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Commonwealth National Opens
HITS Culpeper Summer Series of Horse Shows at Commonwealth Park |
RHINEBECK, NY (April 18, 2001)--Horse Shows In the
Sun, Inc. (HITS), producer of six world class hunter/jumper circuits
nationwide, opened the East Coast series of summer shows today with the first
horse show of the season at Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia. Almost
1,000 stalls were booked for the Commonwealth National that runs from April
18-22. Featured events at the show are the $15,000 Open Jumper Prix on Friday
evening, April 20, and the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix at 1pm on Sunday, April 22.
The course designer in the Grand Prix field this week is Doug Russell of
Wellington, Florida, a former member of the USET who represented the United
States at the Pan Am Games in 1995 and is an active Grand Prix competitor.
There are nearly 3,000 horseman on the show grounds this week, among them some
of the superstars of show jumping including eight-time Olympian Ian Millar of
Canada, U.S. Olympic Individual and Team Gold Medallist Joe Fargis, U.S.
Olympic Team Silver Medallist Peter Leone, and three-time British Olympic
Medallist Tim Grubb. Millar, who has not competed at Commonwealth Park for more
than 15 years remarked that he was happy to be back and had forgotten how
beautiful the facility is.
Highlights of the opening day classes:
Joe Fargis of Southampton, New York, won the $2,500 Open Jumper class riding
Diams III owned by Mary B. Schwab and Deji Farms LLC. Ms. Schwab and Deji Farms
also own the third place horse, Carousel, ridden by Ramiro Quintana, and the
fourth place horse, Maria Bonita, also ridden by Fargis. Allison Firestone was
second riding Futile Ardente owned by Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Firestone.
Samantha Segedy of Aurora, Ohio, won both "2nd Year Green Hunter"
over fences classes riding her Silver Tide. Morgan Thomas, of Bradenton,
Florida, won both "Pre-Green Hunter" over fences classes on his
Kojak. David Connors won both "Regular Conformation Hunter" over
fences classes riding As We Speak owned by Carol Stillwell of Holmdell, New
Jersey. Winn Alden won both "1st Year Green Hunter" over fences
classes on Against All Odds owned by Missy Janes of Middleburg, Virginia.
The 92-acre Commonwealth Park features competition Wednesday through Sunday
from 8am until approximately 4pm plus the evening class on Friday. Spectators
are admitted free Wednesday through Saturday. Children under 12 are always
admitted at no charge, and parking is always free. Tickets are $5 on Sunday
with the proceeds benefiting local charities. Seating is available at bleachers
around the rings, in the Grand Prix grandstand, and indoors at the Pavilion.
There are two food service facilities located on the grounds--the Showday
Café and the snack bar--offering an international menu of meals, snacks,
and beverages. The Vendor Courtyard includes more than a dozen shops offering
equine-themed merchandise from tack to 14K gold jewelry.
DIRECTIONS: HITS Commonwealth Park is located at 13256 Commonwealth Parkway in
Culpeper, Virginia, 3.5 miles off Route 522 South. During HITS Culpeper horse
shows. On show days, telephone 540-825-7469 for more information.
HITS CULPEPER SIDEBAR INFORMATION
HITS Culpeper 2001 Show Dates:
HITS I Commonwealth National April 18-22
HITS II Showday National July 4-8
HITS III Cavalier Classic July 11-15
HITS IV Winston National August 15-19
HITS V Constitution Classic August 22-26
HITS VI Cosequin® USGPL Finals September 26-30
Featured Events:
$50,000 EMO Grand Prix Sunday, April 22 1pm
$50,000 Rio Vista Grand Prix Sunday, July 8 1pm
$50,000 HITS Grand Prix Sunday, July 15 1pm
$50,000 HITS Grand Prix Sunday, August 19 1pm
$50,000 HITS Grand Prix Sunday, August 26 1pm
$25,000 Wild Card Grand Prix Friday, September 28
Marshall & Sterling League Semi Finals Friday, September 28 and Sunday,
September 30
$5,000 Marshall & Sterling Pony Jumper Final Saturday, September 29
$25,000 Pre-Green Hunter Invitational Final
sponsored by Stillwell-Hansen & Four Winds Farm Saturday, September 29
$15,000 JR/A-O Low Invitational Final Sunday, September 30
$25,000 JR/A-O High Invitational Final Sunday, September 30
$100,000 Cosequin® Invitational Grand Prix Sunday, September 30
www.HitsShows.com
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