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SAUGERTIES, NY (September 19, 2007)—The 2007 Marshall & Sterling League Finals concluded on Sunday, September 16 after four days of exciting competition in the HITS-on-the-Hudson Grand Prix Stadium with presentations of three blue ribbons in the Marshall & Sterling Medal classes.
M&S Children's Medal-Horse
In the M&S Children's Medal on Horses, Britta Carlson found her way to the top of the podium in the festive Marshall & Sterling League Finals awards area that was wonderfully decorated in a fall motif.
Carlson, from Redding, Connecticut, rode Sayo to the title as she got the best of 63 competitors. The top-12 riders of the group were invited back for a final test. Carlson received a score of 88 in the opening round to take the early lead. Her second-round score of 78 proved to be enough to win the class and receive the blue ribbon from Marshall & Sterling Insurance Company's Mary Moeller. Carlson, along with the other top-12 finishers in the class received sashes sponsored by Sarah Friedman and Dana Mazzola of Autumn Farm.
Marissa Gallaway, from Frenchtown, New Jersey, was second aboard her mount Colosso. Gallaway used an 84 in the first round and a second-round tally of 80 to fuel her trip to the awards area. Rounding out the top-three finishers was Molly Tassmer, from East Haddam, Connecticut, who rode London Fog. Tassmer returned with a score of 77.5 from the first round. Her impeccable test gave her the highest score in the second round of 85, and secured third place.
©Lili Weik Photography 07
Britta Carlson says thank you for a job well-done to her mount Sayo after winning the M&S Children's Medal-Horse at the 2007 Marshall & Sterling League Finals
M&S Junior Medal
In the M&S Junior Medal, Nina Pola, from Ridgefield, Connecticut took home the top prize aboard Sayo. Pola was the top rider in a class of 50 competitors and made her way to the podium to receive her wonderful awards.
Sayo is owned by Carlson and both Carlson and Pola train under the watchful eye of Wendy Banks-Pola at Ridgefield Equestrian Center, in Ridgefield, Connecticut. At the Marshall & Sterling League Finals the mount was the winning horse in both the M&S Children's Medal-Horse and the M&S Junior Medal.
The top-12 riders were invited back for an additional test. In the first round Pola scored an 81 to put her into third place heading into the final round of testing. An astounding 85.5 in the second round propelled her to a first-place finish.
Danielle Kaidanow, from Purchase, New York was second aboard her mount Avontuur as she received an 83 in the first round and an 82 in the second round. The yellow ribbon was awarded to Anna Becker and Willem who scored a 78 in the first round and had an 86 in the second round, which was the top score awarded by the judges.
©Lili Weik Photography 07
Nina Pola and her mount Sayo clear a jump during the 2007 Marshall & Sterling League Finals
M&S Children's Medal-Pony
The M&S Children's Medal on Ponies was awarded to Alison Cooney from Chappaqua, New York, and her mount Hi Foolutin'. She was the best rider of the 41 competitors who entered in the class. Cooney received a score of 81 from the judges in the first round to take the early lead. The top-12 were then invited back to for additional testing and Cooney scored an 85 to run away with the class.
Second place was awarded to Lauren Mantikas, from Glastonburg, Connecticut, and her mount Walk in the Park. Manitkas scored a 77 in the first round and a 79.5 during additional testing. Third place was awarded to Isabelle Torsiello, also from Chappaqua, New York, and her mount Clovercroft Cinnabunny. Torsiello scored a 76 in the first round and a 79.5 in the second round.
©Lili Weik Photography 07
Alison Cooney (middle) stands on top of the podium after winning the M&S Children's Medal-Pony during the Marshall & Sterling League Finals. Joining Cooney are Lauren Mantikas (left) and Isabelle Torsiello (right).
The 2007 Marshall & Sterling League Finals awarded more than $30,000 in prize money. For a complete list of results, please visit http://www.hitsshows.com/marshallsterling/results07.html
During the year, more than 2,400 riders from coast to coast compete at over 800 Marshall & Sterling League member horse shows to earn an invitation to the Finals. Since its inception in 1991, the Marshall & Sterling League Finals have provided the goal that has fueled the competitive spirit of child and adult riders at all levels of competition.
HITS, Inc. is a special events management company primarily focused on producing hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the village of Saugerties, HITS produced its first horse show circuit in Gainesville, Florida in 1982. Since that time, HITS has grown into a nationwide company with world-class hunter-jumper circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York and Virginia.
For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit www.HitsShows.com.
Media should contact Chris Mayone at 845.246.8833 or e-mail Media_Info@HitsShows.com
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