The equestrian community for horse people everywhere
HITS Saugerties Honors its 2010 SmartPak Circuit Champions
Source: HITS News Release
SAUGERTIES, NY (September 22, 2010) -- McLain Ward and Sapphire weren't the only winners in the Strongid Stadium on Sunday, September 12 at the inaugural Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. HITS Saugerties proudly crowned its 2010 SmartPak Circuit Champions prior to the live John Fogerty concert in a special Parade of Champions.
The HITS-on-the-Hudson show jumping series began Wednesday, May 26 and featured eight weeks of competition that spanned the spring and summer months, and ended on Saturday, September 11. HITS Saugerties offered 73 divisions of competition that riders, trainers, friends and family enjoyed throughout the season from Short Stirrup, Children's/Adult and Junior/Amateur, and professional divisions. In addition to receiving Championship ribbons, winners were rewarded with SmartPak Circuit Champion jackets.
East Greenbush, New York's Stepping Stone Farm, under the impressive team of head trainer Monty Kelly, and assistant trainers Amy Momrow and Shaine Brooks, were the recipients of several circuit champion awards.
"It's always great to be recognized for all the hard work that goes into what we do," said Kelly. "Each year we enjoy coming to Saugerties because of the quality of the horse show and the great classes they offer here for us and our students; it has a little bit of everything to choose from."
Momrow is an outstanding professional Hunter/Jumper competitor who is quick to find success in every discipline of the sport. This year, she was Champion in the First Year Green and Regular Working Hunter divisions aboard Deborah Brenner's Star Quest's Serenade; Level 1 Jumpers aboard Anne Fortune's Last Waltz; as well as Pre-Green and Low Hunters aboard Monty Kelly's Wolf Gang, who also had success with Momrow riding in the popular Devoucoux Hunter Derby division. Stepping Stone students Kelsey Hart and Mary Abbruzzese also found success in the ring; Hart was crowned Champion in the Equitation 15 - 17 division, while Abbruzzese won Reserve Champion.
"Kelsey and Mary are both really dedicated students and have a lot of talent. I think they've both been impressive this season and they really care about the sport. They're both very deserving of a Championship ribbon. Luckily, Saugerties is close to home for all of us, which also makes it really nice for them to come here and it's fun for them to compete at the same show's that McLain [Ward] and Margie [Engle] come to. Those riders are people that the younger competitors look up to."
Horse Show Farrier and competitor John Jacques cruised his way to another Adult Jumper Low Circuit Champion Award on his partner, Cruisin. It's been a fantastic year for the duo, who were also crowned circuit champions of the same division this past winter at HITS Ocala. Jacques and Cruisin are on their way to compete at HITS Culpeper next week in the hopes of capturing their third Circuit Champion award this year.
Christina Kalinski, an assistant trainer at Glen View Stables which is owned by Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Caristo, was Reserve Champion in the Schooling Hunter division aboard King Lear, owned by Shamrock Ventures, LLC, while Stephanie Balducci, a student at Glen View, was Champion in the Adult Jumper High 31 & Over.
"We always enjoy our time here during the summer," said Kalinski. "There are a lot of promising horses that we bring from the farm which is nearby. Saugerties is a great place for them to compete. I couldn't be any happier for Stephanie, she had a fantastic season! She's been great."
Professionals dominated many of the jumper divisions, as Michael Kirby captured both Champion and Reserve honors in the Level 4 Jumpers, while Laura Chapot was crowned Champion and Reserve in the Level 5 and Champion in the Level 6.
Rising young superstar Michael Hughes continued his successful ways when he captured the Championship in the Junior Jumper Low division and Reserve Champion in the Junior/A-O Jumper High division.
Aside from all the Circuit Champions, the overall winner of the Exclusive Top Dog contest was awarded to Alden Denegre and her dog, Helloise.
The HITS Saugerties Circuit Champions relished in receiving their awards on the very same field where Ward and Sapphire made history just moments before, and enjoyed celebrating their success in front of the crowd. The Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix will forever be remembered for its list of High-Performance competitors who stepped foot in the ring that day, and can proudly include the 2010 SmartPak Parade of Champions that were recognized for what every rider strives for: a ribbon of success.
For a complete list of Circuit Champions at HITS-on-the-Hudson, visit our website's 2010 Saugerties Circuit Champions page.
