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Saugerties, NY
(September 18, 2006)—Fifteen-year-old
Lindsey Johnson from Manchester, Connecticut topped
a field of 30 riders to win the HBO Children's
Medal-Pony Final at the 2006 Marshall & Sterling
League Finals on September 17.
Johnson took the
early lead in the HBO Children's Medal-Pony Final
when she scored an 83 in the first round. The
top 12 riders were invited back for a second round
of additional testing. Johnson received an 80
in the second round, giving her a two round total
of 163. The judges had the opportunity to invite
two or more riders back for additional testing
but her dominance in the first two rounds gave
her the triumph.
Alexandra Carlton
scored the highest in the second round earning
an 82 from the judges. She finished second in
the class. Finishing third was Kendall Fately
who scored an 81 and a 78.
Johnson from Manchester,
Connecticut was named the best Junior Rider on
a Pony aboard Corhill Andate. Johnson
enjoys volleyball, softball, skiing and playing
the piano. Corhill Andate is a 12-year-old
Welsh Cross owned by Arman and Martha Chenelle.
"I enjoy hosting
this class at the horse show," said HITS
President Tom Struzzieri. "It gives riders
who are at the beginning stage of their riding
career a chance to compete and test for a serious
medal. Having classes like this is a great value
for our league. I look forward to expanding this
class in the future."
According to Struzzieri,
he hopes to accept 50 riders next year. "We
turned down the most riders in this division,"
he added. "It was only open to the top 30
riders but the demand to get into this class was
overwhelming."
Lindsey
Johnson aboard Corhill Andate
©Lili Weik Photography
06
HBO Children's
Medal-Horse
The HBO Children's
Medal on a Horse went home with 16-year-old Katie
Price. She answered all of course designer Jerry
Doughtery's questions en route to her victory
in a large class of 52 horses. The judges rewarded
Price with scores of 79 in the first round and
83 in the second. Her powerful second round was
enough to propel her to the victory without any
additional testing from the judges. Allison Haspel
was second to Price's score of 162 as she finished
with a total score of 157.
Price, from New Canaan,
Connecticut, was named the Best Junior Rider on
a Horse aboard Black Tie Only. She was
fourth in the FWPHA Maclay Finals this year. Her
mount Black Tie Only is a nine-year-old
Oldenburg owned by Price.
Katie
Price aboard Black Tie Only
©Lili Weik Photography
06
HBO
Junior Medal
Carolyn Lichtenberg
from Pelham Manor, New York bested a field of
61 horses to win the HBO Junior Medal at the Marshall
& Sterling League Finals. Her scores of 87
and 85 were the highest in both rounds and her
total of 172 was good enough to earn the in tenth
grader from The Horace Mann School, in Riverdale,
New York the crown.
"My trainer
had some really good ideas so we took a while
walking the course and developed a strategy,"
said Lichtenberg. "At first I was kind of
nervous riding in the big Grand Prix Ring but
after I watched a couple go I was able to settle
myself down."
Lichtenberg just
acquired her equitation horse Corina at
the beginning of the summer. She competed at HITS
Saugerties in the spring and summer series.
The
HBO Junior Medal was introduced by the Marshall
& Sterling League in 2003. Although still in its
infancy, the Medal has received a lot of attention
and attracts hundreds of riders who compete all
year long at over 700 member horse shows to qualify
for the Finals. The competition was held outdoors
in the world-class HITS Saugerties Grand Prix
Stadium.
"The caliber
of riding has improved each year in this class,"
said Struzzieri. "It is an exciting class
for me to see. The riders that finished at the
top of this class would be competitive at most
equitation final horse shows in the country."
HITS concludes its
season when show jumping resumes at HITS Culpeper
for 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/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. The USGPL
Finals will be the last HITS Horse Show before
HITS begins installation of new footing supplied
by Footing
Authority. Footing Authority has developed
a revolutionary, dust-free footing that contains
Polymer and EuroFelt. HITS, as a part of its commitment
to horse safety and soundness, will install Footing
Authority products at each of its four major venues
coast to coast in 2007.
For more information
on the Marshall & Sterling League Finals or
any of HITS' Horse Shows, call HITS' Corporate
office at 845.246.8833.
Carolyn
Lichtenberg aboard Corina
©Lili Weik Photography
06
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