Haas Wins Central Conference Of The National Horse Sports Foundation Show Jumping Hall Of Fame Jumper Classic Series

TAMPA, FL-September 27, 2001- Erin Haas of Chelsea, MI and North Face Farm's mount, Mir, won the Central Conference of the National Horse Sports Foundation Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series following the Kentucky National Horse Show on September 23.

Haas and Mir won the series with 88 points after winning two National Horse Sports Foundation Show Jumping Hall of Fame classes, one at the Traders Point Hunt Charity Horse Show and one at the Kentucky National Horse Show. The top ranked riders at the conclusion of the Central Conference series are:
Rank Points Horse Rider Hometown
1. 88 Mir Erin Haas Chelsea, MI
2. 56 Boo-Dah Chrissy Renz Lake Geneva, WI
3. 34 Alma Cogan Amy Van Houten Chatham, NJ
4. 30 Reddy Teddy Paige Johnson The Plains, VA
30 Idol De Chateux Laura Steffee Wellington, FL
30 Arcola Bay Ashley Fleischhacker Maple Plain, MN
30 Jupiter Kate Bomgaars Rochester, MN
8. 8. 25 Solo Maggie Jayne West Palm Beach, FL
25 Concerto Sherri Wenal West Palm Beach, FL
10. 10. 22 Lavaro Jessica Saalfield The Plains, VA
22 Sampson Kate Levy Katonah, NY
22 Sky King Larry Hollahan Versailles, KY
22 Gera Michael Morrissey Bradenton, FL
22 Cohiba Morgan Fauth Wayzata, MN

Haas and Mir defeated a field of 18 competitors to win the Show Jumping Hall of Fame class at the Kentucky National Horse Show, the culminating event of the 8-event series. Haas was the third to go in the 9-competitor jump-off field and she turned in the second of three clean rounds. It was her fast time of 39.686 seconds that put her over the top and clinched her the title. Larry Hollahan and Sky King finished second with a clean round in 42.063 seconds, followed by Amanda Carone and Notorious, who finished in third with a time of 42.852 seconds.

The NHSF Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series, which runs February through November, is divided into three geographical conferences: the East Conference hosting 22 shows, the Central Conference hosting 8 shows and the West Conference hosting 5 shows. Conference point standings are calculated separately and updated after all shows.  At the end of the series, a championship is awarded for each conference with East and Central Conference champions honored at the National Horse Show in New York and the West Conference champion honored at the Los Angeles National Horse Show in Burbank, CA.

The Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series gives Amateur-Owner and junior riders an opportunity to compete at higher levels and serves as a proving ground for riders who aspire to someday represent the United States in international competition.

The focus of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. is to encourage broader interest and participation in the equestrian sport of show jumping, as well as to educate the equestrian and non-equestrian alike by sharing the sport's lore, fundamentals, history and greatest achievements.

The National Horse Sports Foundation (NHSF) is a publicly supported charitable and educational organization whose purposes include providing financial and technical support for amateur equestrian programs for adults and children including therapeutic riding and competitions for the disabled.

For more information about the 2001 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series, please visit the Show Jumping Hall of Fame website at www.showjumpinghalloffame.net.
For more information about the National Horse Sports Foundation, please call (914) 454-5555.