CULPEPER,
VA (September
8, 2006)—Thanks to her win in the $150,000 Grand
Prix of the Desert at the HITS Desert Circuit, Canadian
Olympian Jill Henselwood leads all Grand Prix Riders
in the USGPL
Standings that concludes with the $100,000 USGPL
Invitational Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper on October
1.
The finals for the
league will be held at Commonwealth Park where
$100,000 in prize money is on the line. The event
is limited to the
top 30 horse/rider combinations in the USGPL Standings.
Aboard Black Ice,
Henselwood collected $56,500 in prize money
at HITS Shows in 2006. Henselwood had the only
clear round in the $150,000 Grand Prix of the
Desert as she outperformed 38 other riders. She
was so overcome by joy after her win, the first
thing she said after the class was "holy
hoopla."
Right on Henselwood's
tail is Aaron Vale. Vale captured the $100,000
USGPL Invitational Grand Prix last year. Vale
and Serval won the $100,000 Grand Prix
of Ocala that ended the Ocala Winter Circuit in
March. Vale and Serval won $49,500 in prize
money at HITS Shows this year, competing at HITS
Ocala and HITS Culpeper. Every Grand Prix Class
at all HITS Horse Shows are qualifiers for the
USGPL Finals. Vale is coming off of a USGPL hat
trick, winning the featured class for the past
three years. In all, he has 142 total grand prix
victories.
What's the secret
behind his success? "I like to think that it is
just hard work," said Vale. "We love
to win, so we just focus on training, and training
to win. We treat it as a professional sport and
we come to the horse shows to try to win. We are
fortunate to have some excellent horses, and great
support from our owners. It’s a real team effort
from the whole group and its working. It's great
to win!"
Maybe
the hottest Grand Prix Rider is Laura Chapot.
She certainly saved her best for last at Saugerties
this summer, as she delivered the perfect 1-2
punch riding Little Big Man, and Samantha
to a first and second place finish respectively
in the $50,000 Tavern
on the Green Catering Grand Prix at HITS Saugerties
on September 4.Chapot sits third in the standings
with $46,500 in prize money. Rounding out the
top five are Mary Lisa Leffler and Federico Sztyrile,
who have won $44,200 and $43,000 respectively.
A special $25,000
Wild Card Grand Prix at Culpeper on Friday, September
29 gives one more rider the chance to qualify
for the $100,000 USGPL Invitational Grand Prix.
The rider who finishes the highest and is not
already qualified earns a spot in the field of
31.
Show Jumping at HITS
Culpeper resumes at the USGPL Finals on September
27, featuring the $10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Classic,
the $15,000 Junior/A-O Jumper Low Classic, the
$25,000 Junior/A-O Jumper High Classic, the $25,000
Wild Card Grand Prix and the $100,000 USGPL Invitational
Grand Prix in its final week in Culpeper. There
is no question that this prestigious event saves
the best for last, as the lineup includes $175,000
in prize money for the special classes alone.
The USGPL Finals
will be the last HITS Horse Show before HITS switches
to International Surfaces Group (ISG) footing
at most of its locations. ISG is proudest of its
revolutionary dust-free footing that allows horses
to compete under a wide range of weather conditions
while minimizing the risk of injury.
For more information
about show jumping at HITS Saugerties as well
as all other HITS venues call 845.246.8833 or
visit the HITS website at www.HitsShows.com.
©Todd
Sutherland/Flying Horse Photography
Jill
Henselwood and Black Ice
©Lili Weik Photography
05
Aaron Vale and
last year's winner Luigi
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