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SAUGERTIES, NY (September 11, 2009)—Action
at the 2009 Marshall & Sterling League National Finals kicked into
high gear on Thursday afternoon when Lauren Kennelley of Franklin
Lakes, New Jersey, piloted Cadillac Jack to the blue in the $1,500 Bit
O’
Straw Hunter Classic at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.
Aside from the blue ribbon and a host of awards, Kennelley, received
the Before Color Perpetual Trophy that was presented in memory of
former class winner Amanda Benoliel's grandfather Keene Taylor.
Benoliel won the class at the 2008 Marshall & Sterling League
Finals days after her grandfather passed away.
“It’s an honor to receive this award,” said
Kennelley. “Obviously, Amanda’s grandfather meant a lot to
her and I am very proud to be the first winner of the trophy.”
Kennelley is 13 and attends the Tuxedo Park School, in Tuxedo, New
York. She has been training at Someday Stables for the past five years
with Anna Greenfeld. “I have only owned the horse for the past 13
months and he has just been fabulous,” said Kennelley.“This
is our biggest win ever!”
The Bit O' Straw Hunter Classic is taking off as one of the hottest
up-and-coming divisions at the horse show. The two-round classic
featured fences set at 2'6" and saw more than 40 horse-and-rider pairs
compete in the first round and an additional 12 were brought back for
the second round by judges Jimmy Lee and Otis Brown.
“It’s a tremendous feeling to win because there were so many horses in the class,” added Kennelley.
©Lili Weik Photography
Lauren Kennelley on course in the $1,500 Bit O’ Straw Hunter Classic.
©Lili Weik Photography
Lauren Kennelley
takes the top honors in the $1,500 Bit O'Straw Hunter Classic. She won
the Before Color Perpetual Trophy and is joined by Amanda Benoliel,
Jessica Benoliel and Nancy Taylor, who presented the trophy in memory
of Keene Taylor.
Also excelling on Wednesday was Nicole Riccardi (Poughkeepsie, New
York) who rode Irreplaceable to the Championship in the Tri-State
Hunter Division. “It was definitely a great experience coming to
the Finals,” said Riccardi. “He is the first horse that I
have ever owned and I could not have asked for anything more. He is so
brave and careful and my best friend.”
Riccardi is 17 and attends Our Lady of Lourdes High School, in
Poughkeepsie, New York. She is also an avid dancer when she is not
training with Susie Bagnato in Dutchess County, New York.
©Lili Weik Photography
Nicole Riccardi on course in the Tri-State Hunter.
©Lili Weik Photography
Nicole Riccardi is congratulated by Marshall & Sterling's Mary Moeller after winning the Tri-State Hunter.
The hunters weren't the only exhibitors that had their day in the sun
on Thursday in the Hudson Valley. The $2,500 Adult Jumpers kicked off
the action for jumper riders and when the class was complete it was
Alissa Kinsey (Ft. Meyers, Florida) and her horse Grisset that would
take the victory gallop around HITS’ majestic Grand Prix Ring
that sits at the foothills of the Catskill Mountains.
Also excelling in the class was Katherine Edgell (Mendham, New Jersey)
who rode Miss Kittty to the red ribbon and Christine Blair (Tiverton,
Rhode Island) piloted Foxgate’s Joker to a third-place finish.
©Lili Weik Photography
Alissa Kinsey on course in the $2,500 Adult Jumper.
©Lili Weik Photography
Alissa Kinsey is congratulated by Marshall & Sterling's Mary Moeller after winning the $2,500 Adult Jumper.
The $1,500 Pony Jumper Classic concluded the first day of competition
at the Finals and saw Alison Lindsay (Pine Plains, New York) capture
the blue aboard Cedar Crest Bewitched. Grabbing the red ribbon was Nina
Montross (Bedford Hills, New York) and her pony Indigo and in third
place was Mary Horzepa (Mill Stone, New Jersey) riding Amber.
"Alison is a hard worker," said trainer Paul Lindsay. "I am not just
saying that because she is my daughter. She is a fantastic rider and
the victory today culminates a tremendous year for her!"
"It was so much fun showing in the Grand Prix Ring," said Alison
Lindsay. "It was definitely a thrill and the highlight of my career so
far."
For complete results from the Finals, click here.
©Lili Weik Photography
Alison Lindsay on course in the $1,500 Pony Jumper Classic.
©Lili Weik Photography
Alison Lindsay is congratulated by Marshall & Sterling's Mary Moeller after winning the $1,500 Pony Jumper Classic.
Show jumping at the Marshall & Sterling League National Finals
continues today and champions will be crowned in the Adequan Hunter and
Adult Hunter Divisions. Also on the agenda is the Marshall &
Sterling League Finals Party and Awards Dinner on Friday, September 11,
featuring 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.
On Saturday night, there will be a special Merry-Go-Round Gala and
Auction at the show grounds where 46 fiberglass carousel horses from
the Hors'n Around Saugerties Exhibit will be up for bid. Each horse is
decorated by an artist in themes reflecting the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain
Quadricentennial, and they were on display around the Village of
Saugerties from May through September.
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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