HITS Indio Desert Circuit Wraps Up Week IV With Many Winners

The blue ribbons and fun in the sun continue at the 2002 HITS Indio Desert Circuit. During Week IV some familiar faces returned to the winner's circle, and some new faces also garnered honors. Eva Gonda and Doubletake have enjoyed success throughout the Desert Circuit, and this week they captured not only the Amateur Owner 18-35 Hunter championship, but they also led the victory gallop in the $1000 Amateur Owner Hunter Classic. Tess Albrecht has also earned a number of honors throughout the Circuit, and she clinched the $1000 Pony Hunter Classic aboard Lucky Too.

Karrie Rufer made her first appearance at this year's Circuit where she won the Small Junior Hunter 16-17 championship with Bravo and then finished third in the $1000 Junior Hunter Classic. Amateur rider Shannon Davidson ventured to the desert this week and won the USA Equestrian Adult Equitation class, as well as ribbons in her other medals and equitation classes. Yvette Lang-Einczig finished as the Amateur 36-50 Equitation Champion. "I am so excited," said Lang-Einczig "and this is the first time I've won a championship here."

The USET Medal has regularly drawn large, competitive fields, and this week Jamie Taylor earned the victory. Taylor won both the USET West Coast Talent Search Finals and the Washington International Equitation Finals in 2001.

The fourth week of the Desert Circuit featured the first of seven Zone 10 North American Young Rider Championship Selection Trials. Riders accrued scores in three different classes culminating with the $10,000 Junior-Young Rider-Amateur Owner Jumper Classic on Sunday. Brooke Johansen, a member of the 2001 Zone 10 squad won the first selection trial, with fellow 2001 teammates Ashley Bond and Andrew Ramsay right behind her. Over 30 Zone 10 riders have declared their intention to try out for the team.

Today, Megan Bruck of Arizona, who is trying out for the Zone 8 Young Rider team, captured the $10,000 Junior-Young Rider-Amateur Owner Jumper Classic for the second time during the Circuit aboard Charles R.