Pearce is Perfect! John Pearce wins the $50,000 HITS CSI-W Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health
at HITS Thermal

THERMAL, CA (February 14, 2010)--The Canadian Flag is flying high at the HITS
Desert Horse Park, in Thermal, California thanks to John Pearce's
victory
aboard Forest View Farm's Son of a Gun in Saturday night's $50,000 HITS
CSI-W
Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health.

The Canadian Olympian had the only clear round on International Course Designer
Olaf Petersen Jr.'s first-round course as he took down 25 other
horse-and-rider pairs to win the blue ribbon.

Pearce's knuckles must have been sore from knocking on the door all
circuit
as he had several finishes near the top of the previous Grand Prix
classes.
In Saturday night's feature class, the duo challenged the course in
the
23rd spot of the order and made it all the way home clean in 59.70
to
eventually win the class.

"Nothing was easy out there," said Pearce. "Every jump was
challenging. I am very proud of my horse. We had been so close all
circuit
and we finally got over the hump in one of the biggest classes of
the
circuit."

Four other riders made it all the way clear through the tough track
but had
time faults, including New Jersey 's
Michelle Spadone aboard Morgan Hill Partner's Melisimo.
"Every jump
came up so fast," said Spadone, who finished fourth. "There was
no place on the course to make up any time except for fence 8A but
it was a
tricky vertical and you had to be careful."

"It was a beautifully designed course," said Jill Henselwood.
"There was no place to take a coffee break out there. Every effort
was
challenging. Olaf's job was to get riders ready for the World Cup,
not to
have a jump-off. He did a great job!"

Taking second place in the class was Desert Circuit newcomer,
Jose-Alberto
Martinez of Guadalajara ,
Mexico aboard his
mount Leonard. The

yellow ribbon went to Helen McNaught and Caballo. Spadone and
Morgan Hill Partner's Melisimo took fourth
place and Karen Cudmore
was fifth aboard Blair Cudmore's Ulano to round out
the
riders with just one time fault.

Show Jumping at HITS Thermal continues tomorrow with one more qualifier for the
Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix when the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix,
presented by
Pfizer Animal Health takes the stage.  

 

© Flying Horse Photography
John Pearce in the $50,000
HITS
CSI-W Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health at HITS Thermal.


 
© Flying Horse Photography
HITS' Senior Vice
President Tony
Hitchcock congratulates John Pearce after winning the $50,000 HITS
CSI-W
Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health at HITS Thermal.

$50,000 HITS CSI-W Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Heath