Medal Mania Highlights Marshall & Sterling Insurance League National Finals

SAUGERTIES, NY (September 12, 2013) – The 2013 Marshall & Sterling Insurance League National Finals wrapped at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York as the Children’s and Adult Medal Finals took the stage. The League Finalists gave onlookers a chance to preview the future of the sport as both the Marshall & Sterling League National Finals and the HITS Saugerties summer season came to a close.

Children’s Pony Medal Final – Small/Medium
Mary Mazzarella of Tolland, Connecticut made her last show on a pony count. She and her own Libby Lou Who rode to a win in the Children’s Pony Medal Final - Small/Medium and topped 42 fellow competitors. They impressed all onlookers posting a 92 in the first round and returning for a 78 and a total of 170 for the win. Mazzarella was also presented with the Best Junior Rider on a Pony award.

Mazzarella, who is in eighth grade at St. James School in Connecticut, rides with Martha and Armand Chenelle of Windcrest Farm. According to Martha, Mazzarella made a last minute decision to come to the finals and the trip paid off. “She works harder than any student I have ever had, and she deserved this win,” added Chenelle.

Kathryn Hall of New York, New York rode One Hot Pepper, owned by Joe Currais to second place and Hannah Clark of Oviedo, Florida piloted her own Wish Upon A Star to third. Fourth-place awards were presented to Sophee Steckbeck of Clarksburg, Virginia and her own Coconut Creek. Sophia Comi of Colchester, Virginia rounded out the top five with her own Sambuca.

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Mary Mazzarella on course.

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Joe Norick of Marshall & Sterling Insurance is joined by Kristen Vale and Shelly Nelson of HITS to congratulate Mary Mazzarella.

Children’s Pony Medal Final – Large
According to Terry Gonzalez of TM Hills Farm, who trains Emily LoVece of Ocala, Florida, they have been working all year long in preparation for the Marshall & Sterling Insurance League National Finals. LoVece rode her own Medoc De Livre to the Children’s Pony Medal Final – Large win.

“She has worked hard, ridden without stirrups and prepared for this day,” said Gonzalez. “We love the atmosphere at this final – the ring and courses make these riders feel like they are in the grand prix and at some point many of them will be.”

Gonzalez and LoVece made the trip from Florida for the finals and will now begin preparing for the HITS Winter Circuit in Ocala.

Tiffany Falcone of Morganville, New Jersey jumped Olivia Thomas’ Johnny Rocket to second place and Caroline Carrara of Cornwall, Vermont rode Connie Sellman’s Sweet Treat to third. Cristyn Edwards of Villas, New Jersey was fourth with Pembrook Farm’s Gingersnap and Aurelie Guss of Old Brookville, New York capped with top five on Ross Kaplan’s Foxcry’s After Dark.

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Emily LoVece on course.

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Joe Norick of Marshall & Sterling Insurance is joined by Kristen Vale of HITS to presented winner's awards to Emily LoVece.

SmartPak Children’s Medal Final – Horse
Eighty-four competitors took to the Strongid® C 2X Grand Prix Stadium during the Marshall & Sterling Insurance League National Finals for the SmartPak Children’s Medal Final for horses. Kennedy Knapic of Smithtown, New York, who trains with James Benedetto, rose to the top in the first round, riding her own Zedulon to an 84.

“When we walked course, James gave me a lot of strategy, so I was confident, but I just tried to stay focused and calm,” said Knapic who rode 66th in the original order.

Once the top twelve was decided, Knapic returned in second place and posted the high score of the second round with an 89 for a total score of 172. Margaret Munz of Long Valley New Jersey posted a two-round total of 171 with Alexandra Walsh’s Eur-Honor and the two were asked to test on the flat to determine the winner. Knapic returned to the ring for a third time and her performance on the flat guaranteed her the win and contributed to her being named the Best Junior Rider on a horse during the finals.

“She’s a hard worker and really kept her cool under pressure today,” said Benedetto. “She watched the first 20 ride and then I sent her back to the barn to focus. The best riders definitely rose to the top today.”

This was Knapic’s second appearance in the finals and she admits that she loves the pressure. “It got really close at the end, but I loved every minute of it.”

After three round of heated competition, Munz and Eur-Honor were second, while Shannon Eckel of Rockaway, New Jersey rode to third on her own Bugattie. Page Soper of Southport, Connecticut was fourth with her own They Say and Danelle Moraski of new Hampton, New York capped the top five with her own Island Paradise.

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Kennedy Knapic jumper her way to a win.

