(C) ESI PHOTOGRAPHY. Hayley Waters and Qurint.
CULPEPER, VA (August 25,2015): Exceptional show jumping competition continued this past week in the heart of Virginia’s horse country when Hayley Waters of Sparr, Florida, and Qurint, owned by Chuck and Dana Waters, started the weekend off right sailing to a victory in the $15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix. Waters, a rising star at both HITS Ocala and HITS Culpeper circuits, bested over 20 opponents from up and down the East Coast, taking home the blue ribbon and her share of the prize purse.
After a clean first round, Waters moved on to the jump-off round to battle it out for the top spot. In all, nine made it to the jump-off. Waters was third to go and the first to go clear over the abbreviated course. Clocking in with a time of 37.185, Waters was in the top spot as she waited for the remaining six riders to take their turn.
Luck was on Waters’ side throughout and the pair kept their position on the leader board, although all four that followed her in the ranks had zero fault rounds.
Second place was awarded to Kirk Webby and Brando Du Rouet, owned by the Tolleshunt Investment Group. Tracy Fenney and MTM Farm’s Reve Du Paradis ranked third, followed by Danny Mahon aboard Chopper 5, owned by KW Mahon Inc. in fourth. The top five was completed by Noel Fauntleroy riding her own Cabras.
$10,000 Jr/A-O Jumper High Classic
The jumpers were back in action on Sunday with the $10,000 Junior/Amateur/Owner Jumper High Classic, presented by Vetera ® XP Vaccines. Sandra Zimmerli, of New Hill, North Carolina, and Calido’s Treasure, owned by Zimmerli Show Jumping, LLC, cruised through the High Classic course set at 1.40m for the win, and left the ring $2,800 richer.
Round one started strong when the first competitor of the day, Hayley Waters and Chuck and Dana Waters’ No Doubt, went clean in a time of 69.061, but it wasn’t until Zimmerli, six competitors later, that a head-to-head jump off was secured.
First to enter the ring for the jump-off, Waters, although quick with a time of 38.466, had two rails resulting in eight faults. It was Zimmerli and her mount’s time to shine and that they did. The pair was precise and sailed to a clean round in a time of 45.593 for first place, bumping Waters to runner up.
Third place went to Waters and her second entry of the day, Coralina, owned by Chuck and Dana Waters. Velln du Houssoit, owned by Siekmann Equestrian LLC, piloted by Camilla Siekmann received fourth place, and Alden Moylan with her own, Pimpernel, rounding out the top five.
$40,000 HITS Grand Prix
Finishing Constitution Classic weekend on a high note, Daniel Damen, of Ocala, Florida, and Quintus 66, owned by Chuck and Dana Waters, came out on top, winning Sunday’s $40,000 HITS Grand Prix. The course, designed by Oscar Soberon of Monterrey, Mexico, tested the field of first round competitors with only three, including Damen, going clear to move on to a jump off.
Noel Fauntleroy and her own Cabras were first in the second round order and quickly confirmed that they were in-it-to-win-it as they sped through the course, fault free, in a time of 38.272. The chase was on for Damen, who was second in the order. He led his mount clean through the seven fence course and clocked in at 37.570, just half a second faster than Fauntleroy.
Onlookers wondered if the third and final jump off entry, Kirk Webby riding Caillou, owned by Seth Vallhonrat, would swoop in for the win or if Damen would go home victorious. Webby went swiftly over the first few fences, but a rail down at the fourth fence would leave him with four faults and third place, ultimately keeping Damen at the top, followed by Fauntleroy in second.
Hayley Waters and Qurint, also owned by Chuck and Dana Waters placed fourth, and Webby aboard his second ride Brando Du Rouet, owned by Tolleshunt Investment Group, finished the day in fifth place.
$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix
Awarding almost $10,000 in total prize money, the Grand Hunter Ring was the place to be Saturday. The big winner of the afternoon was Tracy Fenney, of Flower Mound, Texas, and Cammy Turgon’s MTM Passport, who jumped their way to a $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix win. Boasting the round one high score of 88, Fenny moved on to round two feeling confident in her craft, resulting in a score of 86, for a total of 174 to claim the blue ribbon.
Winn Alden and Celtic Gold, owned by Meg Valnoski, scored 87 and 85.5 placing the pair in second. Aboard her second entry in the class, MTM Nestle, Fenney received scores of 83 and 87 to finish third, with Dorothy Douglas and MTM Farm’s MTM Castaway collecting scores of 84 and 83 following in fourth place. Fifth place, boasting scores of 81.5 and 84, went to Ian Silitch and Zowie, owned by Susan McClafferty.
$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix
On Saturday, Ashley Martin rode Mary Keevil’s Providence to a blue ribbon in the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix. After receiving a first round score of 81, putting her in second place behind Poetic Justis, piloted by owner Brooke Cole, who received the round’s high score of 83, Martin stepped up her game for round two.
Electing to move up in the order for the second round, Martin was first to reenter the ring and impressed the judge who bestowed a score of 87, bringing her overall to 170. Martin remained in first; waiting for Cole who was last to go in the second round order. Cole received an 84, for a 163 total, which sealed the deal for Martin as the first place finisher.
Nadia Polykova rode Waters Edge, owned by Teddi Ismond, to third place with scores of 76 and 75. Tres Bien, owned and ridden by Janet Vanderslice, had scores of 75 and 69 for fourth place, while fifth place went to Linda Gordon and her own Qui-Tam who received scores of 72 and 65.
HITS Culpeper will return to Commonwealth Park for the Culpeper Finals September 23-27. Week VI highlights include the $10,000 Jr./A-O Jumper High Classic, presented by Vetera ® XP Vaccines, the $15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix, the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix and the Horseware Ireland Grand Circuit Champions presentation just prior to the Grand Prix.
For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit HitsShows.com. Stay connected with HITS: join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
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