Tracy Fenney on course in the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia. Fenney and MTM Farm’s MTM Centano picked up a win and the first qualifying opportunity for the 2012 $1 Million Grand Prix. ESI Photography.
HITS wrapped up a successful 2011 circuit at the Culpeper Finals last week as Olaf Petersen of Paehl, Germany set the course for the final Grand Prix of the year. Thirty-one pairs took to his first round, which offered 13 jumping efforts, including a triple combination at fence five and double combination at fence eight. The time allowed of 78 seconds proved to be trouble for several riders as ten picked up time faults, keeping two clear rounds from advancing to the jump-off.
“I knew this was going to be one of the more competitive Grand Prix I have jumped all year since Olaf was the designer – he always makes it a challenging course and it was,” said Fenney. “He left little room for error and I thought he made it smart.”
Twelve advanced to the jump-off, which saw three go double clear. It was Fenney, however, who posted a time of 40.081 seconds – well within the 48 seconds time allowed – to capture the win.
“I knew there were going to be some fast rounds,” Fenney added. “Callan [Solem] and Patty [Stovel] were really fast, but it was our day and a great way to finish up the year.”
Fenney will follow the road to qualifying to Florida this winter as the 2012 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit kicks off in January.
Stovel of Chester Springs, Pennsylvania finished in second place and was able to see Fenney’s second-rounds trip only minutes before her own.
Despite her best efforts, however, she came up short on the clock and posted a final jump-off time of 41.367 seconds. One of only three to go double clear, Stovel collected the red ribbon aboard her own Carigor Z.
The other double clear round belonged to Callan Solem of Glenmoore, Pennsylvania in the irons of Torlando Group’s VDL Torlando. Solem piloted three horses in the HITS Grand Prix and advanced to the jump-off with two. Third to go in the jump-off with VDL Torlando, Solem finished with a time of 42.440 seconds to end the day with a third-place ribbon.
Rounding out the top five was Navona Gallegos of Sante Fe, New Mexico aboard Bar X Ranch LLC’s No Fear in fourth and Solem on her third mount of the day, Horseshoe Trail Farm, LLC’s VDL Wizard in fifth. Both pairs picked up four faults with a rail down at the final fence of the jump-off, which was the A element of the original double combination. Gallegos, however, edged Solem on the clock, posting a time of 40.838 seconds.
$15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix
Gallegos was not only successful in Sunday’s $40,000 Grand Prix – she also brought home winning honors in Friday’s $15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix. She accepted her first-place ribbon in the irons of Bar X Ranch LLC‘s Vatricia.
Behind Gallegos in the Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix was Marilyn Little-Meredith of Frederick, Maryland aboard Ger Peols Horses’ Cita Z and Jill Prieto of Upperville, Virginia on Barbara Roux’s Capone 21, who finished in second and third, respectively.
HITS will embark on its annual hiatus and then shift back into high gear in January as winter circuits get underway in Ocala, Florida and Thermal, California. The qualifying fever will again spike over the winter as riders compete for coveted spots in the 2012 $1 Million Grand Prix, Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final and all-new $250,000 HITS 3’ Hunter Prix Final, scheduled for September 8-9, 2012 at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.
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. HITS once again offered the most innovative weekend in show jumping history in 2011 when it hosted the second annual Pfizer Million and the inaugural Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final, this fall at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.