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Saugerties, NY (August 16, 2008) – The HITS Saugerties Summer Series was "home of the hunters" as the popular circuit featured the the
USEF East Coast Junior Hunter National Championships
for the fourth consecutive year. HITS also sweetened the pot this year
adding the all-new $5,000 Pony Commotion Hunter Classic to the mix, as
well as the North East debut of the $10,000 ASG Software Solutions
USHJA International Hunter Derby, all in one fabulous week to close out
the three-week summer circuit.
Jennifer Waxman rode her mount Red Panda to the Grand Championship at the 2008 East Coast USEF Junior Hunter Championship, while the reserve honors went to
North Country, who had Johanna Hyyppa in the irons.
University of Indiana-bound
Annie Wang rode her mount Olivander to a special victory in the $5,000 Pony Commotion
under the watchful eye of trainer Donna Pace. Hours later, one of
trainer Val Reinihan's prize students, Julia Weiss, shocked the hunter
world winning the $10,000 ASG Software Solutions USHJA International Hunter Derby aboard Schubert, who is owned by Redfield Farms.
“I really enjoy having the
Junior Hunter Finals in Saugerties,” said Reinihan. "It was a
great event for some of my kids and we were delighted to be a part of
it.”
© Lili Weik Photography
Jennifer Waxman and Red Panda were presented the 2008 East
Coast USEF National Junior Hunter Grand Champion award. Waxman was
joined in the winner's circle by Christina Schlusemeyer, USEF's Lauren
Fahey and her trainer Emily Smith.
Olympic flavor
The most decorated Grand Prix rider in America, Margie Engle, continued
her dominance inside the Grand Prix ring at HITS Saugerties winning
half of the featured classes during the summer circuit and finished
with a total of eight horses in the money during her stay in the Hudson
Valley.
Her two young mares, Hidden Creek's Coroya Z and Hidden Creek's Pamina L
seem to be maturing quite nicely for the former Olympian as she now has
over 180 career Grand Prix wins. Engle was not the only Grand Prix
rider with Olympic ties to excel at HITS Saugerties. Former Olympian
Todd Minikus rode Presidente to the blue in the $50,000 In
the Woods Log Homes Grand Prix and Laura Chapot, daughter of former
Gold medalists Frank and Mary Chapot, outlasted the field in the $50,000 Strongid® C 2XTM Grand Prix, presented by Brook Ledge aboard her mount Church Road.
Former
Olympian Norman Dello Joio also made a stop at HITS Saugerties this
year before heading to Hong Kong to coach some friends in search of
Olympic medals. "The jumps in the Grand Prix ring are interesting," he
said. "It gives much more variety to the horses. The new footing was
very usable and the new decorations are also appreciated." Dello
Joio's student Cortie Wetherill and mount Equinox captured the final $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix of the summer.
In
all, HITS-on-the-Hudson was host to four Olympic-bound equestrians.
Earlier this spring, Olympic Course Designer Flora Baptiston made a
stop at HITS Saugerties to decorate courses, while McLain
Ward, who was named a member of the U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team
along with Laura Kraut, Beezie Madden and Will Simpson, was in
Saugerties with some of his younger horses before he left for the
European Qualifiers. Olympic Course Designer and 2008 FEI Technical
Delegate Olaf Petersen was the course designer for the first week
of the HITS Summer Series.
"Since
HITS Saugerties started, it has been one of my favorite shows,
especially since I can work with the fences that we designed in
Germany specifically for HITS," said Petersen. "Additionally, this
year, the flower decorations are more beautiful then ever before, and
the Grand Prix ring looks – despite the rain we had – very
colorful and attractive. I enjoy the show, and I enjoy meeting my good
friends in Saugerties every year." When asked for a his thoughts about
the Olympics, Petersen predicted a great jump-off between Germany and
the United States.
© 2008 Lili Weik Photography
Margie Engle and her mount Hidden Creek's Coroya Z are on course during the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Smith Barney.
© 2008 Lili Weik Photography
Laura Chapot and Church Road on course during the $50,000 STRONGID® C 2X™ Grand Prix at HITS Saugerties.
Fun in Saugerties!
The social calendar during the HITS Saugerties Summer Circuit was
filled with great activities outside of the show ring. During week IV,
classic cars rolled into HITS Saugerties for its inaugural
HITS-on-the-Hudson Classic Car Showcase and delighted the exhibitors,
including Monty Kelly of Stepping Stone Farms.
"Our customers loved it," said Kelly. "It gave them one more thing to
do on the show grounds. I thought it was a unique idea and all the cars
that lined the berm of the Grand Prix ring made it look extra classy."
HITS-on-the-Hudson IV was packed with excitement as the
second-annual HITS Saugerties Equine Art Gala and Exhibitor Mixer also
took the stage. Ric Orlando's New World Home Cooking Co. was the
perfect site for the wonderful evening of fine art and fine food and
featured the work of artists Gretchen Almy, Mary Bridgman, Jean Campbell, Maria D'Angelo, Phyllis Frazier, Jean Haines, Juliet Harrison, Lenny Marks , Deborah O'Sullivan, Karin Ruoff, JoAnne Sullam, Kristen Vetterl and Barbara Widmann.
HITS-on-the-Hudson also featured the second-annual Equestrian Idol
competition. More than a dozen acts performed before judges Emil
Spadone, Don Stewart and Susie Schoellkopf. When all the votes were
tallied, the three veteran trainers crowned Jennifer White the 2008
HITS Equestrian Idol. White, who rides in the adult jumpers with
trainer Cynthia Williams of New England Farm performed, "I Will Survive" to win the title and a $50 gift certificate donated by Kocher Tack.
Ronnie Anderson, now
the assistant trainer at Don Stewart Stables, has traveled the world
and was also enjoying her summer in Saugerties. "I really love it here.
The town is charming and the restaurants are great. Saugerties also has
some fun places to go shopping at night," said Anderson.
"When it comes to the show, it seems like HITS has made every effort to
make this venue special and fun. We have a lot of kids here and, thanks
to the variety of the schedule, they are all able to keep pretty busy
in the ring during the day. Plus, the restaurant on-site is the best at
a horse show that I have seen in the United States. There is a
Starbucks on the show grounds and the menu in the restaurant is filled
with quality and variety. At the end of the day, it’s nice to go
into the bar on the grounds and socialize. "
© Danette Kadlic for HITS, Inc.
Classic Cars lined the berm at HITS-on-the-Hudson during the HITS-on-the-Hudson Classic Car Showcase
One more chance!
Exhibitors have one more chance to experience some fine show jumping at
HITS Saugerties. After a short break, HITS will return for HITS-on-the-Hudson VII
on Wednesday, September 3 with a full week of classes highlighted by
the $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix on Thursday and the $50,000 HITS Grand
Prix on Sunday. HITS-on-the-Hudson VII will also feature a special end-of-season exhibitor party on Saturday, September 6.
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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