Three-time Olympic medalist Joe Fargis of Middleburg, VA, emerged the victor in Sunday’s $50,000 EMO Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper. Fargis triumphed with his longtime partner Edgar, posting the fastest time by over three seconds in a four-horse jump-off. Laurie Bucci of Quebec, Canada, riding Catesko took second place. Third place went to Mary Lisa Leffler of Brookeville, MD, riding Gerona 92. Gavin Moylan of The Plains, VA, finished in fourth place aboard Othello.

Grand Prix course designer Danny Foster of Ontario, Canada, set a challenging 13-obstacle Round 1 course that included a double combination at fence #7 and a triple combination at fence #12. The time allowed was set at 96 seconds. Rails came down all over the course, and only four horses managed to advance to the jump-off.

Bucci was the first to face the clock aboard Catesko. The pair left all the rails up in a time to beat of 42.94 seconds. Leffler and Gerona 92 posted another clear round with a careful time of 44.10 seconds. Moylan and Othello were next to challenge. A rail at the first obstacle, and then another left them with eight faults in a time of 52.48 seconds.

Fargis and Edgar were the last to tackle the course. “I had the advantage of watching the three previous competitors," he said. "You learn what is going on through watching. I took the same track, but cut it shorter.” Fargis was able to save considerable time, galloping past the timers with 39.31 seconds on the clock, over three seconds faster than Bucci’s round.

Fargis added another victory to his long list of successes. At 16 years old, Edgar is a seasoned campaigner, and it is clear to see the special relationship between horse and rider. "I started riding Edgar when he was nine years old, so we have had seven years together. The longevity of our relationship is probably what makes it special. We know each other really well."

Show jumping will resume at HITS Culpeper, July 6-10, with the HITS II Showday National. Throughout the season, HITS Culpeper will offer qualifying classes for the Marshall & Sterling League Finals to be held at HITS-on-the-Hudson, in Saugerties, NY, September 16-18. The U.S. Grand Prix League Finals will be the Grand Finale to the HITS Culpeper circuit taking place during the final week September 28-October 2.

Other major award winners at HITS Commonwealth National include:

HBO Junior Medal--Taylor Stevens, Greenwich, CT
Charles Owen Children's Medal--Katherine Steenberg, Westfield, NJ
Farnam Adult Hunter Division--Night Flight, ridden by Coleen Hahn, Sterling, VA
Adequan® Open Hunter Division--Regalo, ridden by Elizabeth R Coughlin, Lutherville, MD

Remaining 2005 Show Dates
HITS II Showday National
July 6-10

HITS III Cavalier Classic
July 13-17

HITS IV Winston National
August 17-21

HITS V Constitution Classic
August 24-28

HITS VI USGPL Finals
September 28-October 2~~~