That’s a wrap for the HITS Ocala Holiday Series with two great weeks of USEF-Rated Hunter/Jumper competition at HITS Post Time Farm. The two-week series leads up to the 40th Anniversary of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, set to take place January 19 – March 28, 2021!
Jumper competition was featured in the Grand Prix Stadium during the HITS Ocala Holiday Festival, kicking off Wednesday with the $2,500 Open Welcome. Marking a one-two finish was Savannah Unger. Unger’s first place ride aboard FUNDAMENT-E was the only one to make it to the jump-off with their 4-fault score in a time of 47.032.
2nd Place: Unger & FABIO
3rd Place: Molly Dinapoli & QUANDOR BZ
Open jumper competition continued in the Stadium on Friday with the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix where Jordan Petersen rose to the occasion and claimed top honors aboard DIAMANT’S LEGACY. Returning near the end of the jump-off with two quick riders following her, Aaron Vale and Tracy Fenney, Petersen knew she would need to keep an eye on the clock as she entered the ring. Her dominating time of 39.657 held up through the final competitors to take first place in the SmartPak Grand Prix at HITS Post Time Farm.
2nd Place: Vale & PRESCOTT [40.819]
3rd Place: Jill Henselwood & EBLESSE [41.054]
Canada’s Francois Lamontagne was 5th in the class riding Chanel du Calvaire.
Jumping to the top of the standings in the $10,000 Open Prix on Saturday was Sharn Wordley aboard VERDINI D’HOUTVELD Z in 40.67. Wordley was one of just two riders to jump double clean.
2nd Place: Ivy Nyberg & CALIBER W [42.750]
3rd Place: David Jennings & CENDATUS PS [4-Faults, 36.645]
Jumper Classic Winners
$2,000 M&S Child/Adult Jumper Classic – High: Pippa Spingler & QUONTINE DE LA ROQUE
$5,000 Jr/A-O/Am 1.25m Jumper Classic: Laura Linback & CARMINA
$7,500 U-Dump Jr/A-O/Am 1.35m Jumper Classic: Linback & SKAT 15
The final featured jumper class of the HITS Ocala Holiday Festival was the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix in the Stadium. Eight riders jumped clean in the first round and were set to return for the jump-off. The field was stacked with some of the fastest riders, so not only were they focused on going clean, but going quick as well.
Moving up from her second place finish last week and taking home the blue ribbon was Tracy Fenney aboard MTM APPLE. The pressure was on as she returned second in the jump-off with naturally fast riders, including Vale and Francois Lamontagne, to follow. Marking a quick time of 39.486 would be good for the win.
2nd Place: Vale & CANDRO VAN DE ZUUTHOEVE [39.95]
3rd Place: Dorothy Douglas & MTM THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS [40.479]
Featured hunter competition, comprised of Hunter Prix and Junior/Amateur-Owner Hunter Classics took place in the Main Hunter Ring during the HITS Ocala Holiday Festival. Competition was high in the final week of the Holiday Series and hunter riders were certainly gearing up for the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit.
Megan Young and RED C repeated their winning ways in the $2,500 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix. Scoring an 85 in the first round and an 87 in the second round for a cumulative score of 172, secured the blue ribbon for Young.
2nd Place: Vale & JAGERBOMB [164]
3rd Place: Cassandra Kahle & EHF CORALINA [162]
Piloting DOLITA to a win in the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix with scores of 85 and 83, totaling a 168, was Shannon Jones.
2nd Place: Alexandra Burak & RAMEY [154]
3rd Place: Lanie Nash & SUMMER VAY-K [153]
Hunter Classic Winners
$1,000 A-O Hunter Classic: Lindsey Ward & CASHMERO
$1,000 CWD Jr Hunter Classic: Carlee McCutcheon & MTM ENTITLED
$500 M&S NAL SmartPak Adult Hunter Classic: Devin Seek & BUGSY MALONE
$500 M&S NAL Child Hunter Classic: Collins McVety & BIANCA
M&S Bit O’ Straw Hunter Classic: Jordan Barker & BENSON K
Other notable Canadian performances during the week included Jill Henselwood and Canntinue who were 5th in the $2,500 Open Welcome; and Mathieu Michot, 4th with Bretzelle D Arthenay in the $10,0000 Open Prix.
Click here for the full listing of results from the HITS Ocala Holiday Series.
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