Saugerties, NY - After an historic weekend that saw the best ih high performance show jumping take aim at history in the Pfizer Million, HITS-on-the-Hudson now gets ready to welcome this year’s star competitors from its highly popular grass-roots organization, the Marshall & Sterling League.

The 2010 Marshall & Sterling League National Finals kick off today in Saugerties, NY, with hundreds of riders who worked hard all year to qualify for this very special horse show. This week will feature competition in 14 different divisions for children's, junior and adult amateur riders, as well as three "best in show" awards with the Grand Hunter Champion, Best Junior Rider on a Horse and Best Junior Rider on a Pony titles going to the leading point winners in each category.

This year’s Finals are extra special given that the League is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Since 1991, the Marshall & Sterling League has provided tens of thousands of children's, junior and adult amateur riders the opportunity to compete in divisions throughout the country that culminate in a prestigious National Finals event. The Marshall & Sterling League has grown from just 10 member shows in its first season, to a bountiful, all-time record of more than 1,300 member shows in 2010.

Not only did the League enjoy record membership this year, it also introduced two new, successful divisions with the 3'3' Devoucoux Hunter Derby and the HITS 2'6' Hunter. As expected, League members embraced these two new divisions making them some of the most popular classes offered, at both HITS shows and member shows. In fact, during the course of the 2010 show season, the Devoucoux Derby classes topped out at over 60 entries, while the 2'6' Hunter offered many riders the opportunity to hone their own riding skills and develop green horses.

As always, the majority of the competition taking place at this year’s Finals will be held in the historic Strongid Stadium, which was host to the world’s richest grand prix this past Sunday. Two-time Olympic Gold medalist McLain Ward and his incredible mare, Sapphire, made show jumping history once again when they took the blue in the first ever Pfizer Million.

While the Pfizer Million represents the highest end of the sport, the Marshall & Sterling League represents the foundation and perhaps the future, as some of the young talent that will take to the ring this week may one day be leading the way for American show jumping just as Ward has done.

Today’s competition kicks off with the 2'6' Hunter division, followed by the first two classes of the ever-popular Adequan Hunter. The Adult and Children's Jumpers divisions also begin today with a Timed First Jump-off class for each. Thursday’s schedule starts where Wednesday’s leaves off with the continuation of the Adult and Children's Jumpers, and the Pony Jumper Classic, followed by the final class of the Adequan division, at which point the Championship title will be awarded to this year’s top finisher. Then it’s on to the Adult Working Hunters and the popular Bit O’Straw Hunter Classic.

On Friday, the Children's and Adult Hunters get to "work" with a full day of competition and the Adult Hudson Equitation Classic finishes the day before the big celebration takes center stage. Friday night’s annual awards party will be the highlight of the weekend when the League honors the top 10 riders in each division in a very special ceremony. Saturday’s competition splits between the Strongid Stadium and the all-new Jumper ring. Equitation riders will take to the field in the beautiful new Jumper Ring 1, while the Children’s Working Hunter completes its series in the Grand Prix arena, where the Grand Hunter Champion will be crowned and the winner of the Adult Medal Final and the Devoucoux Hunter Derby will be decided.

In addition to a full day of stellar competition, HITS will host a cupcake social and pizza party for all finalists and their families on Saturday.

The 2010 Marshall & Sterling League National Finals wrap on Sunday with an action-packed schedule of Medal Finals and the crowning of the Best Junior Rider Horse and Pony awards.

An exciting weekend of competition and celebrations awaits this year’s Finalists and when the final Champions are crowned, members of the Marshall & Sterling League can get right back in the game as the 2011 qualifying period has already begun. Riders will be able to look forward to another new division for 2011, the Low Junior/Amateur Jumpers. Stay tuned for more exciting details about the 2011 Marshall & Sterling League.

Membership for the 2011 Marshall & Sterling League is $40 and applications are available at all member horse shows, as well as online at the Marshall & Sterling League Website. For more information on the Marshall & Sterling League, contact Patti Guerriero, League Coordinator, at [email protected].

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 20th 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, which will be held this year from September 15-19 at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, NY.

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 has been recognized by IIABA as one of the nation's top "Best Practice Agencies." The company maintains a national presence and is licensed in all 50 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information contact Mary Moeller at 800-836-3046, extension 224.

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 on September 12, in Saugerties, NY.

For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit www.HitsShows.com.

Media should contact the HITS Media Team at (845) 246-8833 or e-mail [email protected].

ENDS