Horses - West Coast Marshall & Sterling League Finals to be Held At Indio in 2002-Qualifying Classes Offered at HITS Tahoe- June 2001 - Equiworld

West Coast Marshall & Sterling League Finals to be Held At Indio in 2002-Qualifying Classes Offered at HITS Tahoe

SAUGERTIES, NY (June 19, 2001)--Horse Shows In The Sun has announced that the Finals for Region IV of the Marshall & Sterling Children's and Adult League presented by Corona/Lexol Products will be held at the Indio Desert Circuit during Week III, February 6-10, 2002. A total of 90 qualified horse/rider combinations from 11 states will be invited to compete. The Pony Jumper Final, which was introduced on the East Coast last year, will make its debut on the West Coast at Indio. Horse and rider combinations qualify for the Finals based on points accumulated during the League season, which began September 1, 2000, and will conclude on August 31, 2001. Qualifying classes for the Finals will be held at HITS Tahoe, the new four-week hunter/jumper horse show circuit in Minden, Nevada. HITS Tahoe runs from June 27 to July 29 and is one of the last opportunities for Region IV riders to earn points for the Finals.

Region IV of the Marshall & Sterling League includes the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. To be eligible for the 2002 Finals, riders and their mounts must be members of the Marshall & Sterling League and they must have competed in qualifying classes offered at Marshall & Sterling League member shows nationwide during this year's competition season. In each of the three categories-Children's Hunter/Jumper, Adult Hunter/Jumper, and Pony Jumper-30 qualified horse/rider combinations will have the opportunity to win prize money, awards, and national recognition, plus the opportunity to compete at the Indio Desert Circuit, one of the largest hunter/jumper competitions held in the United States.

"Holding the Marshall & Sterling Finals at the Indio Desert Circuit will make it convenient for those riders who are already at Indio to compete in the Finals, and it will give riders who have never been to Indio the opportunity to compete at one of the top horse shows in this country," said Tom Struzzieri, owner and president of HITS and founder of the Marshall & Sterling League. "By including the Marshall & Sterling Finals as a featured event at Indio, the League and the riders will gain the recognition which they so rightly deserve as national champions."

Last year's Region IV Marshall & Sterling Finals winners were both from California. Anne Amerman, 41, of Temecula, California, riding Buccelatti won the $5,000 Children's/Adult Hunter Finals. "It was very exciting," said Amerman. "I've qualified for the Finals several times with two different horses and improved every time." Patti Jo Kreiss, 47, of Laguna Niguel, California, riding Simply Groovy won the $10,000 Children's/Adult Jumper Finals. This was Kreiss's third time qualifying for the Finals. "The third time was the charm," said Kreiss. "I think riding in the Grand Prix field is incredible."

The Marshall & Sterling League was developed by Horse Shows In The Sun, Inc. in 1991 to boost the competition level of children and adult amateur hunter and jumper riders. More than 300 American Horse Shows Association (AHSA) A-rated shows offer Marshall & Sterling classes nationwide and over 2,000 member riders compete to qualify for the Finals.

For more information or to join the League, contact the Marshall & Sterling League Office, 319 Main Street, Saugerties, NY 12477, telephone: 845-246-8833 or visit www.HitsShows.com

HITS TAHOE CIRCUIT 2001 SHOW JUMPING ACTION:
HITS TAHOE 2001 SHOW DATES:
Week I June 27-July 1
Week II July 4-8
Week III July 11-15
Week IV July 18-22
FEATURED EVENTS
$50,000 Cosequin® Grand Prix Sunday, July 1 1pm
$50,000 EMO Grand Prix Sunday, July 8 1pm
$50,000 Coldwell Banker ITILDO Grand Prix Sunday, July 15 1pm
$100,000 Rio Vista Grand Prix Sunday, July 22 1pm
SPECIAL EVENTS
Resort Sports Network's Kids Day presented Sunday, July 8 10am-1pm
by Douglas County Parks and Recreation
Department and Douglas County Library

Seniors Day presented by Douglas Sunday, July 22 10am-1pm
County Senior Services

DIRECTIONS: From the Reno/Tahoe airport (about 40 miles), travel south on Highway 395 to Minden; at Stockyard Road, turn left; show grounds entrance is on the left. From Lake Tahoe (about 12 miles), take Route 207 (Kingsbury Grade), cross Foothill Road to Mottsville, proceed 3 miles; turn left onto State Highway 395 North; turn right at Stockyard Road; show grounds entrance is on the left. From Minden (about 2 miles), follow 395 North; turn right at Stockyard Road; show grounds entrance is on the left.

HITS TAHOE: 1901 N. Hwy. 395, Minden, Nevada, 89423. Phone during show dates: 775-783-8907.