Brian Walker and Tamara 296 Claim Victory in Culpeper $40,000 HITS Grand Prix

Culpeper, Virginia – Brian Walker and Tamara 296 claimed victory in the first Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper in the Commonwealth National Show on April 19, going last in the four-rider jump-off to complete the course three seconds faster than second-place finisher Filip De Wandel on his Gentley.

"The course was difficult enough [Sunday] with only four clear, but that worked in my favor," said Walker, after his win. "The jump-off, with long gallops between the jumps, really suited my mare, because she has a huge stride and can cover a lot of ground."

In the shortened course, Walker finished double-clear in 40.776 seconds. He also placed fifth on a newer mount, Katunaro, owned by Ansgar and Ellen Holtgers — with no jumping faults but one time fault in the first round, which kept them from the jump-off.

"I was obviously very happy with [Sunday's] result. Both my horses jumped fantastic," he said. "I am always very thankful for my horses, my sponsors and my team, because it ‘takes a village.’ I am happy to be heading home with the win."

De Wandel and Gentley went second in the jump-off, finishing in 43.860 and shaving just over a second off the time of third-place rider Ian Silitch on Cordovo, owned by Gaston Family Investments LLC, who completed the shortened course in 44.491. Leann Kelly, on Honorway Farm LLC’s Leander, picked up four faults in the jump-off to finish in fourth place.

HITS Culpeper continues in July with back-to-back shows: Showday National, July 1-5 and Cavalier Classic July 8-12. Go to HitsShows.com to download or request a complete prize list and other entry information.


(c) ESI Photography
Brian Walker and Tamara 296, owned by The Tomorrow Group, went double-clear to claim the first Grand Prix victory at HITS Culpeper in the Commonwealth National Show on April 19, 2015 at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia.


(c) ESI Photography
Brian Walker and Tamara 296, owned by The Tomorrow Group, claimed the first Grand Prix victory at HITS Culpeper in the Commonwealth National Show on April 19, 2015 at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia.

$40,000 HITS Grand Prix

Place Horse Owner Rider Prize Round 1 Faults JO Faults JO Time
1 Tamara 296 The Tomorrow Group Brian Walker $12,000 0 0 40.776
2 Gentley Filip De Wandel Filip De Wandel $8,800 0 0 43.860
3 Cordovo Gaston Family Investments LLC Ian Silitch $5,200 0 0 44.921
4 Leander Honorway Farm LLC Leann Kelly $3,200 0 4 43.327
5 Kantunaro Ellen Holtgers Brian Walker $2,400 1 * *
6 Quipit L.F. Quipit Group Ragan Roberts $2,000 2 * *
7 Sensation 21 Hooves LLC Alison Robitaille $1,600 4 * *
8 Fenom Van Klapschuet Five Way Farm LLC Eliza Lehrman $1,200 4 * *
9 Okla Homa Donald Stewart Aaron Vale $1,200 4 * *
10 Caesar Z Jaclyn Duff Jaclyn Duff $800 4 * *
11 Bolero HX Bradon Equestrian Jill Henselwood $800 4 * *
12 Wilhelmus S Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone Christina Firestone $800 4 * *

Jill Henselwood and Bolero HX Win $15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix

Kicking off the weekend's competition, Jill Henselwood and Bolero HX, owned by Bradon Equestrian, of Calgary, in Alberta, Canada, took first prize in the $15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix on Friday.

Competing against a dozen other riders in the jump-off, Henselwood went sixth, cutting time off the four other double-clear times before her. Three other riders went double-clear after Henselwood, but none could beat her time.

"This is a talented young horse who is just beginning to post results in Grand Prix competitions," said Henselwood of the 9-year-old grey gelding, owned by Bradon  Equestrian of Calgary. "The Prather family are very proud of Bolero HX (whose dam is Bonita, who won the European Championship with Jessica Kürten)."

Henselwood continued, "Danny Foster built a 15-effort course with enough wide and technically challenging angles in the track. The jump-off consisted of eight more efforts and the competition in Virginia will not disappoint you with their speed. To win was enough risk and all the speed I could gather without faulting."

Riders had 95 seconds to complete the first round, and 55 seconds were allowed for the shortened course. Henselwood finished in 40.626.

