HITS Chicago moved to the beautiful Lamplight Equestrian Center in 2020 and went on to host ten weeks of USEF-rated hunter/jumper horse shows from June through September. The September Fall Classic that just came to a close was the final week of the season and hosted a number of finals including USHJA Zone 5 Horse of the Year Championships, the NCEA Junior Hunt Seat Finals – Midwest, the IHJA Medal Finals, and the Marshall & Sterling Insurance League Midwest Finals.
Tiffany Hammock led the way in the $2,500 HITS Open Welcome on Wednesday aboard GHANA FS Z in a time of 38.720.
2nd Place: Brian Murphy & HYPERIOS HS [4-Faults, 39.172]
3rd Place: Murphy & DENISON PARK COMBAT [4-Faults, 40.306]
The week continued with the $5,000 Jumper Classic on Thursday where Lisa Goldman-Smolen and SOVEREIGN were last to compete, taking home the blue ribbon in a quick time of 30.669.
2nd Place: Hammock & GHANA FS Z [31.985]
3rd Place: Amanda Flint & VDL IPAD [33.984]
Goldman-Smolen continued her winning streak, this time securing the blue ribbon aboard NIKE in the $10,000 HITS Open Jumper Prix in a time of 27.938.
2nd Place: Caelinn Leahy & HAPPINESS [28.087]
3rd Place: Stephen Foran & CASSIUS 74 [29.690]
$1,000 M&S/WIHS Children’s & Adult High Jumper Classic: Leigh Nanda & EL CASPER
$1,000 M&S Modified Children’s & Adult Jumper Classic: Lauren Amiri & UPSILOS VIDA
$1,000 Dever Golf Carts M&S Children’s & Adult Low Jumper Classic: Tessa Harper & AARHUS
$1,000 NAL Children’s & Adult Jumper Classic: Nanda & EL CASPER
$2,500 Chicago Equine Jr/A-O/Am 1.20m Jumper Classic: Nanda & LUKEN DU ROUET
$5,000 Pyranha Jr/A-O/Am 1.30m Jumper Classic: Izabelle Quadracci & TIPPERARY HILL
$5,000 Jr/A-O/Am 1.40m Jumper Classic: Leahy & HAPPINESS
It was a great week for Goldman-Smolen as she bested the field in the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix on Saturday afternoon aboard NIKE. Goldman-Smolen was the last to return for the jump-off and put it all on the line as she crossed the timers in a fault-free 35.360.
2nd Place: Hannah Hoch & SHARIVA [35.592]
3rd Place: Murphy & DENISON PARK COMBAT [37.500]
Following the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix was the NCEA Junior Hunter Seat Medal Finals – Midwest. Riders compete over a first round course, and the top ten return for a flat phase. The top four riders after the flat phase then return to go head-to-head in the bracket phase of competition where they switch horses and compete in a semi-final bracket and a final bracket, much like NCAA equestrian competition. Taking home top honors was Vivian Wiggins. Wiggins scored a 79 over fences and 83 on the flat to make it back for the bracket phase, where she scored an 85 in the final round for the win.
2nd Place: Abigail Roberts
3rd Place: Lauren George
Molly McAdow piloted COLORADO 222 to scores of 88 and 93 in the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby. An impressive total score of 181 would be good for the win.
2nd Place: Tina Judge-Boyle & NORDIC VAN DEN BISSCHOP [180]
3rd Place: McAdow & ROC HUNTER 18 [177.5]
$1,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic: Grace Grove & VINCENZO
$1,000 Perfect Products Pony Hunter Classic: Liana Epstein & HOWIE DO IT
$500 M&S/SmartPak Adult Hunter Classic: Madison Walker & QUIDAM’S VALENTINO
$500 M&S Children’s Hunter Classic: Cristian Hacker & MTM PASSPOR
Marshall & Sterling Insurance League Midwest Finals
M&S Junior Medal Final: Ashley Scofield
M&S Junior/Amateur Horsemanship Final: Scofield
Pyranha Children’s Medal Final: Emma Lackey
M&S Children’s Pony Medal Final: Charlotte Bertoglio
Dover Saddlery Adult Medal Final: Grove
M&S Children’s & Adult 2’6″ Medal Final: Maggie Lawler
$1,000 Pyranha Children’s Hunter Horse Final: Samantha Michael & CAMILLO Z
$1,000 SmartPak Adult Hunter Final: Walker & QUIDAM’S VALENTINO
M&S Novice Children’s/Adult Hunter Final: Ava Chesnut & RICO SUAVE
$2,5000 M&S High Children’s & Adult Jumper Final: Madison O’Meara & REPLIQUE
$1,000 M&S Modified Child/Adult Jumper Final: Harper & NABUCO
$1,000 M&S Low Child/Adult Jumper Final: Ella Braun & HIGH RENT
Illinois Hunter Jumper Association Medal Finals
IHJA Pony Medal Final: Sarah Stary
IHJA Children’s Medal Final: Taylor Kogen
IHJA Adult Medal Final: Rita Krejci
IHJA Junior Medal Final: Hoch
IHJA Children’s Mini Medal Final: Sasha Kassel
IHJA Adult Mini Medal Final: Kaylee Dawidiuk
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