Laura Chapot Takes Day One of HITS Championship FEI Competition; Wins $34,000 FEI Saugerties Jumper Classic
SAUGERTIES, NY (September 4, 2015): It was a beautiful Wednesday in Saugerties, New York for the first afternoon of FEI-ranked competition. Starting the week off on the right foot, Laura Chapot, of Neshanic Station, New Jersey, and Quointreau Un Prince, co-owned with McLain Ward, swept through the $34,000 FEI Saugerties Jumper Classic course for another HITS Saugerties Series blue ribbon under her belt.
Sixty-seven competitors took a turn at the 13 effort course designed by Steve Stephens of Palmetto, Florida. Chapot, who is no stranger to the spotlight at HITS Saugerties, having won the Week IV $50,000 Horze Grand Prix and $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix earlier this summer with her 11 year old mount, was up against some of the globe’s top athletes including McLain Ward, Beezie Madden and Margie Engle.
“It was a really nice course for everyone’s first time in the ring,” said Chapot. “There were a fair number of clears and it had a few tricky spots that caught up with people but I think it gave everyone a fair chance to get in the ring and get started for the week.”
Chapot was one of 22 returning for at the jump-off and her positioning in the middle of the order gave her the opportunity to watch, and learn, from her competition.
“It’s always nice to be able to see other people go and understand how fast they are going or if there are any places to make up extra time,” added Chapot. “My strategy was to go as fast as I felt comfortable with my horse and shave off the turns as best I could, but not to go too fast where he would be flat out.”
Thirteenth in the order, Chapot sped through the course leaving it intact in a time of 37.19 for the lead. The next few entries were not as lucky, many resulting in a rail for four faults. It wasn’t until Roberto Teran and Arkos Des Rolsers Z, owned by ARK Partners LLC, navigated his way through the course that it felt like the chase was on. Clocking in at 38.21, Teran found himself finishing just behind the leading lady.
Next to go clear and twenty-first in the order, Kristen Vanderveen aboard Bull Run’s Eternal, owned by Bull Run Jumpers One LLC, sailed to a time of 37.91 to bump Teran to third and to secure her spot in second place.
Chapot closed with, “I’m thrilled to come out the first day and have a win with Quointreau Un Prince. He’s fast and in good form. I’m really excited to be in the ring.”
Fourth place went to Emanuel Andrade and his own Boy IV, followed by Catherine Tyree and Free Style VD Polderhof, owned by Joseph and Mary Tyree.
FEI competition continues at HITS Saugerties on Friday, September 4 for the $34,000 HITS Jumper Classic, which is the only qualifying opportunity for Sunday’s CP $1 Million Grand Prix FEI CSI-5*, presented by Wells Fargo. Friday’s event will be webcast live beginning at 12 noon EST on HITS TV onwww.HitsShows.com.
All eyes will be on the Grand Prix Stadium Sunday, September 6 for the highest ranked class in US show jumping this year – the Canadian Pacific $1 Million Grand Prix FEI CSI-5*, presented by Wells Fargo.
General Admission tickets and Day VIP passes are still available for Sunday’s main event. Additionally, HITS will webcast select classes through the week and weekend LIVE. For more information, please visit www.HitsShows.com.
Place
Horse
Owner
Rider
Prize
Round 1 Faults
JO Faults
JO Time
1
Quointreau Un Prince
Laura Chapot & McLain Ward
Laura Chapot
11220
-
-
37.19
2
Bull Run's Eternal
Bull Run Jumpers One LLC
Kristen VanderVeen
6800
-
-
37.91
3
Arkos Des Roisers Z
ARK Partners LLC
Roberto Teran
5100
-
-
38.21
4
Boy IV
Emanuel Andrade
Emanuel Andrade
3400
-
-
38.53
5
Free Style VD Polderhof
Joseph & Mary Tyree
Catherine Tyree
2040
-
-
38.54
6
Heros de Papignies Z
Alejandro Zendejas
Kirsten Coe
1530
-
-
39.54
7
RMF Bella Baloubet
Rushy Marsh Farm LLC
Kimberly Prince
1020
-
-
40.25
8
Indigo
Gladewinds Farm Inc
Margie Engle
850
-
-
40.45
9
Wannick WH
Candy Tribble & Windsor Show Stables Inc
Christine McCrea
680
-
-
41.16
10
Mark Q
Kevin Babington
Kevin Babington
680
-
4
36.93
11
Paratrooper
Lori Custer
Todd Minikus
340
-
4
37.39
12
Quidam's Good Luck
Troy Glaus
Aaron Vale
340
-
4
38.80
13
Penelope Z
Gianni Gabrielli
Gianni Gabrielli
250
-
4
40.05
14
Darling
The Darling Group
Ainsley Vince
250
-
4
40.71
15
Zander
Grant Road Partners LLC
Beat Mandli
250
-
4
40.96
16
Luke Skywalker 46
Salamander Farm
Paige Johnson
250
-
4
41.59
17
Aristoteles V
Candy Tribble & Windsor Show Stables Inc
Jonathan McCrea
-
-
8
45.33
18
Balou Du Reventon
Liubov Kochetova
Liubov Kochetova
-
-
16
55.27
(C) ESI Photography Laura Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince dominate day one of FEI competition at the HITS Championship winning the $34,000 Saugerties Jumper Classic.
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 MortgageCall, in Thermal, California, the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix in Ocala, Florida and Canadian Pacific $1 Million Grand Prix FEI CSI-5*, presented by Wells Fargo, in Saugerties, New York.