hunter/jumper
Dominates Final Week at HITS Culpeper TRACY FENNEY GAVE NEW MEANING to the phrase “on a roll” the weekend of October 2 at HITS (Horse Shows in the Sun) Culpeper. With her string of horses from MTM Farm, she claimed impressive honors, including the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis—the first qualifier for the 2014 Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix as part of the HITS Championship in Saugerties, NY. Just a few weeks after riding in the coveted 2013 event, Fenney and MTM Farm’s MTM Timon kicked off qualifying for next year’s edition, as well as jump started the excitement surrounding the 2014 HITS Triple Crown of show jumping. “It’s great to be back on the road to the Zoetis Million,” said Fenney. “We work so hard at qualifying for the class all year long and it’s nice to have this beginning to an exciting year.” Fenney and Timon were one of five pairs who rode clear to advance to the jump-off over a course designed by Wendy Chapot-Nunn of Florham Park, NJ. Thirteen obstacles and 17 jumping efforts
contained most of the faults to the middle of the track, which included three combinations—two doubles and one triple. With three mounts crossing the start flags throughout the class, Fenney was first to conquer the course with MTM Farm’s MTM Centano, staging a familiar duel between her two geldings. She was later joined by Callan Solem of Glenmoore, PA, and Horseshow Trail Farm, LLC’s VDL Wizard; Leann Kelly of Valatie, NY, aboard Honorway Farm, LLC’s Leander; and Kama Godek of Fairfax Station, VA, in the irons of her own Air Force One. Fenney was kept from the jump-off with her third mount, Leviticus, by one time fault in the first round. After Fenney picked up four faults in the jump-off with MTM Centano, Solem set the Great American Time to Beat with a clear round in 39.46 seconds. One trip later, Fenney answered with MTM Timon and shaved two seconds off her time, crossing the timers in 37.35 seconds. Godek was the final ride and had the speed, but clipped a heartbreaking rail at
2013 New England Equitation Championship Medal Finals
for the crowd favorite performance of the NEEC Challenge of the States. Connecticut Team 3 produced consistently high scores from McKayla Langmeier, Rebekah Chenelle, Jack Morgan, Stephanie Moscove, Heather Flynn, and Wendy Collins, to take the gold, with Team Massachusetts 1 claiming silver, and Vermont 1 winning bronze. Sunday was the day of the 2013 New England Horsemen’s Council (NEHC) Junior Medal, calling back the top 30-plus riders and testing the top four. John Porter took top honors in Open Equitation, before claiming the 2013 NEHC Junior Medal undefeated, and capping it off with the Junior Individual High Score Award. Reserve went to Ali Tritschler. For full results, please visit NewEnglandEquitation.com.
continued from page 93 Junior Isabelle Eastment; the Younger Adult Sportsmanship Award went to Gareth Benshoff; and Alexandra Carlton received the Adult High Point Award. There were three Judges’ Choice Awards, both sponsored and presented by Jimmy Lee—with the Adult Horse Award going to Nancy Vinal’s Acovibu, the JR Horse Choice going to Abby Bertelson’s Eclypso, and the Nicholas Award to Margot. The Groom’s Award went to Larry Oliver, the Lifetime Achievement Award to Richard Ulrich, the Junior Sportsmanship Award to Michael Janson, and the Sue Brainard Award to Jennifer Stiller. Friday brought 133 Open Equitation 15-17 riders to compete, followed by the Junior Celebration Dinner held at the Marriott Hotel, featuring the keepsake video that was given to each graduating Junior. On Saturday, the 68 Under-15 Open Equitation riders competed, with the scores for the all the Junior Open Equitations determining the teams 96
EQUINE JOURNAL
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Tracy Fenney riding MTM Timon in HITS Culpeper’s $40,000 Grand Prix.
Adult 23-45 Medal Champion Kristina Lyons-Kwon.
Adult 18-22 Medal winner Kelly Lively with trainer David Olynik.
PHOTOS: (BOTTOM) EVERGREEN WEB AND MEDIA SERVICE; (TOP) ESI PHOTOGRAPHY
Tracy Fenney
the final fence of the course to collect four faults in a time of 36.54 seconds. Solem finished second, Godek third, and Fenney fourth with MTM Centano; Kelly settled for capping the top five after eight faults in the jump-off. Just two days before riding to her grand prix win, Fenney and MTM Timon kicked off the circuit by riding to the blue in the $15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix. She was also second with MTM Farm’s Leviticus. Culpeper local, Brooke Kemper, was third on her own Classified, and Solem was fourth with VDL Wizard. Fenney and MTM Centano made it a book-end performance capping the top five.
| December 2013
11/14/13 9:44:28 AM