Source:  News Release

 

 

Marshall & Sterling League National Finals crowns winners in the Adequan Working Hunter division and Bit O’ Straw Hunter Classic

SAUGERTIES, NY – Hunter action was in full swing Thursday afternoon at the Marshall Sterling League National Finals at HITS-on-the-Hudson. Leading the way was Osvaldo Ornia Pacher, who captured championship honors in the Adequan Working Hunter division aboard Palermo Show Stables' Alivio.

The Strongid® C 2X Grand Prix Stadium at HITS Saugerties welcomed 13 Adequan Hunters over course designer Jerry Dougherty's track. Pacher of Bedminster, New Jersey and his horse captured first-place honors in the opening round of the division on Wednesday to fuel their divisional championship. In addition to their blue-ribbon effort, they were second in the stake class on Thursday and took the red ribbon in the under saddle to rack up enough points for champion honors.

"This has been a wonderful opportunity and I would like to thank Cynthia Williams of New England Farms. She helped a lot with this horse and was a big supporter," said Pacher. "I show here in Saugerties all year and love it. This horse is a new ride and my wife shows it in the Adult Hunters."

Earning reserve champion honors was Brian Feigus of Colts Neck, New Jersey and Gina Marie Calicchio's Panamera. The pair won the blue ribbon in the stake to secure the reserve championship.

© ESI Photography.
Osvaldo Ornia Pacher and Palermo Show Stables' Alivio receive champion awards from HITS' Kristen Vale and Asia Manning in the Adequan Working Hunter division.

© ESI Photography.
Brian Feigus and Gina Marie Calicchio's Panamera earned reserve champion honors in the Adequan Working Hunter division.

Bit O’Straw Hunter Classic

The afternoon saw 58 starters in the Bit O’Straw Hunter Classic in the Stongid® C 2X Grand Prix Stadium. The top 12 horse-and-rider combinations returned for a second round and saw South Florida’s Cassie Crotty emerge as the winner aboard her own Uroko.

“[This win] was huge,” said Crotty. “We came all the way from Miami for this event and couldn’t have asked for more.”

Crotty, of Coral Gables, Florida is a high school basketball and volleyball star who will now add winning the prestigious Bit O’Straw Hunter Classic to her resume.

“Cassie has only been riding this horse for two years,” said trainer Karen Flynn, who is also the head coach of the Equestrian Team at The University of Miami. “When he was three years old, we took him out of the jumper ring and he has turned into a wonderful hunter.”

Other top performers in the Bit O’Straw Hunter Classic were Samantha Frable of Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania and Bronwyn Tillman Rowlands’Promises Kept in second and Elizabeth Reynolds of Littleton, Colorado aboard Peggy Batt’s Tailor Made in third.

“This has been my first year back riding in more than 10 years,” said Reynolds."I am lucky to have come back on such a great horse.”

© ESI Photography.
Cassie Crotty and Uroko receive first-place honors from Joe Norick of Marshall & Sterling Insurance, Inc.
 
© ESI Photography.
Samantha Frable and Bronwyn Tillman Rowlands’ Promises Kept accept the second-place award from Joe Norick of Marshall & Sterling Insurance, Inc.

Coming Up Next

The Marshall & Sterling League National Finals continue this week with a full schedule of classes and special events. Hunters will highlight the competition today with the $2,000 Adult Working Hunter Stake, after which the Adult Hunter champion will be crowned, while the Children’s Working Hunter Horses and Ponies will have their first day of competition in the Strongid® C 2X Grand Prix Stadium.

The Hudson Adult Equitation will finish the day before riders and their guests attend the year-end awards ceremony, which will take place at 6pm at the HITS café & bar. A dinner will be served at 6:30pm and awards begin at 7:15pm with a Hoedown party to follow. Saturday will welcome an ice cream social at the HITS ice cream parlor at 1 pm and a pizza party at the HITS café & bar at 6 pm.

About the Marshall & Sterling League

The Marshall & Sterling League was designed to enhance the level of competition for children and adult riders, with an opportunity to qualify for a prestigious National Finals competition. Now celebrating their 21st year, the Marshall & Sterling League features 14 divisions of competition. Riders who are members of the League had the opportunity to earn points throughout the year by competing in Marshall & Sterling classes in order to qualify for the Marshall & Sterling League Finals, held at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.

The Marshall & Sterling League is proudly sponsored by Marshall & Sterling Insurance, Inc. Marshall & Sterling Insurance, Inc., founded in 1864, is among the largest privately owned insurance agencies in the United States. For more than a quarter century, Marshall & Sterling has protected precious equine assets with unparalleled service and support, whether the family hunter, a champion racehorse or a commercial farm. An employee-owned company, Marshall & Sterling is recognized throughout the nation as a leader in providing exceptional service and support. The company maintains a national presence and is licensed in all 50 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information contact Joe Norick at 800-333-3766, extension 270, 805-338-0099 or JNorick@MarshallSterling.com.

Membership for the 2012 Marshall & Sterling League is $40 and applications are available at all member horse shows, as well as online at the Marshall & Sterling League website. For more information on the Marshall & Sterling League, contact Patti Guerriero, League Coordinator, atPatti@HitsShows.com.

HITS, Inc. produces high-quality, international-level hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the village of Saugerties, HITS has been producing shows since 1982 and is now a nationwide company with world-class circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York and Virginia. In 2010, HITS took the industry to new heights when it hosted the first-ever Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. HITS once again offered the most innovative weekend in show jumping history in 2011 when it hosted the second annual Pfizer Million and the inaugural Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final, this fall at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.

For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit www.HitsShows.com. Stay connected with HITS, join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!