OCALA, FL (January 26, 2012) – Competition is now in full swing at HITS' Post Time Farm in Ocala, FL as the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit put the first of nine weeks of hunter/jumper showing to bed. Highlighting both pre-circuit weeks at HITS Ocala is the $20,500 Marshall & Sterling Children's/Adult Jumper Championship. The first two legs of the Championship set up Ashley Reed with a one-point lead in the standings.
$20,500 Marshall & Sterling Children's/Adult Jumper Championship – 1st leg
Reed, out of Winnetka, IL, road her own Madonna to victory in Friday's $2,500 leg to kick off the Championship. The pair tackled Jerry Dougherty's 13-effort speed course and crushed the time allowed of 91 seconds to post a winning round in 70.358 seconds. Reed was one of eight to go clear.
“I loved the course,” said Reed. “My horse adores speed and is naturally fast. The course was perfect for us, but also presented some nice turns.”
Reed and Madonna have been in the show ring together for about a year and a half and she is hopeful about their chances at an overall victory in the Marshall & Sterling Children's/Adult Jumper Championship.
“Madonna is very adaptable and reads the ring well. She can jump and Children's course one day and go out a jump the Grand Prix the next,” said Reed. “I have a lot of faith in her - we are going to go out and give it our best and I hope we come out on top.”
Reed posted the fourth clear round out of 36 total competitors and knocked Stephanie Novas of Lake Forest, IL from the leader board on Friday. Novas rode the course in 72.379 seconds aboard Lance Williamson's FastBreak to eventually finish in second place. Morgan Bailey of West Palm Beach, FL found herself in the top three after riding the course in 78.706 seconds in the irons of her own Donald . Kate Jenks of Colorado Springs, CO sat second with a time of 78.980 seconds until Reed bumped her and her own Breakfast at Tiffany's to third. Bailey eventually knocked Jenks down to finish in fourth. Sunny Drescher of Hinesburg, VT and Banner Farm's Barolo rounded out the top five with a time of 81.565 seconds.
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Ashley Reed and her own Madonna on their way to clinching the first leg of the $20,500 Marshall & Sterling Children's/Adult Jumper Championship at HITS Ocala.
$20,500 Marshall & Sterling Child/Adult Jumper Championship – 2nd leg
The second leg of the championship took place on Sunday and offered a $4,000 jump-off class to 28 competitors. Eleven horse-and-rider-pairs completed Dougherty's 12-effort course fault-free and within the time allowed of 90 seconds to advance to the jump-off.
Wendy Libert of Hughesville, MD was the first to go double clear aboard Mr. and Mrs. John Bartko's Papillion Peanut with a faultless jump-off round in 39.458 seconds – well below the time allowed of 53 seconds. Libert will fly in from Maryland for the second half of the Championship and has high hopes for winning.
“It's a great opportunity to start off the Florida season with this type of challenge and I would love to do well,” said Libert. “The course rode well and [Papillion] Peanut was really quick in the jump-off. She made some great turns and I am lucky to have her.”
Libert won the class with close to five seconds to spare over Charlene Graham of Fairport, NY who finished the jump-off in 44.228 seconds in the irons of her own Capricette . Elizabeth Stachtiaris of Old Westbury, NY followed suit with a round in 45.896 seconds aboard her own Champus to finish in third. Drescher and Barolo , who finished fifth in Friday's first leg placed fourth in the second leg with a jump-off time of 46.289 seconds. David Richards of Reddick, FL rounded out the top five in the $4,000 class with a two-fault trip in 54.294 seconds aboard the Dammerman's and David Richards' Via Veneto .
©ESI Photography
Wendy Libert aboard Mr. & Mrs. John Bartko's Papillion Peanut in the second leg of the $20,500 Marshall & Sterling Children's/Adult Jumper Championship.
©ESI Photography
HITS' Lisa Engel presents Wendy Libert with winning honors after the $4,000 leg of the Marshall & Sterling Children's/Adult Jumper Championship at HITS Ocala.
Reed finished in seventh place in the second leg of the Championship after she picked up four faults with a rail down in the jump-off, but held on to first place in the overall standings with 59 total points.
“Wendy had a great round in the jump-off and we went out to beat her time,” she said. “Unfortunately it cost us a rail.”
Graham and Novas are currently tied for second place in the overall standings with 58 points apiece. The final two legs of the Championship will take place this week with $4,000 and $5,000 classes on Friday and Sunday, respectively. To top off the multi-phase class, an additional $5,000 Bonus will be awarded to the top eight competitors who have accumulate the most points throughout the four legs of competition.
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 21st 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. For more information contact Joe Norick at 800-333-3766, extension 270, 805-338-0099 or JNorick@MarshallSterling.com .
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. In 2010, HITS took the industry to new heights when it hosted the first-ever Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. In 2011, HITS hosted the richest weekend in show jumping with the return of the Pfizer Million and the introduction of the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final. In 2012, the historic weekend will get even sweeter with the addition of the $250,000 HITS 3' Hunter Prix Final September 8-9.
For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit www.HitsShows.com . Stay connected with HITS, join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter !
Media should contact the HITS Media Team at 845.246.8833 or e-mail Media_Info@HitsShows.com .
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