FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2006

CULPEPER, VA (July 17, 2006)—Mark Jungherr rode Olinoeska to win Sunday's $40,000 HITS Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper capping off a week of show jumping at the Cavalier Classic Horse Show. He negotiated the only double-clear round on Danny Foster's challenging course.

Six horses advanced to the jump-off, with Jungherr stopping the clocks in the jump-off at 50.140. Ironically, it was the slowest of all competitors in the round. But he was careful enough not to drop any rails and still get in under the 54 seconds allowed by Foster. Jungherr was the 20th of 25 starters to tackle Foster's first round course and made it through all the way clear in 88.682.

The first to go in the jump-off were Kirk Webby and Sitah. Rails down on jumps four, six and nine landed him in sixth place. Next was Ian Silitch and Escapade. Jump six proved troublesome for the riders, as Silitch dropped that rail and a fault on jump 12 gave him an eight-fault score putting him in fifth place.

Fence 12 ruined Melissa Rudershausen and Prins' chance at a blue-ribbon, as the second to last jump on the jump-off course was her only error. She still claimed third place and $5,200 in prize money. Finally, Jungherr managed to go through clear setting the pace for the two mounts that followed him. However, neither could catch him as he grabbed $12,000 in prize money for Olinoeska's owners Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Waters. "Watching three other riders really helped me win today," said Jungherr. "I knew that with only two riders left to go after me, I could take my time and have a great chance to win."

Pato Muente and Asdi Villagana took their shot first, but two rails down landed Muente in fourth place. However, in three grand prix classes at HITS Culpeper this year, Muente has placed no lower than fourth, including a first place performance in the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix, on April 24.

Laura Linback was last in the jump-off and finished second in the grand prix for the second week in a row. Linback rode Remember Me 9 close to perfection, but jump nine kept her from the triumph. However, $8,500 in prize money is a nice consolation prize.

Jungherr earned some valuable points with the win as every grand prix at all HITS horse shows, including HITS Culpeper and HITS Saugerties is a qualifier for the United States Grand Prix League Finals. The finals for the league will be held in Culpeper on October 1, where $100,000 in prize money will be on the line. The event is limited to the top 30 United States Grand Prix League horse/rider combinations.

Show Jumping at HITS Culpeper resumes at the Winston National Horse Show August 16-20. For more information about show jumping at HITS Culpeper, as well as all other HITS venues, call 845.246.8833 or visit the HITS website www.HitsShows.com

HBO Children's Medal: Caroline Ball, California, MD
HBO Adult Medal: Virginia Louis, Amesbury, MA
HBO Junior Medal: Olivia Dorey, Sudberry, MA

Farnum Adult Hunter (18-35): Lion King, ridden and owned by Molly R. Wilkof, Chevy Chase, MD
Farnum Adult Hunter (36&over): Strategic Move, ridden and owned by Natalie Bledsoe, Rapdian, VA

Adequen Open Hunter: Madaket, ridden and owned by Abbey McGuire, Nokesville, VA

M&S Children's Hunter Classic: Keswick, ridden by Caroline Renker and owned by Tess Renker, North Hampton, NH
M&S Adult Hunter Classic: Tenacious, ridden and owned by Christina Gaither, Bahama, NC
M&S Children's Jumper Classic: James Kirk, ridden by Abbi Walker and owned by Millstream, Montpeiler Station, VA
M&S Adult Jumper Classic: Kick the Clouds, ridden and owned by Rebecca Forbes, Stuarts Draft, VA.