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CULPEPER, VA (October 19, 2007)—As many exhibitors are making plans for the winter horse show season, HITS Culpeper is celebrating one of its most successful seasons at Commonwealth Park.
The Main Event
The USGPL Finals saw Canada's Jill Henselwood capture $30,000 in prize money as she won the $100,000 USGPL Invitational Grand Prix on Sunday, September 30 aboard her mount Special Ed. 2007 is proving to be the best year to date for Henselwood. In addition to her strong start at HITS Thermal, she became the first woman in 24 years to strike individual Gold at the Pan American Games and was instrumental in leading Canada to a team Silver Medal in the competition.
Grand Prix competition was not the only action at the USGPL Finals. In the Main Hunter ring, Eric Dirks (Manakin, VA) rode Key West to victory in the $10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Classic, sponsored by Stillwell-Hansen, Inc. and Four Winds Farm. While in the Jumper ring, Margaret Lenfest (Birchrunville, PA) and her mount Respegi scored the win in the $15,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Low Jumper Classic and Kate Cummings (Metairie, LA) and her mount Tenfold secured the top prize in the $25,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner High Jumper Classic.
HITS also awarded the SHALANNO Farm Style of Riding Award to Sarah Chovnick (Middleburg, VA). The SHALANNO Style of Riding Award Perpetual Trophy is presented to the Junior Jumper rider who best exemplifies the American style of equitation as modeled by Olympic medalists Joe Fargis, Conrad Homfeld, and George Morris. The award recipient must have the respectful, dignified, courteous and workmanlike manner of a true sportsman.
Eric Dirks and Key West jump to victory in the $10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Classic
©2007 Lili Weik Photography
Grand Prix Galore!
The Grand Prix riders were in full-force during the 2007 show season at HITS Culpeper. Eliza Ferguson-Shuford kicked off the season at HITS Culpeper with her victory aboard Plenty in the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix during the Commonwealth National.
Other Grand Prix winners at HITS Culpeper include:
$40,000 Footings Unlimited Grand Prix-Tracy Fenney and S&L Willie (Showday National)
$40,000 Footings Unlimited Grand Prix-Melissa Jones Sarle and Lavaro (Cavalier Classic)
$40,000 Footings Unlimited Grand Prix-Sulu Rose-Reed and Leondor (Winston National)
$40,000 Footings Unlimited Grand Prix-Sharn Wordley and Rockville (Constitution Classic)
$25,000 HITS Wild Card Grand Prix-Libby McKinney and Gun Du Desfi (USGPL Finals)
Libby McKinney and Gun Du Desfi win the $25,000 HITS Wild Card Grand Prix
© 2007 Lili Weik Photography
Rachel Webster captures
Tad Coffin Performance Saddles Zone III Junior Equitation Finals
Rachel Webster of Mechanicsville, Virginia rode Master Plan to victory during the Zone III Junior Equitation Finals, presented by Tad Coffin Saddles. The Zone III Junior Equitation Finals were held at HITS Culpeper on Sunday, August 26, to cap off an exciting week of show jumping at the Winston National horse show.
In all, 26 riders competed for the title.
Webster is 15 and a sophomore at Mechanicsville, Virginia's Hanover High School. She has been under the watchful eye of her trainer Pam Baker for almost a year, and is just finishing up her first year competing at Rated horse shows.
What's new for 2008?
As always HITS has many new things planned for next year at HITS Culpeper.
The major project will be upgrading and improving the facilities in the "back." Specifically the topography and drainage of the grounds, footing in the barn area, wash racks and the lunging areas.
HITS has also finalized plans with Bart Poels, footing specialist for the 2008 Olympic Games, to oversee footing in all rings, with a special focus on the Grand Prix footing.
Also joining the HITS team is Anthony D'Ambrosio, who will be in charge of all jump purchases. HITS plans to incorporate some larger, more ornate jumps for the Grand Prix rings.
"I am looking forward to coming next season," said Mary Babick, who runs New Jersey's Knightsbridge Farm. "My horses love the footing in the junior hunter ring. I can't wait to see all of the improvements but mainly the improved flooring in the stalls. Culpeper is a great place to be!"
HITS President and CEO Tom Struzzieri said he is excited about four new hotels opening in Culpeper that will allow the horse show to expand. Three of the hotels should be ready for the 2008 show season offering an additional 250 hotel rooms right in the heart of Culpeper.
"Not having enough lodging for our customers close to the horse show has kept us from expanding at HITS Culpeper," said Struzzieri. "Now with these four hotels coming to Culpeper that's not going to be a concern anymore. We are going to continue to improve the facility and get bigger each season. Things are definitely happening here."
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
2008 Dates
Commonwealth National
April 16-20
Showday National
July 9-13
Cavalier Classic
July 16-20
Winston National
August 20-24
Constitution Classic
August 27-31
USGPL Finals
September 24-28
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