Romelia Calderon and her 2007 FEI World Cup mount Pernot captured the blue ribbon in Sunday's $25,000 HITS Grand Prix to conclude the Kachina Classic at HITS Arizona.
Calderon, who won the first Grand Prix at HITS Thermal in 2007, got the best of 25 pairs in the first round and nine combinations in the jump-off to score $7,500 in prize money for Riley Stables. The Mexican rider was also eighth aboard John's Flight.
Calderon and Pernot were first to go in the jump-off and set Great American Time to Beat at 38.93 seconds. What made Calderon's effort even more impressive was that only one other pair managed a double-clear round. Natasha Merback and her mount Van Schundel's Cincy were fourth to challenge the jump-off route and negotiated a clean round, stopping the clocks in 39.08 to secure second place and $5,500 for Redliw Corporation.
The winner of last Sunday's $25,000 HITS Grand Prix, Allison Kroff and Miss Hans were sixth to go in the jump-off and had an unlucky rail down midway through the track to secure third place. Another top finisher was Brandie Halloway and her mount Argentina, who finished in fourth place for Hayes Investment Corp. Holloway also saw an unlucky rail hit the floor midway through the course. The veteran of the the HITS Arizona Winter Circuit was also fourth and sixth in last Sunday's $25,000 HITS Grand Prix.
Rounding out the top five were Lane Clark and mount David. Clark and David were inches from a clear round but suffered heartbreak at the final effort as they dropped the last fence on the jump-off course. Clark collected $1,500 in prize money for owner Anne Cole.
In other action at HITS Arizona, Tammy Chiplo and Lottie secured the $4,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic. Laura Schenker and Calajary led the way in the $2,500 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Low Classic, while Lindsay Udelson and Haute Brian took home blue in the $2,500 Modified Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic. In the hunters, it was Ashley Bolwar and Most Wanted who triumphed in the $1,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic. Sarah Thomas and Quality took first in the $500 Marshall & Sterling Children's Hunter Classic, while Holly Andrews-Kramber and Time and Again took home the blue in the $500 Marshall & Sterling Adult Hunter Classic. For more results from the Kachina Classic, visit http://www.hitsshows.com/resultswinter_08.html.
The next grand prix show jumping event will be the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix scheduled for Sunday, February 24.
The six-week event has been a staple of West Coast circuits for many years. HITS took over production of the circuit in 1991. The HITS Arizona Winter Circuit offers a full range of competition classes for beginners to advanced riders. Exhibitors gain valuable experience in the show ring under the eye of some of the country's top judges.
For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit www.HitsShows.com.