SAUGERTIES, NY (September 22, 2010) -- McLain Ward and Sapphire weren't the only winners in the Strongid Stadium on Sunday, September 12 at the inaugural Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. HITS Saugerties proudly crowned its 2010 SmartPak Circuit Champions prior to the live John Fogerty concert in a special Parade of Champions.
The HITS-on-the-Hudson show jumping series began Wednesday, May 26 and featured eight weeks of competition that spanned the spring and summer months, and ended on Saturday, September 11. HITS Saugerties offered 73 divisions of competition that riders, trainers, friends and family enjoyed throughout the season from Short Stirrup, Children's/Adult and Junior/Amateur, and professional divisions. In addition to receiving Championship ribbons, winners were rewarded with SmartPak Circuit Champion jackets.
East Greenbush, New York's Stepping Stone Farm, under the impressive team of head trainer Monty Kelly, and assistant trainers Amy Momrow and Shaine Brooks, were the recipients of several circuit champion awards.
"It's always great to be recognized for all the hard work that goes into what we do," said Kelly. "Each year we enjoy coming to Saugerties because of the quality of the horse show and the great classes they offer here for us and our students; it has a little bit of everything to choose from."
Momrow is an outstanding professional Hunter/Jumper competitor who is quick to find success in every discipline of the sport. This year, she was Champion in the First Year Green and Regular Working Hunter divisions aboard Deborah Brenner's Star Quest's Serenade; Level 1 Jumpers aboard Anne Fortune's Last Waltz; as well as Pre-Green and Low Hunters aboard Monty Kelly's Wolf Gang, who also had success with Momrow riding in the popular Devoucoux Hunter Derby division. Stepping Stone students Kelsey Hart and Mary Abbruzzese also found success in the ring; Hart was crowned Champion in the Equitation 15 - 17 division, while Abbruzzese won Reserve Champion.
"Kelsey and Mary are both really dedicated students and have a lot of talent. I think they've both been impressive this season and they really care about the sport. They're both very deserving of a Championship ribbon. Luckily, Saugerties is close to home for all of us, which also makes it really nice for them to come here and it's fun for them to compete at the same show's that McLain [Ward] and Margie [Engle] come to. Those riders are people that the younger competitors look up to."
Horse Show Farrier and competitor John Jacques cruised his way to another Adult Jumper Low Circuit Champion Award on his partner, Cruisin. It's been a fantastic year for the duo, who were also crowned circuit champions of the same division this past winter at HITS Ocala. Jacques and Cruisin are on their way to compete at HITS Culpeper next week in the hopes of capturing their third Circuit Champion award this year.
Christina Kalinski, an assistant trainer at Glen View Stables which is owned by Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Caristo, was Reserve Champion in the Schooling Hunter division aboard King Lear, owned by Shamrock Ventures, LLC, while Stephanie Balducci, a student at Glen View, was Champion in the Adult Jumper High 31 & Over.
"We always enjoy our time here during the summer," said Kalinski. "There are a lot of promising horses that we bring from the farm which is nearby. Saugerties is a great place for them to compete. I couldn't be any happier for Stephanie, she had a fantastic season! She's been great."
Professionals dominated many of the jumper divisions, as Michael Kirby captured both Champion and Reserve honors in the Level 4 Jumpers, while Laura Chapot was crowned Champion and Reserve in the Level 5 and Champion in the Level 6.
Rising young superstar Michael Hughes continued his successful ways when he captured the Championship in the Junior Jumper Low division and Reserve Champion in the Junior/A-O Jumper High division.
Aside from all the Circuit Champions, the overall winner of the Exclusive Top Dog contest was awarded to Alden Denegre and her dog, Helloise.
The HITS Saugerties Circuit Champions relished in receiving their awards on the very same field where Ward and Sapphire made history just moments before, and enjoyed celebrating their success in front of the crowd. The Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix will forever be remembered for its list of High-Performance competitors who stepped foot in the ring that day, and can proudly include the 2010 SmartPak Parade of Champions that were recognized for what every rider strives for: a ribbon of success.
For a complete list of Circuit Champions at HITS-on-the-Hudson, visit our website's 2010 Saugerties Circuit Champions page.
Views: 75
The Rider Marketplace
International Horse News
© 2025 Created by Barnmice Admin.
Powered by
