PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
February 27, 2006

TUCSON, AZ (February 27, 2006) -- Sharn Wordley and Mr. Flanagan out-jumped a field of 28 starters to score the blue ribbon in Sunday's $25,000 Grand Prix at HITS Arizona. The competition was run under USEF Table II, Section 2A, Time First Jump-Off. Anthony D'Ambrosio of Red Hook, New York was the course designer.

This was Sharn Wordley's second Grand Prix victory in four weeks of showing at HITS Arizona. He also won in week two with Mr. Flanagan. In week one they were second, and in week three they were third. Clearly, the sixteen-year-old Irish gelding is a consistent performer for Sharn Wordley. In the two years that he has owned Mr. Flanagan, Wordley has won 12 Grand Prix and in only three competitions has he placed out of the top three.

Eight riders mastered Anthony D'Ambrosio's first-round course. Alicia Jonsson was the first to attempt the speed phase aboard Don Francisco. She finished with four faults in 39.93 seconds.

Katie Berney and La Garanco posted the first clear round in a careful time of 41.45 seconds.

The next four riders each had a rail down. Christian Rogge and Monaco broke that trend when they sailed home clear with 39.98 seconds on the clock.

Sharn Wordley was the next to canter into the ring. "I got to watch Christian Rogge's round and obviously I wanted to clock in faster than him, but I also wanted to go quite a bit faster in case I had a rail down. There were a number of four-faulters (five), so I had to be faster than them to still get a good check."

Mr. Flanagan delivered the speed, stopping the timers in 36.90 seconds with all the rails in place. With almost three seconds off Christian Rogge's time, Sharn Wordley had comfortably won the competition. Wordley gave all credit to his horse. "He's a very fast horse, careful and scopey. A fantastic horse."

The 2006 HITS Arizona Winter Circuit will run for another two weeks at the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson, Arizona. Show jumping will resume at HITS Arizona on Wednesday, March 1, and the next Grand Prix show jumping event will be the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix on Sunday, March 5.

Other major award winners at HITS Arizona - Sahuaro Classic include:

HBO Junior Medal - OJ Berkes, Seattle, WA
HBO Children's Medal - Christine Gabel, Paradise Valley, AZ
Farnam Adult Hunter Division Champion (18-35) - Gianni, ridden by Ashley Dennehy, Greenwood Village, CO
Farnam Adult Hunter Division Champion (36-49) - Macchiato, ridden by Linda Moore, Bowie, TX
Farnam Adult Hunter Division Champion (50+) - Cloud Nine, ridden by Joyce Baldwin, Elizabeth, CO
Adequan® Open Hunter Division Champion - Dimaggio, ridden by Karen Stone, Blackforest, CO
Marshall & Sterling Children's Hunter Classic - Primary Colors, ridden by Cassie Moffatt, Paradise Valley, AZ
Marshall & Sterling Adult Hunter Classic - Highland Belle ridden by Tammy Sevy, Haily, ID
Marshall & Sterling Child/Adult Jumper Classic - Laura Teodori, Scottsdale, AZ riding Mazeppa

For complete horse show results please visit http://www.hitsshows.com.

$25,000 HITS Grand Prix - Sunday, February 26, 2006
Sahuaro Classic - HITS Arizona Winter Circuit, Tuscon, AZ
Course Designer: Anthony D'Ambrosio, Red Hook, New York

MEDIA CONTACT: Mary Creech, HITS Media & Public Relations, 319 Main Street, Saugerties, New York 12477-1330. Tel: 845-246-8833, Fax: 845-246-6371, E-Mail: mcreech@frontiernet.net. Web: www.HitsShows.com