Melanie Wright & Game Day Score the Win in the $15,000 USHJA National Open Hunt-N-Go Derby
17 JAN 26 Wilmington, OH
Wilmington, OH – World Equestrian Center – Wilmington (WEC) Winter Classic 6 saw nearly 50 horse-and-rider combinations meet for Hunter Derby Friday in the R+L Arena. In the $15,000 USHJA National Open Hunt-and-Go Derby, 13 horse-and-rider combinations competed for the win, but it was Melanie Wright and her own Game Day (Cyrano VDV Z x Claudia V) who claimed the top prize.
Scott Alder crafted the Hunt-N-Go track Friday evening that asked riders to showcase both their classic and handy round over one phase.
The talented 12-year-old Warmblood gelding cantered around the two-part class with ease, earning an 80 in the hunt portion and an 84 in the go portion. With four bonus fences, the duo finished with a two-round total of 168.
Close behind in second place was Margaret Hackstedde’s Mardi Gras, ridden by Kelsey Epperson. The 13-year-old Warmblood gelding earned a two-round total of 167.
Rounding out the top three was Zoey Chambers aboard Suzanne Chambers’ nine-year-old Warmblood gelding Lannister (Chacco’s Rubin DSF x Chapel Lites), finishing with a two-round total of 166.5.
$15,000 USHJA National Open Hunt-N-Go Derby Results
Lizzie Rinehart Scores One-Two Finish in the $12,500 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunt-N-Go Derby
The $12,500 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunt-N-Go Derby saw 29 competitors in the R+L Arena, but it was Lizzie Rinehart who not only took the top spot for the second week in a row but also scored a one-two finish with Bond and Story Hour, respectively.
Aboard her own seasoned mount, Bond, Rinehart made light work of the Hunt-N-Go format and took an early lead.
The duo impressed the judging panel with double 87’s plus four high options for a total of 178.
The 14-year-old Warmblood gelding proved unbeatable, adding yet another win to his impressive record.
Coming back 23rd in the order with her second ride of the class, Rinehart came just shy of her own high score aboard Donald Stewart’s Story Hour (Casalico x Antonia).
Rinehart piloted the coming 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding to an 84 and an 85 plus four high options for a 173 total and second place.
$12,500 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunt-N-Go Derby Results
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