Another series of shows at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York has come to an end.
Another series of shows at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York has come to an end. The season concluded with a week spotlighting the top hunter, jumper, and equitation riders at the Marshall & Sterling Insurance League National Finals.
HITS Working Hunter 2’6” Professional In the HITS Working Hunter 2’6” Professional Division, BEN Z, guided by Germaine Dougherty, came out as the Champions. BEN Z and Dougherty won their second Over Fences class with a score of 85 and the Under Saddle. CORIANDER, ridden by Brooke Chasin, was Reserve Champion in this Division with a first and second place in the Over Fences and fourth place in the Under Saddle.
HITS Working Hunter 2’6” Non-Professional TOWN CRIER ridden by Lindsay Neill and LA VIE’S LEGACY ridden by Caitlyn Tomlin tied for Champion in the HITS Working Hunter 2’6” Non-Professional Division. Each pair won a blue ribbon in the Over Fences classes with scores of 87 and 84, respectively.
HITS Working Hunter 2’ With a first and third in the Over Fences classes and a fourth in the Under Saddle, DEBONAIRE and Carolyn Ullerick captured the Champion title in the HITS Working Hunter 2’ Division. Ullerick guided DEBONAIRE to scores of 80 and 83.5. Taking the Reserve Champion title was Winter Tietjen aboard POKERFACE. Tietjen scored an 85 in one of her Over Fences classes, locking her in for the win, and was third Under Saddle.
Adequan Working Hunter CARIBBEAN BEACH and Aria Shoemaker were the Champions of the Adequan Working Hunter Division, with wins in both the Over Fences classes and placing third Under Saddle. With a total of 24 points, CARIBBEAN BEACH was also named Grand Hunter Champion. PAPPY VAN WINKLE and Shannon Dickenson were the Reserve Champions of the Adequan Working Hunter Division, placing second in both Over Fences Classes and in the Under Saddle.
Adult Working Hunter The Adult Working Hunter Division Champion was REDFORD, ridden by Tracie Glicker. Taking the blue ribbons in both the Over Fences classes with scores of 85 and 87 ensured not only the tri-color ribbon, but vaulted the duo to the Grand Hunter Reserve Championship and Best Adult Rider Award. Reserve Champion of the Adult Working Hunter Division was CHERRY B ridden by Kelly Champion, placing fifth and second Over Fences, and sixth Under Saddle.
Children’s Working Hunter Horse 14/U The Winner’s Circle was a familiar spot for Grace Gara as she was the Champion of the Children’s Working Hunter 14 and Under Division aboard WINSTON. Gara placed first in the second Over Fences class and in the Under Saddle with WINSTON. Judges also named Gara as the Best Junior Rider on a Horse. Reserve Champion of the Children’s Working Hunter 14 and Under Division was EUR-HONOR, ridden by Kate Egan. EUR-HONOR and Egan were second and third Over Fences, and second Under Saddle.
Children’s Working Hunter Horse 15-17 BEN Z found his way to the Winner’s Circle again, this time as the Champion of the Children’s Working Hunter Horse 15-17 Division with Kathryn Pizzuti. A score of 80 would secure the blue ribbon in the second Over Fences class, and they placed third Under Saddle. The Reserve Champions of the Children’s Working Hunter 15-17 Division were Applause and Hayden Wilkes. APPLAUSE and Wilkes were first and sixth Over Fences, and seventh Under Saddle.
Tracie Glicker and REDFORD
Grace Gara and WINSTON
Children’s Working Hunter Small Pony Walking away with wins in both Over Fences classes secured the Champion title for HEAVEN SCENT RAINDROP and Grace Bankowski in the Children’s Working Hunter Small Pony Division. HEAVEN SCENT RAINDROP and Bankowski topped the field with scores of 83 and 85, and a seventh place finish in the Under Saddle class. OOMPA LOOMPA and Alexandra Sica were second and sixth Over Fences and fouth Under Saddle which was enough to earn them the Reserve Champion title of the Division.
Children’s Working Hunter Medium Pony HILLCREST LEADING LADY and Helen Ryan won both of their Over Fences classes with a score of 90 in each to take home the Champion title for the Children’s Working Hunter Medium Pony Division. Ryan was also awarded the Best Rider Award on a Pony and was tied for the Grand Hunter Reserve Championship. CHAMPLAINE CELEBRATION ridden by Sophie Whidden and NORTHWINDS TOP SECRET ridden by Ella Witt tied for Reserve Champion in the Children’s Working Hunter Medium Pony Division. Each of the Reserve Champions placed second in one of the Over Fences classes.