Finishing the course just under a second behind Henselwood was Leann Kelly on Leander, owned by Honorway Farm LLC in 41.268 seconds. Kelly went ninth, the last double-clear round, pushing Aaron Vale on Troy Glaus' Quidam's Good Luck into third place.


(c) ESI Photography
Jill Henselwood and Bolero HX jump victoriously in the $15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix High at the HITS Culpeper Commonwealth National show on April 17, 2015 at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia.


(c) ESI Photography
Jill Henselwood and Bolero HX, after taking first place in the $15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix High at the HITS Culpeper Commonwealth National show on April 17, 2015 at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia.

$15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix

Place Horse Owner Rider Prize Round 1 Faults JO Faults JO Time
1 Bolero HX Bradon Equestrian Jill Henselwood $4,350 0 0 40.626
2 Leander Honorway Farm LLC Leann Kelly
$3,150
0 0 41.268
3 Quidam's Good Luck Troy Glaus Aaron Vale $2,100 0 0 41.466
4 Caesar Z Jaclyn Duff Jaclyn Duff $1,400 0 0 42.439
5 Sensation 21 Hooves LLC Alison Robitaille $1,100 0 0 42.522
6 Gentley Filip De Wandel Filip De Wandel $800 0 0 43.004
7 Esprit The Springledge Group Sloane Coles $650 0 0 44.681
8 Wilhelmus S Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone Christina Firestone $550 0 0 46.613
9 Tamara 296 The Tomorrow Group Brian Walker $450 0 4 45.049
10 Best Wishes Gut Einhaus, LLC Brian Walker $450 0 8 41.411

Christina Firestone and Chantilly Take First in $10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic, presented by Vetera® XP Vaccines

Trumping a four-rider jump-off, Christina Firestone and Chantilly took the lead in Sunday's $10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic, presented by Vetera® XP Vaccines at HITS Culpeper.

The pair finished the shortened course in 42.021 — the first to go double-clear. They held onto their lead and bested the two other double-clear rounds to hold onto first place.

Finishing second was Julia Madigan on her Vintovara in 43.950.

Rounding out third in 44.153 second was Alexa Lowe-Wiseman on Ami du Houssoit, owned by Windsor Farm Sales. In fourth was Noel Fauntleroy, on her Cabras, who had four faults in the jump-off and finished in 48.042 seconds.


(c) ESI Photography
Christina Firestone and Chantilly, owned by Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone, win the Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic, presented by Vetera® XP Vaccines, at HITS Culpeper on Sunday, April 20, 2015.

$10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic, presented by Vetera® XP Vaccines

Place Horse Owner Rider Prize Round 1 Faults JO Faults JO Time
1 Chantilly Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone Christina Firestone $2,800 0 0 42.021
2 Vintovara Julia Madigan Julia Madigan $1,800 0 0 43.950
3 Ami du Houssoit Windsor Farm Sales Alexa Lowe-Wiseman $1,250 0 0 44.153
4 Cabras Noel Fauntleroy Noel Fauntleroy $900 0 4 48.042
5 Mi Phone Thinkslikeahorse Mallory Vale $800 2 * *
6 Acanto 7 Kate Mulligan Kate Mulligan $700 4 * *
7 Charmeur Ask Melissa Rudershausen Melissa Rudershausen $600 4 * *
8 Abracadabra Melissa Rudershausen Melissa Rudershausen $450 4 * *
9 Ganjana 2 Noel Fauntleroy Noel Fauntleroy $350 4 * *
10 Hermelien VD Hooghoeve Ali Ramsay Ali Ramsay $350 4 * *


About Boehringer Ingelheim
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI), makers of Vetera® XP Vaccines, is the U.S. animal health division of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation, a family-owned company founded in 1885 in Ingelheim, Germany. Over the past 25 years, BIVI has supported its growth through research and development of innovative products for the livestock, equine and companion animal markets. Innovation and research are the keys to BIVI success. Dedicated to improving the lives and well-being of animals, BIVI continues to seek ways to further research and develop optimum solutions for the animal health industry.

About Brook Ledge
Brook Ledge is committed to providing outstanding service in horse transportation. Whether your horses are champions or companions, they are equally important and will receive the highest care and attention. Brook Ledge has become synonymous with comfort, care and safety in horse transportation.