Beezie Makes It Look Easy
Chris Mayone via USEF August 04, 2009
Photo: Phil Cole/Getty Images
Madden Beezie (pictured here at the Longines King George V Gold Cup at the Longines International Horse Show on July 26, 2009) sealed the HITS Saugerties Summer Circuit with a win.
International show jumping star and Olympic Gold-medal winner Beezie Madden put her stamp on the HITS Saugerties Summer Circuit when she captured the blue in Sunday's $125,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix aboard Onlight to conclude the summer show series at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, NY.
Madden had the ride for Team Onlight and collected $37,500 in first-place prize money for her triumph. The duo was the only pair to jump-clean on international course designer Bernardo Cabral's first-round course. However, they did have one time fault when they stopped the clocks just over the time allowed but were still able to grab the blue.
"It was a refreshing, challenging course," said Madden who is headed to Europe right after Sunday's feature class to compete. "I expected it to be hard because we were jumping for $125,000 in prize money."
Madden was just one of a handful of show jumping superstars to show in Sunday's big money grand prix. Fellow Olympian Leslie Burr Howard was the fastest rider with four faults and took the red ribbon aboard Jeans Glove Varnel. She was in the irons for Blenheim Farm and earned $27,500 in prize money.
Todd Minikus, who was an alternate on the 2000 Olympic Team, finished in third place aboard Pavarotti. The combination won the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix and the $75,000 HITS Grand Prix collecting $30,000 in prize money during HITS-on-the-Hudson V. With their yellow ribbon in Sunday's feature class, they can add another $16,250 to their winnings.
Minikus wasn't done there, as he was also fourth and fifth aboard Olinda and Alaska, respectively. When the class was complete, he collected a total of $27,750 in prize money for the day. "I tried jumping the planks at 12A and 12B three different ways, but they got me each time," he said about the most challenging combination in Cabral's course.
McLain Ward also had a great showing in Sunday's grand prix. Ward, who is a two-time Gold-medal Winner, was eighth aboard Rothchild and 10th riding Sagamore Farm's Phillipa.
When the class was complete, Madden, who returned to HITS Saugerties for the first time since 2004, had praise for the facility. "There have been a lot of improvements," she said. "One nice feature is the new tents (temporary stalls). They are very comfortable for the horses."
"I was very excited about the level of competition here this week," continued Madden. "That's one of the main reasons why we go to Europe a lot because we like to compete against the top riders."
"We were really impressed by the high-caliber riders competing in the $125,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix," said Kristin Ruff of Pfizer. Both Ruff and Rebecca Pitcher, Media Manager for Equine Resources International, commented on the difficulty of the course and how well the footing held despite the heavy rains that fell over the weekend. "We are very excited to be the title sponsor for this event," added Ruff.
The Champions were on display Sunday during the ever-popular Parade of Champions, prior to Sunday's $125,000 Strongid C2 X Grand Prix. Under the watchful eye of trainer Lisa Campi, several of the exhibitors from New Jersey's Renaissance Farm captured circuit awards.
Headlining the group was Jackie Millen's Artisan, ridden by BJ Erhardt. The Goshen, NY-native rode Artisan to his fourth consecutive circuit championship in the Tri-State Hunter Division at HITS Saugerties.
In the Adult Jumper High 31 and over, Lisbeth Hume was named Circuit Champion aboard her horse Argyle. Portofino Boy, ridden by Nancy Scott was Reserve Circuit Champions in the Schooling Hunter Division; October Dream, shown by Jessica Cecere was Reserve Circuit Champions in the Adult Maiden Equitation; and, in the Level 1 Jumpers, Melissa Lynch and Siempre were also named Reserve Circuit Champions.
"It's a pleasure to come to such a well-run horse show," said Campi. "My customers love coming here and that sets up success."
For a complete list of circuit awards, click here.
Katie Dinan Rides Top Hunter Angelo to the Blue in the $10,000 USHJA/Chronicle of the Horse International Hunter Derby
Angelo proved that he is one of the top hunters around when Katie Dinan rode him to the blue in the $10,000 USHJA/Chronicle of the Horse International Hunter Derby at HITS-on-the-Hudson.
