Greg Crolick & Tangelos Prevail in the $10,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby at Thanksgiving in the Midwest
22 NOV 25 Wilmington, OH
Wilmington, Ohio – Greg Crolick emerged victorious in the final $10,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby of the Midwest Indoors series at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington (WEC) Friday evening in the R+L Arena. Aboard Paula Monforton’s Tangelos (Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve x Silbermaedel Dree Boeken), Crolick impressed the judges with the highest scores of the day to claim the win.
When asked to introduce his mount, Crolick shared, “We bought him two years ago for Paulo Monforton. He’s been a great, wonderful partner for her. Her daughters also show him, and he hadn’t been to a horse show since July, so to be back here this week was fantastic. He was super.”
Crolick earned the first 90 of the day around Scott Alder’s first-round track and maintained the lead for the entirety of the class.
Reflecting on the course design, he said, “It was definitely a little different than what we normally have here. I’ve known Scott for years, so it reminded me of something you might see from years ago. But overall, I thought the track worked out really well. What I really liked about it were the options. He gave us so many ways to ride.”
Returning for the handy round as the final to go, Crolick secured his win with one of the handiest efforts of the day. “After my other horse did the handy, I knew I couldn’t do the inside turns or the higher options. But with Tangelos, he’s so brave and easygoing that I could take the inside turns and just trust him.”
The nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding impressed once again with a second-round score of 93, giving Crolick a two-round total of 183.
Kaycie Miranda & Bon Jovi Clinch the $10,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby Win
The $10,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby of WEC – Wilmington Thanksgiving in the Midwest kicked off Friday afternoon’s featured classes. Twenty-two horse-and-rider combinations jumped around Scott Alder’s tracks, but it was Kaycie Miranda and her own Bon Jovi (Balou Du Rouet x Hannah Montana) who showcased consistency to claim the win.
Miranda spoke about her partnership with “John,” saying, “I got him about two and a half years ago as my junior hunter horse, and he’s just such a resilient, spectacular horse. He’s gone through multiple unexpected injuries in the past two years, but he bounced back amazingly. He’s taken me to Junior Hunter Finals and Amateur Hunter Finals, where we were able to grab a couple ribbons. I’m just so excited to be here with him!”
Their first-round score of 84 placed them in second going into the handy phase.
“I really enjoyed the courses,” Miranda noted. “I liked the bending lines and the option to cut inside in a few places. The handy was nice, short, and sweet. I went back sitting second, so it was a fun challenge.”
The 12-year-old Warmblood gelding delivered another consistent, textbook-style effort in the second round for another score of 84, securing the win with a two-round total of 168.
When asked about her experience at WEC – Wilmington, Miranda reflected, “The last time I was here was January of 2020. I showed here a lot during my childhood — we came up two or three times every year for four or five years. I’ve always loved WEC. It’s changed a lot since I’ve been here! The rings are all new, and the facilities are always so nice. My mom and I were watching the jumpers in the Sanctuary earlier, and we were just really happy to be back. It’s such a comfortable atmosphere.”