Children’s Working Hunter Pony Large In the Children’s Working Hunter Pony Large Division, WATERLILY and Charis Baumann were crowned the Champions. They placed first and third Over Fences, with scores of 87 and 83, and were fourth Under Saddle. The Reserve Champion was MAPLESIDE CORINTHIAN with rider Julia Ryan. They captured a blue ribbon in the second Over Fences class with a score of 85 and a second Under Saddle.
Helen Ryan and HILLCREST LEADING LADY
$1,500 Bit O’ Straw Hunter Classic Topping a field of 67 entries in the $1,500 Bit O’ Straw Hunter Classic were BE BRILLIANT and Isabel Massart. The pair received the high score of 87 in the first round and while their second round score was not as strong, they hung onto the lead. A score of 83.5 in the second round gave them a two round total of 170.5.
Less than three points behind were COUNT FLEETWOOD and Haylee Scandell who earned a first round score of 83 and a second round score of 85 for a two round total of 168. In third place was ALL DRESSED UP, guided by Sophie Robinson, who earned a score of 84 in the first round and 82 in the second round for a two round total of 166, just two points behind the second place winner.
Novice Children’s and Adult Hunter Classics This year HITS added two new divisions to the Marshall & Sterling League; the Novice Children’s and Adult Hunter Classics.
AIR TIME and Gianna Salituri brought home a win in the Novice Children’s Hunter Classic with a score of 85. Just behind the class winner was PORTOFINO RAMIRO ridden by Hannah Jablons scoring an 84, then VIVALDI in third, ridden by Maya Freidson, with a score of 83.
LUMINARY and Tricia Flood received the blue ribbon with a score of 83 in the Novice Adult Hunter Classic. Amy Porchetta riding COLOUR MAGI, came in second with a score of 79, and in third was ROOSEVELT ridden by Elizabeth Stover, with a score of 77.
Isabel Massart and BE BRILLIANT
$7,500 Children’s Jumper Classic The $7,500 Children’s Jumper Classic allowed riders 84 Seconds to take to Round One of the course, fault free. Five completed the challenge and moved on to the Jump-Off. With a time of 40.639 and no faults in the Jump-Off, FINNEGAN and Sophia Kelly won the class. Just 0.360 behind Kelly was Jayna Suoninen aboard DOLLAR DI RIBANO, with another fault free ride in 41.001. Coming in third was Natalie Meyer riding LA LUNA’S QUINTAGO, with a clean round in 46.492. Although Martha Wyatt-Luth and CHEVAL Z had the fastest time in the Jump-Off at 39.544, they had 4 faults which put them into the fourth place position. Taylor Kraft aboard COSMOPOLITE S finished in fifth place with a time of 42.355 and 4 faults.
$7,500 Adult Jumper Classic On top in the $7,500 Adult Jumper Classic were ELEVATION 1147 and Kendall Casaccio, who had two fault free rides in the class. One of just two riders who came back clean after the First Round, they bested the field with a time of 39.399 in the Jump-Off. Behind Casaccio was HJ SOBERANO ridden by Emily Throop, again with two fault free rides. Throop showed up in second with a time of 42.061 in the Jump-Off.
Sophia Kelly and FINNEGAN
Kendall Casaccio and ELEVATION 1147
$3,500 Modified Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic Four of the competitors in the $3,500 Modified Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic went clean in the First Round and in the Jump-Off, and less than two seconds separated the top three riders. Besting the field were BONITA and Joanne Murphy-Clemente stopping the timers at 40.014. Coming in a close second was Maliclaire Glancy aboard SHAZAM, with a time of 41.372. In third were FLOWERHILL FLORNCE and Esme Waldmann with a Jump-Off time of 41.731. BLEU MAGIC G and Maggie Fraley took home fourth with two clear rounds and a Jump-Off time of 47.308.
$3,500 Low Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic BAVARO and Blythe Novick had two clear rounds to capture the win in the $3,500 Modified Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic. With a Jump-Off time of 37.859, Novick was almost three seconds faster than the second place exhibitor, Annika Srivastava, who captured both the second and third place titles in the class. Srivastava’s second place mount was UPCOUNTRY PANTEON, with a Jump-Off time of 40.749, and just behind was JOEY with a Jump-Off time of 41.233 to round out the top three.
M&S Junior Medal Final In the Marshall & Sterling Junior Medal Final, Mackenzie Suffy had two breathtaking trips to land the blue ribbon in the class. Suffy bested the field in Round One with a score of 87, then came back and did it again in Round Two with a score of 85 – this left her with a two round total of 172.
In second was Claire Chestnutt with a two round total of 167, followed by Conal Mueller who scored a 158 between his two rounds. The fourth place ribbon was awarded to Zoe Kirsch who scored a 156, followed by Stella Propp in fifth, with a two round total of 155.
Dover Saddlery Adult Medal Final Tracie Glicker made another appearance in the Winner’s Circle, this time for the Dover Saddlery Adult Medal Final. Scoring an 85 in both Round One and Round Two, for a total of 170 put Glicker at the top of the standings.
