Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Hunters: HITS: Sonoma Valley Stables Takes Four of the Top Five Spots in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Thermal


Hope Glynn and Woodstock in Sunday's $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Thermal. © Flying Horse Photography.
THERMAL, CA (February 7, 2011)--Hope Glynn capped off a week to remember at HITS Thermal when she finished with three horses in the top five of Sunday's $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix, including a first-place finish aboard Sabrina Hellman's Woodstock, to conclude Desert Circuit II at the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California.
Glynn (Petaluma, California), who operates Sonoma Valley Stables with her husband Ned, had an exciting week; first she hosted her daughter Avery's sixth birthday party at a nearby zoo and then she got to watch Avery win her first beginner equitation class!


Then on Sunday, Glynn stole the show in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix when she finished the class with three horses in the money. Glynn also helped to guide her student Erin Bland (San Diego, California) riding Weatherly to a second-place finish, making it four horses in the top five for the crew from Sonoma Valley Stables.


“What a busy week," Glynn exclaimed after the class. "The highlight of my week was, without a doubt, watching Avery win her first class, ever!"


Glynn, who had four rides in the class, was all business when it came time to show in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix as she outshined the 37 starters to challenge course designer Rian Beals' (Saugerties, New York) first-round course, and then the top 15 that advanced to the second round.


"It's such a huge advantage to have more than one horse to ride and not have to put all your eggs in one basket," said Glynn. "There is not as much pressure on me and I have a chance to improve with each horse."


Beals' first-round track featured options with inside and outside turns, a split rail and a black natural fence that would be seen out in the hunt field. At the end of the first round, it was Bland and her own Weatherly who took the early lead, wowing judges Sue Ashe and George Wallace to receive a score of 90.


Glynn and Woodstock sat in second place after scoring an 86 in the first round, while third place belonged to John French (Woodside, California) and Lisa Martinez-Bates' Brego after they scored an 84.


In the second round, it was Glynn and Woodstock who put the pressure on, scoring an 85 which gave the duo a total score of 171. Bland was last to show riding Weatherly, and their second-round score of 80 moved the pair’s grand total to 170, which landed them in the number two spot.


Glynn also finished third aboard Helen Mc Evoy's Chance of Flurries, and took the fifth-place honors in the irons of Sarah Frushell's Stone Town. John French and Victoria Komisar's Over The Moon finished in fourth place to round out the top five.


Most of the crowd watched the class from The White & Company Private Client Group Hospitality Tent that is located on the berm between the Main Hunter Ring and Hunter Ring 2. The tent features comfortable ringside table and chair seating, flat screen TVs, and wireless internet service.


HITS Senior Vice President Tony Hitchcock joins Sonoma Valley Stables' Reuben Herrera, Ned Glynn, Heather Rhodes and horse owner Sabrina Hellman in congratulating Hope Glynn after winning the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Thermal. © Flying Horse Photography.

"There was a great crowd watching the class and that's always nice," said Glynn. "We all kept running into The White & Company Private Client Group Hospitality Tent to check the score in the Super Bowl between rounds!"

With the victory, and two of the five classes needed to become eligible, Glynn seems to be on the right track to qualify for the all-new Diamond Mills $500,000 3'3" Hunter Prix Final which takes place the same weekend as the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix in Saugerties, New York.

In order to become eligible for the Diamond Mills $500,000 3'3" Hunter Prix Final a rider on any horse/horses will need to compete in five or more Devoucoux Hunter Prix at any combination of HITS Shows during the qualifying period. Once a rider has competed in five Devoucoux Prix, they will become eligible and their points on their leading horse will place them in HITS Hunter Prix Final Rider Rankings. For more information on the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final, including complete qualifying specifications, please click here.


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 will once again offer the most innovative weekend in show jumping history in 2011 when it hosts the second annual Pfizer Million and the inaugural Diamond Mills $500,000 3'3" Hunter Prix Final, September 10 -11, 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!


Media should contact the HITS Media Team at 845.246.8833 or e-mail Media_Info@HitsShows.com.

 
$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix

PLACING HORSE OWNER RIDER PRIZE MONEY
1 Woodstock Sabrina Hellman Hope Glynn $1,500
2 Weatherly Erin Bland Erin Bland $1,000
3 Chance of Flurries Helen Mc Evoy Hope Glynn $700
4 Over The Moon Victoria Komisar John French $500
5 Stone Town Sarah Frushell Hope Glynn $400
6 Brego Lisa Martinez-Bates John French $350
7 Havanna Carolyn Mittler Nick Haness  $300
8 Marbella Mallory Gyulay Becky Smith $250

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