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Culpeper,
VA (July 8, 2003)—Ian Silitch of Sperryville, VA,
captured the top two spots in Sunday's $50,000 Rio Vista
Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper. Silitch bested a field of twenty-one
horses to place first on November Hill Farm's Brave Ally
and second on Page Flournoy's Captain Willie. Kevin Babington
of Gwynedd Valley, PA, rode Kindle Hill Syndicate's ABC
Cassius to third place.
Nine
of the first-round riders managed to go clean on the Danny
Foster designed course. Last to ride in the jump-off, Silitch
guided Brave Ally to
a win that topped his earlier performance on Captain Willie
by a split second. Babington delivered a clear round on
ABC Cassius in a time of 48.847 seconds-a little over a
second behind Silitch and Captain Willie.
Silitch's
win at HITS Culpeper not only crowns his participation at
the circuit, but also enhances his horses' standings in
the New Marshall & Sterling League. Silitch, who won
the $100,000 Volvo Grand Prix at HITS Ocala, is currently
second in the League's standings, which is based on money
won. This year the League is introducing a national indoor
finals, September 17-21, at Worcester's Centrum Centre in
Worcester, Massachusetts. Riders who qualify will have the
exceptional opportunity to ride in two back-to-back $100,000
Grand Prix at the Marshall & Sterling National Indoor
Finals as well as the King Shavings US Grand Prix League
(USGPL) Invitational Finals. The New Marshall & Sterling
League national standings will be used to determine the
top 30 who will qualify.
The
King Shavings USGPL Invitational Finals, September 24-28,
will take place at HITS Commonwealth Park during the final
week of the HITS Culpeper Circuit. The King Shavings USGPL
will also feature; a $15,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Low Invitational,
$25,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner High Invitational, and $25,000
Pre-Green Hunter Invitational Classic, sponsored by Stillwell-Hansen,
Inc. and Four Winds Farm.
Other
major award winners at HITS Culpeper/Showday National included:
Bayer
Legend Leading Hunter Rider - Olin Armstrong, Staunton,
VA
Bayer Legend Leading Jumper Rider - Ian Silitch, Sperryville,
VA
HBO Junior Medal Winner - Elizabeth R. Coughlin, Lutherville,
MD
Charles Owen Children's Medal Winner - Laura Van Den Berg,
Winter Park, FL
Charles Owen Adult Medal Winner - Lauren Edelmann, Rexford,
NY
Show
jumping resumes at HITS Culpeper on Wednesday, July 9th.
The week will conclude with another exciting Grand Prix
competition—the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix on Sunday,
July 13th.
HITS CULPEPER:
HITS Commonwealth Park, 13256 Commonwealth Parkway, Culpeper,
VA 22701. Telephone during horse shows: (540) 825-7469
MEDIA
CONTACT:
HITS Media & Public Relations, 319 Main Street,
Saugerties, New York 12477-1330. Tel: 845-246-8833, Fax:
845-246-6371,
E-Mail: info@hitsshows.com Web: www.HitsShows.com
HITS
CULPEPER SIDEBAR INFORMATION
HITS
CULPEPER 2003 SHOW DATES ARE:
Cavalier Classic - July 9-13
Winston National - August 13-17
Constitution Classic - August 20-24 (Marshall & Sterling
League Wild Card Classes Offered)
King Shavings USGPL Invitational Finals - September 24,
28
FEATURED
EVENTS:
July 9, $50,000 HITS Grand Prix
August 17, $50,000 HITS Grand Prix
August 24, $50,000 HITS Grand Prix
September 28, $100,000 USGPL Invitational Grand Prix |