In second was Meredith Maxwell, receiving a two round total of 163. The third and fourth place rides had scores just a hair lower than Maxwell. In third, with a combined score of 162, was Kendall Casaccio. The fourth place award was taken home by Lia Magnani, who scored a 161.5 between her two rounds. Coming in fifth place, with a combined score of 161, was Charlotte Kessler.
Back on Track Children’s Medal Final Melanie Dunton bested a field of 61 competitors in the Back on Track Children’s Medal Final. Dunton came out on top with scores of 88 and 90 for a two round total of 178. Knowing that she had the second highest score in Round One, Dunton would need to put in a flawless trip to take the lead. Spectators held their breath and the anticipation was high as she completed her Second Round, waiting to see if her score would be high enough to win the class.
Coming in second was Miranda Leibstein, who had the high score after the first round, with a two round total of 173. In third was Kate Egan with a combined score of 172, and the white ribbon to Ashleigh Scully who scored a 167.5 between their two rounds. Rounding out the top five was Sam Koeppel with a score of 167 between her two rounds.
Melanie Dunton
M&S Child Small/Medium Pony Medal Final In the Marshall & Sterling Small/Medium Pony Medal Finals, Isobel Stanger rose to the top of the standings. After the first round, Stanger was ranked third in the standings with a score of 82. A score of 80.5 in the second round was high enough to give her a two round total of 162.5 and move her up to first place in the class.
Following closely behind Stanger was Caroline Cole who rode to a two round total of 162. In third was Victoria Holtz, with a total of 160 between her two rounds. The fourth place ribbon was awarded to Kayla Maurer who received a total score of 156, and fifth place was awarded to Tabitha Tobias who scored a two round total of 153.
M&S Child Large Pony Medal Final Forty-three exhibitors went head to head for the blue ribbon in the Marshall & Sterling Large Pony Medal Final. Coming out on top was Eloise Foster. Foster navigated both rounds carefully with scores of 83 and 80, for a two round total of 163, which put her on top.
Just one half of a points behind, with a two round total of 162.5, was Mae Gordon. Gordon’s strong second round score of 83 would move her into the second place position. In third was Jordan Kim, having scored a two round total of 157.5, followed closely by Olivia Corwin who scored a 157 for her two rounds. The pink ribbon went to Molly Walsh after she scored a two round total of 156.
Isobel Stanger
Eloise Foster
M&S 2’6” Child Medal Final In the Marshall & Sterling 2’6” Child Medal Final, Grey Schweitzer soared to the top of the standings with a score of 168. Receiving an 83 in Round One, Schweitzer came back for Round Two and gave her all to score the 85 that put her on top.
In second, with a two round total of 166, was Annabella Szczerbak. Third place honors went to Isabel Rudaz, who scored a 163.5, followed by the rider that received a total of 162.5; Sara Gottberg. Fifth place honors went to Elizabeth Fortunato, who scored a 156.75 total in her two rounds.
M&S 2’6” Adult Medal Final The top twelve competitors after Round One of the Marshall & Sterling 2’6” Adult Medal Final returned to test on the flat. Capturing the win in this class, was Renee Russo.
Lindsay Neill took home second place honors, followed by Jamie Vaz in third, and Maria Sorrentino in fourth. The fifth place ribbon went to Elizabeth Stover.
M&S Junior/Amateur Horsemanship Medal Final The Marshall & Sterling Junior/Amateur Horsemanship Medal Final was designed to test a rider’s skills over fences and on the flat. Twenty-one exhibitors took to the over fence phase, and in order to be one of the top twelve that returned for the flat phase, riders would have to receive a score of 73 or higher. The class winner, Annalise Manoog, scored an 82 over fences putting her in second before testing on the flat, but a strong performance in the flat phase gave her the win
In second was Abigail Lowin, followed by Conal Mueller receiving the yellow ribbon, and fourth place honors going to Sarah Kessler. In the fifth place position and receiving the pink ribbon was Maggie Fraley.
Congratulations to all exhibitors who joined us at the Marshall & Sterling Insurance League National Finals. The qualification period for the 2018 Finals, being held September 12-16, is underway. Click here to join today!
All Photos Courtesy of ESI Photography
About HITS, Inc. HITS, Inc. produces high-quality, international-level hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the Village of Saugerties, HITS has been producing shows since 1982 and is now a nationwide company with world-class circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York, and Virginia.
While hosting the richest weekend in show jumping at HITS-on-the-Hudson, HITS also formed the Triple Crown of Show Jumping. This includes the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix in Thermal, California, the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix in Ocala, Florida, and the Saugerties $1 Million Grand Prix FEI CSI-5* in Saugerties, New York.
