Week VII of the 2022 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit has Concluded!

Seven weeks of the 2022 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit are now complete. The most recent week of competition, the Ocala Tournament, featured FEI CSI2* competition, the $50,000 HITS USEF Grand Prix, a $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, and numerous brilliant performances. Read on for the winners of Week VII's featured competition.
 
The first featured win of the week went to Hayley Waters in Wednesday's $5,000 Open Welcome. Waters posted the fastest of three fault-free jump-off times, crossing the timers in 46.315 aboard JUST LUCK.

2nd Place: Tracy Magness & CHOPIN DU CHATEAU HOLLOGNE Z [47.066]
3rd Place: Hunter Holloway & YELLOWSTONE [48.598]
In Thursday's $7,500 HITS Open Prix, Madison Kondracki rode into the winner's circle aboard STAKKO. Kondracki was the first rider to attempt the jump-off course and completed it in a quick 33.585.

2nd Place: Dominique Damico & JAMAICA [34.023]
3rd Place: Francois Lamontagne & THUNDERBIRD VH SCHEEFKASTEEL Z [34.041]
Thursday was also host to the first FEI CSI2* competition of the week, the $25,000 SmartPak Welcome. Riding OBI WAN, Aaron Vale "used the force" to claim his seventh win in FEI competition at HITS Ocala this year. After Lisa Goldman-Smolen committed incurred faults in her jump-off run, and Carly Campbell-Cooper elected to save her run for later in the week, Vale posted a clear time of 40.98. Dorothy Douglas was the final rider to attempt the course and completed it only two-tenths of a second slower than Vale.

2nd Place: Douglas & MTM CEDRIK [41.14]
3rd Place: Goldman-Smolen & NIKE [12-faults, 45.01]
The $50,000 FEI Grand Prix made for a great start to the day on Saturday morning. As the first rider in the jump-off, Carly Campbell-Cooper knocked down a rail on the first jump, leaving the door open for the four remaining competitors. Next, Aaron Vale set the Great American Time to Beat by completing the course cleanly in 42.35. Hunter Holloway gave that time her best shot, finishing only one-tenth of a second slower. Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Andre Thieme finished out the round with clean but slower runs, securing the win for Vale and PRESCOTT and making this the third week of the Circuit in which Vale has swept FEI competition!

2nd Place:  Holloway & DANA DE KERGLENN [42.46]
3rd Place:  Thieme & DSP CALLAS [43.39]
Competition in the Grand Prix Stadium concluded on Saturday with the $10,000 Post Time Classic. The only rider to advance to the jump-off round, Tracy Magness completed the course in 52.985 with INTENZ VAN HD to claim the blue ribbon.

2nd Place:  Scott Keach & WILD THING [4-faults, 76.640]
3rd Place:  Francois Lamontagne & THUNDERBIRD VH SCHEEFKASTEEL Z [4-faults, 77.252]
Aaron Vale put the exclamation point on his week with a one-two finish in Sunday's $50,000 HITS Grand Prix. Dorothy Douglas was the first rider to attempt the jump-off course and set the Great American Time to Beat at 51.232. Amanda Flint followed, but a fallen rail on the first jump thwarted her attempt. Vale was up next with a replaced shoe on his first of two jump-off rides and edged Douglas' time by two-hundredths of a second. Knowing he could only beat himself, Vale switched horses and found even more speed, completing Meghan Rawlins' course in 49.009 with CHACCMAN.

2nd Place:  Vale & COOPER Z [51.211]
3rd Place:  Douglas & MTM CEDRIK [51.232]
Jumper Classic Winners

$1,000 M&S Child/Adult Jumper Classic - Low: Helen Sharp &
KT KUNDERO

$1,500 M&S Child/Adult Jumper Classic - Medium: Schuyler Dayner & CORNET PS Z

$2,000 M&S/NAL/WIHS Child Jumper Classic - High: Chloe Halsnik & K RIVER

$2,000 M&S/NAL/WIHS Adult Jumper Classic - High: Erin Walker & EASTERN LOMA

$2,500 Pyranha/NAL Junior/Amateur 1.25m Jumper Classic: Laurel Blakemore &
FINE FLEUR

$5,000 Junior/Amateur 1.35m/1.45m Jumper Classic: Hayley Waters & SQUID
 

The Adeptus Leading Jumper Rider Award is presented each week to the rider accumulating the most points in one of the Open 0.65m to 1.40m divisions.

Congratulations to this week's winner:
Jenny Wheelan
 


Medal Winners


M&S Junior Medal: Wyatt Morris

Pyranha Children's Medal - Horse: Caroline Sordoni

Dover Saddlery Adult Medal: Mary Hunter Millet

M&S 2'6" Child/Adult Medal: Grace Blain
With her score of 88 in the first round, Emma Covarrubias took a four point lead into the second round of Saturday's $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix. Covarrubias scored an 89 in the second round for an overall total of 177 that earned her and ENDLESS JOY the blue ribbon, trophy, and Platinum Performance prizes. 

2nd Place:  Eva Bernstein & CORNET'S DIAMOND [161]
3rd Place:  Casey Zuraitis & INTREPID [153]
Kristen Bumpus bested the field by twelve points in Saturday's $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. Bumpus and QUIDAM'S REVEAL earned the highest score of each round, a 90 and a 93 respectively, for an overall total of 183.  

2nd Place: Shane Powell & KT LANSINI [171]
3rd Place:  Annie Walsh & LITTLE BOY BALOU [160]
Hunter Classic Winners

M&S Bit O' Straw Hunter Classic: Grace Blain & SHEARWATER HALLO

$500 M&S/NAL/WIHS Child Hunter Classic: Lilyana Spafford &
MARVELOUS

$500 SmartPak M&S/NAL/WIHS Adult Hunter Classic: Alexandra Cantin &
MINT CONDITION

$1,000 CWD Junior Hunter Classic 3'6": Augusta Iwasaki & ALAJOLIE

$1,000 Antares Junior Hunter Classic 3'3": Ella Witt & GAVALIA

$1,000 Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic 3'3"/3'6": Luke Sassi & COCORRADO

$1,000 Perfect Products Pony Hunter Classic: Liana Epstein & HOPSCOTCH
Click here for the full listing of results from the HITS Ocala Tournament.
Click here for the HITS Ocala Tournament photo galleries.