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SAUGERTIES, NY (September 15, 2009)—All
of the ribbons and trophies at the 2009 Marshall & Sterling League
National Finals have been handed out and another successful season is
in the books, as the Finals have come to a close at HITS-on-the-Hudson
in Saugerties, New York.
This year's Marshall & Sterling League National Finals featured
competition in 13 divisions, including the all-new $5,000 3'3" Marshall
& Sterling Hunter Derby. The $5,000 3'3" Marshall & Sterling
Hunter Derby was an instant hit as 51 horse-and-rider teams challenged
Jerry Dougherty's course. Veteran judges Jimmy Lee and Otis Brown
called the top 12 back for a handy round and in the end it was Heather
Ann Cahill (Bedminster, New Jersey) that would lead the victory gallop
aboard Elizabeth Kalaris' Hullabalo.
This new division will be part of the roster in the new season of
the League which began last week and riders will have plenty of
opportunities to start earning points for the Derby as every HITS show
in 2010 will offer the 3'3" class, including the HITS Ocala Winter
Circuit.
©Lili Weik Photography
Heather Ann Cahill and Hullabalo won the first ever $5,000 Marshall & Sterling 3'3" Hunter Derby.
Headlining the Jumper Divisions was college freshman Tara Corr. The Goshen, New York native piloted Rain or Shine
to the blue in the $7,500 Children's Jumper Classic on Saturday. On
Friday, she took third place in the $2,500 Children's Jumper.
Rain or Shine
is a 14-year-old Swedish horse that is leased from Waverly
Ernst. Corr got a late start to the season having just recently
leased the horse and didn't have time to qualify for the Finals, but
won a spot during the the Marshall & Sterling Children's Jumper
Wild Card during HITS-on-the-Hudson VIII.
"Tara has only been riding with me for four months," said trainer BJ
Ehrhardt. "She is one of the nicest, most dedicated kids that I have ever
had the pleasure of teaching. Winning this class was a perfect way for
her to cap off her career as a junior."
"It's so awesome to train with BJ. We communicate really well," said
Corr. "We always seem to be on the same page when she is training me."
"Everything was so perfect at the Finals," added Corr. "My mom was there and she cried. That never happens!"
When the $7,500 Adult Jumper Classic took the stage, it was a familiar
face that stood above the rest when Patricia Diamond Hennessy
(Kintnersville, Pennsylvania) and Little Tom took the victory gallop for the third time at the Marshall & Sterling League National Finals.
When the equitation riders got their moment in the spotlight it was
Ashley Billman (New York, New York) that came out on top in the
Marshall & Sterling Adult Medal. After the first round, Billman
was sitting in third place but charged back from behind in the test to
propel herself to the crown. On Sunday, equitation
competition continued when the Children's Medal Pony division was
captured by Liana Cohen from New York City, who bested 57 other pairs
to take the title aboard In the Game. In the Children's Medal Horse division Kendall Fately and her mount Magnetic
beat out 61 other pairs to take the blue. Fately trains with Robert
Beck, who had several students take blue ribbons in this year's Finals,
including Kelley Champion, who rode Mistletoe to first place in the Adult Hunters, and Coreen Gilligan, who rode her pony Hidden Spring's Basil
to first place in the Children's Hunter Pony. The Central Equine
Junior Medal went to Elizabeth Benson, who piloted Kristen Cassone's Hydraulics ahead of 40 other pairs in the class.
The 2009 Marshall & Sterling League Finals Best Junior Rider -
Horse Award went to Mira Hopkins (Greenwich, CT) on Modigliani and the
Best Junior Rider - Pony Award went to Liana Cohen on In the Game.
For complete results from the 2009 Finals, click here.
©Lili Weik Photography
Tara Corr on course in the $7,500 Children's Jumper Classic.
Party Time!
On Friday night after a day of exciting competition, the annual
Marshall & Sterling League Finals Party and Awards Dinner capped
off the evening when hundreds of Finalists and their families gathered
to celebrate the accomplishments of the best in the League. The event
featured the presentation of the Essex Classics Year-End High Point
Awards to the top-10 riders in each division based on the Marshall
& Sterling League National Point Standings. HITS President and CEO
Tom Struzzieri and League Title Sponsor Mary Moeller of Marshall &
Sterling Insurance presented the awards, as riders from around the
country were honored for their outstanding achievements. Finalists and
their families enjoyed an evening of celebration with a fantastic
spread of food during the carnival-themed party that had a roaming
magician performing magic tricks and a DJ spinning high-energy music to
set the mood.
©HITS Staff
The 2009 Top Ten ribbons.
©Lili Weik Photography
League Sponsor Mary Moeller poses with Finalists Danielle Moraski, Savanna Hajdasz and Taylor Johnson at the Marshall &
Sterling League Finals Party and Awards Dinner.
©HITS Staff
Exhibitors enjoy the carnival-themed Marshall & Sterling League Finals Party with some popcorn and cotton candy.
©HITS Staff
The Amazing Meldini creates a caricature of two exhibitors during the Finals party at HITS-on-the-Hudson.
©HITS Staff
Two Finalists dressed in balloon hats thanks to the Amazing Meldini.
During the year, riders from coast to coast compete at more than 1,100
Marshall & Sterling League member horse shows to earn points for a
place at the National 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.
Marshall & Sterling Insurance, Inc., founded in 1864, is among the
largest privately-owned insurance agencies in the United States. For
more than a quarter century, Marshall & Sterling has protected
precious equine assets with unparalleled service and support, whether
the family hunter, a champion racehorse or a commercial farm. An
employee-owned company, Marshall & Sterling has been recognized by
IIABA as one of the nation's top "Best Practice Agencies." The company
maintains a national presence and is licensed in all 50 states and the
U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information contact Mary Moeller at
800-836-3046, extension 224.
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 the HITS Media Team at 845.246.8833 or e-mail Media_Info@HitsShows.com.
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