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Kristen Vale and Shelly Nelson of HITS present top honors to Kennedy Knapic.

Adult Medal Final
Audrey Gallagher of Richmond, Virginia won the Adult Medal Final with Alexandra Worthington’s Romina 58. Out of 45 competitors, Gallagher scored the highest in the first round with a 90 and combined it with and 87 in the second for a total of 177 and the win.

“The course asked a lot of questions. You had to collect, go forward and see striding,” said Gallagher. “I was really happy with my first trip and even happier with my second.”

When she isn’t riding, Gallagher attends the University of Georgia as a sophomore and rides on their equestrian team. She trains with Don Stewart and Kristi Smith, but was under the direction of Mark Jungherr for the Marshall & Sterling Insurance League National Finals.

Lauren Muller of Bradenton, Florida was second on Lisa Beebe’s Love and honor, while Jennifer Dorfman of Brooklyn, New York rode her own Sampson to third. Fourth went to Cori Reich of Ivyland, Pennsylvania and Lori Reich’s Gentleman’s Way. Tracy LaManna of Ramsey, New Jersey rounded out the top five on On Point Farm, LLC’s Match Point.

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Audrey Gallagher  on course.

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Kristen Vale and Shelly Nelson of HITS honor Audrey Gallagher.

Grand Hunter Champion
At the conclusion of the hunter divisions over the weekend, the Grand Hunter Champion Award was presented to two of the most successful hunters and their riders. Lena Reeb of Weston, Connecticut and Jamie Ringel’s Private Ryan, as well as Rob Burroughs of Pompton Plains, New Jersey aboard Tricia Flood’s Spellbound took home the honor. Both pairs championed in the HITS Working Hunter divisions earlier in the week, Reeb in the non-professional and Burroughs in the professional.

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Joe Norick of Marshall & Sterling Insurance and Kristen Vale of HITS present Grand Hunter Champion awards to Lena Reeb and Private Ryan.

Year-End Award Winners Honored
As the Marshall & Sterling League celebrated its 23rd year of competition, the League’s National Finals put an end to the qualifying season naming year-end award winners at the annual awards banquet. The banquet was hosted at the popular Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern in Saugerties, New York. Perfect Products, a supporting sponsor of the Marshall & Sterling Insurance League presented each top ten awards winner with a $125 gift certificate as a reward to a season of hard work and dedication to the sport.

Perfect Products is dedicated to providing innovative solutions to problems confronting the high level equine athlete. As a growing leader in the equine industry since their 2006 release of Perfect Prep - an effective, safe and ethical calming system - Perfect Products continues to develop and market cutting edge formulas that are easy to use and improve equine performance.   

“It was very exciting to have Perfect Products involved this year and their contribution made the finals even more special for the hard-working riders who qualified all year to get here,” said HITS Sponsorship Coordinator Chris Mayone.

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Joe Norick of Marshall & Sterling Insurance congratulates Mary Mead on her 2013 high-point awards i the Junior/Amateur Horsemanship Medal.

For a complete look at this year's results, click here. To view the top ten year-end winners, click here.

About SmartPak
SmartPak Equine was founded in 1999 with the purpose of simplifying the administration of nutritional supplements and medications to horses. The patented SmartPak™ supplement feeding system has been adopted by thousands of barns and horse owners across the country, who value knowing that their supplements will be fed correctly. It has been embraced by riders from all disciplines and all levels, including seven Olympic medalists. In addition to the SmartPak supplement system, the company offers a broad line of horse health and rider items, dog supplies, and equine and canine pharmacy items sold through the company's catalog and Web site.

SmartPak continues to find innovative ways to support and expand throughout the equestrian community. From their sponsorship of equine events at all levels of riding, their support of top riders through the Team SmartPak program, to the aid of equine nonprofits and organizations in need, SmartPak is committed to supporting the equine communities that it serves.

About The Marshall & Sterling League
The Marshall & Sterling League was designed to enhance the level of competition for children and adult riders, with an opportunity to qualify for a prestigious National Finals competition. Now celebrating their 22nd year, the Marshall & Sterling League features 14 divisions of competition. Riders who are members of the League had the opportunity to earn points throughout the year by competing in Marshall & Sterling classes in order to qualify for the Marshall & Sterling League Finals, held at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.

The Marshall & Sterling League is proudly sponsored by Marshall & Sterling Insurance, Inc. 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 is recognized throughout the nation as a leader in providing exceptional service and support. The company maintains a national presence and is licensed in all 50 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands.