Alissa gets an A! Alissa Kinsey and Grisset win the $25,000 Marshall & Sterling/Team Barber Children's/Adult Jumper Classic at HITS Ocala

OCALA, FL (March 23, 2010)— Marshall & Sterling League Finals Veteran Alissa Kinsey and her horse Grisset meant business during the Ocala Winter Celebration when they posted the fastest double-clear effort to win the $25,000 Marshall & Sterling/Team Barber Children's/Adult Jumper Classic, at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, Florida.

Kinsey mastered International Course Designer Olaf Petersen Sr.'s first-round track that featured 74 starters, and then his eight-obstacle jump-off route that saw 19 horse-and-rider teams advance to the jump-off course to take aim at the first-place check of $7,500.

"It's nice that HITS Ocala offers such big-money classes," said Kinsey. "It's so much fun to show in a nice, big ring and the course designers always build strong and challenging courses."

Kinsey showed sixth in the first round and laid down a flawless trip before advancing to the jump-off, where she went third and crossed the timers in 32.04 to set the Great American Time to Beat. In the end, the speedy time wouldn't be touched, as Kinsey and her Hanoverian mare that she imported from Germany three years ago, took a victory gallop around the ring.

Also excelling in the popular class was Blake Roberts on Karen Memmen's Fac'onnable and Barbara Ruziska riding Rebound, who finished second and third, respectively. Capturing fourth place was Jamie Auletto aboard Claire, and rounding out the top five was Kady Abrahamson in the irons on Irish Hunt.

Kinsey, of Fort Meyers, Florida, competed at the 2010 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit for two weeks and plans to travel to HITS-on-the-Hudson, in Saugerties, New York, for the Marshall & Sterling League Finals from September 16-19.

Kinsey is no stranger to the Finals. In fact, the 31-year-old Amateur Rider captured the blue in the $2,500 Adult Jumper Classic and scored a second-place finish in the $7,500 Adult Jumper Classic during the 2009 Finals. "It's nice to go up to Saugerties and have the big classes to show in," said Kinsey. "Hopefully this year we can win the big one!"

"We are proud to support the 2010 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit," said Dr. Robert Barber. "With more than 70 entries in the class and a very deserving winner, it was the perfect ending to a wonderful circuit."

The $25,000 Marshall & Sterling/Team Barber Children's Adult Jumper Classic was part of an action-packed day at the show grounds that included the crowning of the Circuit Champions and awarding of the perpetual trophies to the season’s top performers, while some of the biggest names in show jumping took aim at the $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group, with the hopes of adding to their chances of qualifying for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix.

© ESI Photography.
Alissa Kinsey and Grisset on course in the $25,000 Marshall & Sterling/Team Barber Children's/Adult Jumper Classic at HITS Ocala.


© ESI Photography.
Alissa Kinsey in the winners' circle after taking the top honors in the $25,000 Marshall & Sterling/Team Barber Children's/Adult Jumper Classic at HITS Ocala.

$25,000 Marshall & Sterling/Team Barber Children's/Adult Jumper Classic