The Equifest Series at the beautiful Lamplight Equestrian Center, the new home of the HITS Chicago Show Series, is a wrap. The final week of Equifest wrapped up an exciting summer series that featured USHJA National and International Hunter Derbies, $25,000 and $50,000 Grand Prix each week, and classes a classics for all levels. HITS Chicago will return September 9-13 for the Showplace Fall Classic, which will host the USHJA Zone 5 HOTY Finals, Marshall & Sterling Insurance League Midwest Finals, NCEA Hunt Seat Medal Finals – Midwest, and the IHJA Medal Finals.

Equifest III began with a “hat trick” by Jonathon Millar in the $2,500 Open Welcome on Wednesday afternoon. Millar took home the three top spots in the class, with his leading time being 33.467 aboard FAVORIET U.
2nd Place: Millar & BLOSSOM Z [33.912]
3rd Place: Millar & ALTER EGO [35.728]

Caelinn Leahy and P&F CORDILLO Z took home the blue ribbon in the $5,000 Jumper Classic on Thursday with their quick time of 27.735, claiming the lead by nearly two full seconds.
2nd Place: Roberto Teran Tafur & BINK-A [29.653]
3rd Place: Johan Kachelhoffer & GABROVO [4-Faults, 29.394]

Topping the field in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix was Christian Heineking and NKH MR. DARCY. Seven riders advanced the jump-off, but none would top Heineking’s time of 38.167.
2nd Place: Santiago Lambre & DINGEMAN [38.773]
3rd Place: Tracy Fenney & IGOR VAN DE HEIBOS [39.323]

Hannah Hoch took the lead in the $10,000 Open Jumper Prix aboard SHARIVA as she crossed the timers in 39.708.
2nd Place: Sharn Wordley & HELIOS [42.076]
3rd Place: Steven Bluman & ESTORIL [44.468]

Sunday featured the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix where seven riders jumped clear in the first round and prepared for the jump-off. Just three riders that returned for the jump-off would jump double clear.

Already with several top placings at the HITS Chicago Series, it was Charlie Jayne and AMICE Z that took home top honors in Sunday’s featured competition. From winning the $50,000 Grand Prix during Week II of the Spring Spectacular Series to several other top placings in featured jumper competition, this team has been one to look out for. Jayne finished in a time of 44.137 to secure the top placing in the Grand Prix.
2nd Place: Erin Davis-Heineking & LEONIE [46.369]
3rd Place: Lambre & EASY GIRL [47.149]

Jumper Classic Winners

$1,000 M&S/WIHS Children’s & Adult High Jumper Classic: Leigh Nanda & EL CASPER
$1,000 NAL Children’s & Adult Jumper Classic: Gabriella Curry & CHAVIANA
$1,000 M&S Modified Children’s & Adult Jumper Classic: Tessa Harper & AARHUS
$1,000 Dever M&S Children’s & Adult Low Jumper Classic: Harper & AARHUS
$2,500 Chicago Equine Jr/A-O/Am 1.20m Jumper Classic: Grace Klein & CLEAR CARISMA
$5,000 Pyranha Jr/A-O/Am 1.35m Jumper Classic: Alexandra Elkins & CASHMERE 33
$7,500 Jr/A-O/Am 1.40m Jumper Classic: Leahy & P&F CORDILLO Z

Victory in the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby was awarded to Isabel Harbour who piloted FITZ to a score of 90 in the Hunter Classic round and a 90 in the Handy Hunter round. A cumulative score of 180 secured the lion’s share of prize money and the blue ribbon in the Main Hunter Ring on Friday.
2nd Place: Elizabeth Nestor & COVERT [172]
3rd Place: Abigail Dvorak-Peat & FORTUNE FAVORS [171]

Hunter Classic Winners

$750 USHJA Green Hunter Challenge: Ryan Sassmannshausen & ROSALITA
$1,000 USHJA Green Hunter Incentive: Sara Rhodes & FIERRA
$1,000 AIG Junior Hunter Classic: Nestor & COVERT
$1,000 Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic: Harbour & FITZ
$500 SmartPak M&S Adult Hunter Classic: Kristin Rylko & COLORADO 222
$500 M&S Children’s Hunter Classic: Elise Stephens & DRESS BALOU

For a complete listing of results from Equifest III, click here.

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