The pair got the best of 46 starters on a course set by Rian Beals, of Saugerties, NY, in the Grand Hunter Ring at HITS-on-the-Hudson. The top 12 in the first round were invited back for a handy round where Angelo and Dinan stole the show with their brilliance.
“He is the best hunter in the country,” said Dinan’s trainer Steve Weiss. “A lot of people will tell you the same thing. He is a fantastic jumper and has a great style.”
In 2008, the Small Junior Hunter was named Horse of the Year as well as Champion at Harrisburg, Capital Challenge and Washington. Dinan piloted her horse to a championship at Devon this year and showed him in the Regular Working Hunters at Lake Placid where he was named the Grand Champion.
“The best thing about Katie is that she is a straight A student,” said Weiss. “She's not skipping school to ride. She goes to school full-time and rides full-time. She is an extremely dedicated kid.”
Dinan and Angelo came from behind to win the prestigious class as Patricia Griffith and Cool Boy led the way heading into the second round. When the class was complete, Griffith would finish in sixth aboard Cool Boy and 12th riding Travino.
“We did the best we could,” said Griffith. “Beals did a great job on the course. The handy round was fresh and interesting. This was a nicely run event.”
Matthew Metwell and Pioneer took second place in the class and Kirsten Coe took third and fourth place aboard Radscha a.w. and Double Diamond, respectively. The fifth-place ribbon went out to Crespo, ridden by Alexa Bayko.
Over the course of the 2009 show season, HITS has proudly hosted the USHJA/Chronicle of the HorseInternational Hunter Derby at its Thermal, Ocala and Saugerties horse shows. HITS winners in the Derby for 2009 have included John French and Mountain Homes Stables' Rumba, who took the title twice in Thermal this year; Jen Alfano and SBS Farm, Inc.’s Jersey Boy in Ocala and, now, Dinan and Angelo in Saugerties.
Double Trouble! Taylor Ann Adams Wins the $5,000 Pony Commotion
Taylor Ann Adams continued her blue ribbon roll at HITS-on-the-Hudson when she guided Franklin’s Tower to the title in the $5,000 Pony Commotion in the Grand Hunter Ring on Thursday morning.
Adams, who has won everything in sight over the past few weeks, can add this victory to her resume that already includes a win earlier this week in the Essex Classics/USHJA Hunterdon Cup. The 16-year-old is no stranger to the Pony Commotion, as she won the same crown at HITS Ocala this winter.
On Thursday, she guided the O’Mara’s pony past 21 other starters en route to collecting $1,500 in first-place prize money. “I really want to thank the O’Mara family for letting me ride this great pony,” said Adams. “He is just perfect!”
“I have said it before and I will say it again, Taylor Ann is the best,” said trainer Don Stewart. “She is one of the best young riders that I have seen and I am glad she will be taking the title back to Ocala.”
“What a ride she has been on,” Stewart continued. “She won the big equitation class in Culpeper, did great in the Junior Hunter Finals and now another win in the big pony class”
Taking second place in the class was Destiny, ridden by Geoffrey Hesslink. Light Up the Year, piloted by Sophie Michaels took the yellow ribbon. Michaels was also seventh and eighth aboard Rolling Stone and Promise, respectively.
Show jumping action at HITS Saugerties now takes a short break and will resume later this month with HITS-on-the-Hudson VII (August 26-30) and HITS-on-the-Hudson VIII (September 2-6). These two final weeks of the HITS Saugerties Show Series will feature a full schedule of classes, including two more grand prix events, which are both qualifiers for the $100,000 USGPL Invitational and the Catena Leading Rider Award, and Marshall & Sterling League Wild Card classes for the upcoming National Finals, which will take place September 10-13. During Week VIII, HITS will also host the IJF Regional Finals and the Zone II USEF Medal Finals. Entries for Weeks VII and VIII close this week, Wednesday, August 5.
Rate It
Signin to rank content.
Comments
Comments RSSBe the first to leave a comment!
In order to comment you must be signed in.
Not a member? Register Now.