Augusta Iwasaki Stacks the Leaderboard, Takes Home $3,000 West Coast Pony Hunter Final
Thermal, CA (November 4, 2014): Week I of the National Sunshine Series came to a close on Sunday afternoon as Augusta Iwasaki and Bit of Laughter took home first place in the $3,000 West Coast Pony Hunter Final. The pair, scoring 87 and 80 for a total 167, was presented with the iconic Cymraeg Rainshower Memorial Trophy, donated by the Zucker Family, a tradition since 2002.
Iwasaki, of Calabasas, California, stacked the leaderboard, also placing fourth on Super Cool with 77 and 82, sixth on Grand All Over with 73 and 84, and seventh on Somekindofwonderful with 78 and 76.
"All of my ponies were really good," said Iwasaki after her win. "I have so much fun riding each of the different ones and they all were nice today."
Many young riders have taken advantage of the competitive pony classes offered at National Sunshine Series, allowing them a unique opportunity to prove themselves in the show ring and associate with their idols in both the hunter and jumper rings.
Brook Morin, of Los Altos Hills, California, aboard Always Happy took second with scores of 79 and 84, as well as third on Party Favor, scoring 75 and 85. Rancho Santa Fe, California native, Jillian Stuart, rode Anisette to cap the top five with scores of 86 and 72.
-Kathy Hobstetter for HITS, Inc
$3,000 West Coast Pony Hunter Final
Place | Horse | Owner | Rider | Prize | Rd. 1/2 | Total |
1 | Bit of Laughter | Elizabeth Reilly | Augusta Iwasaki | 900 | 87/80 | 167 |
2 | Always Happy | Laura Strasburg | Brooke Morin | 600 | 79/84 | 163 |
3 | Party Favor | Laura Strasburg | Brooke Morin | 405 | 75/85 | 160 |
4 | Super Cool | Iwasaki & Reilly | Augusta Iwasaki | 300 | 77/82 | 159 |
5 | Anisette | Jillian Stuart | Jillian Stuart | 255 | 86/72 | 158 |
6 | Grand all over | Iwasaki & Reilly | Augusta Iwasaki | 195 | 73/84 | 157 |
7 | somekindawonderful | Iwasaki & Reilly | Augusta Iwasaki | 195 | 78/76 | 154 |
8 | Prom Queen | Virginia Bonnie | Virginia Bonnie | 150 | 82/71 | 153 |
9 | Heavenly Patch of Blue | Kellie Purfoy | Anna Moellenhoff | - | 82/70 | 152 |
10 | Astro boy | Amber Ayyad | Amber Ayyad | - | 81/70 | 151 |
11 | Highland's Heaven Sent | Amber Ayyad | Amber Ayyad | - | 80/70 | 150 |
12 | Shine On | Grace Tuton | Grace Tuton | - | 74/75.5 | 149.5 |
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, presented by Mortgage Call, in Thermal, California, the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix in Ocala, Florida and Saugerties $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Wells Fargo, in Saugerties, New York.
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.
2015 Horse Show Dates
HITS Desert Circuit | Thermal, CA | January 13 - March 15, 2015
HITS Ocala Winter Circuit | Ocala, FL | January 13 - March 23, 2015
HITS Arizona Winter Circuit | Tucson, AZ | January 28 - March 8, 2015
HITS Culpeper Show Series | Culpeper, VA | April / July / August / September
HITS Saugerties Show Series | Saugerties, NY | May-June / July-August / September
HITS Championship | Saugerties, NY | September 2-6, 2015
HITS Marshall & Sterling Insurance National Finals | September 9-13, 2015
National Sunshine Series | October 28 - November 8, 2015