Invitational Grand Prix in its final week
in Culpeper. The USGPL Finals will be the last
HITS Horse Show before HITS switches to International
Surfaces Group (ISG) Footing. ISG Footing is a
revolutionary dust-free footing that will allow
horses to compete with virtually no risk of injury.
For more information
about show jumping at HITS Culpeper, as well as
all other HITS venues, call 845.246.8833 or visit
the HITS website www.HitsShows.com.
©Lili Weik Photography
06
CLASS
415. $40,000 HITS GRAND PRIX (Nt'l Std),
August
27, 2006
|
Placing
|
Horse
|
Rider
|
Owner
|
Prize
Money
|
Rd
1 Faults
|
JO
Faults
|
JO
Time
|
|
1
|
Champigny
|
Evan
Collucio
|
Alex
Carl
|
$12,000
|
0
|
0
|
40.38
|
|
2
|
Rivano
|
Ian
Silitch
|
Rachel
Spencer
|
$8,500
|
0
|
0
|
42.54
|
|
3
|
Gerona
92
|
Mary
Lisa Leffler |
Rolling
Acres Farm |
$5,200
|
0
|
0
|
42.83
|
|
4
|
Remember
Me 9
|
laura
Linback
|
Woodrun
|
$3,200
|
0
|
0
|
42.90
|
|
5
|
Life
is Live
|
Robert
Kraut
|
Polly
Rich Farm
|
$2,400
|
0
|
0
|
45.07
|
|
6
|
Tarco
Van Ter Moude
|
Tracy
Magness
|
Mr.
and Mrs. John Bartko
|
$2,000
|
0
|
4
|
40.41
|
OTHER
MAJOR AWARDS AT CULPEPER INCLUDED:
HBO
Children's Medal: Fallon Segarra, Clifton,
VA
HBO
Junior Medal: Carly Hunt, Ocala, FL
Farnum
Adult Hunter (18-35): Cameo, ridden
by Trina Federico and owned Ruth Douglas, Phoenix,
MD
Farnum
Adult Hunter (36-40): Marceau ridden
and owned by Kristin Brander, Chevy Chase, MD
Farnum
Adult Hunter (41& Over): Stop
the Music, ridden by Carol Lynn Richards-Nelms
and owned by Stone Gate Stables, Aldie, VA
Adequen
Open Hunter: Autograph, ridden
and owned by Elizabeth Roberts, Chesapeake, VA
M&S
Children's Hunter Classic: Just one
look, ridden and owned by Adeline Norton,
Falls Church, VA
M&S
Adult Hunter Classic: Cameo, ridden
by Trina Federico and owned by Ruth Douglas ,
Phoenix. MD
M&S
Children's Jumper Classic: Connor
McLeod, ridden by Katrina Johnson and owned
by Mary Self, Harwood, MD
M&S
Adult Jumper Classic: Namiro,
ridden and owned by Tracy Harmon, Glen Allen,
VA
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