Ocala, FL – Nearly 100 skilled hunters met at Hunter 1 for the eighth Hunter Derby Friday of the 2024 Winter Spectacular Show Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. Tucker Williams (USA) designed the courses for the trio of derbies: the $20,000 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby, and the $15,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby.
Despite some rain, the spirits of the horse-and-rider pairs remained undampened in the $20,000 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby. Hunt Tosh of Milton, Georgia, clinched the winning title after delivering two remarkable rounds aboard the famous Cannon Creek (Cancara x Tiffany S), owned by The Wheeler Family.
In the saddle of the accomplished 13-year-old Hosteiner gelding, Tosh executed a flawless first round, securing an impressive score of 96. “Coming back on Cannon Creek, I wanted to try to be smooth,” he shared. “He was fabulous in the first round. The second round wasn’t as smooth as I would have liked it to be, he was a little frisky with the storm coming and got a little fresh. But he held his own and we were able to put in a solid round.”
The judges commended the duo with a handy score of 89, resulting in an overall score of 185 for the victory.
It proved to be an exceptional day for the Tosh family as Tosh’s daughter, Maddie, secured victory in the $15,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby. “It was a really great day, a rainy day, but a good one,” laughed Tosh. “I am really proud of Maddie, Cerano is a new horse that the Wheelers’ were so nice to get for Maddie. He went beautifully and it’s fun to have a double win in the family today.”
Tosh is looking forward to the upcoming World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) week during the final week of the 2024 Winter Spectacular Show Series, “It’s great that WEC has some WCHR weeks on the calendar. We love to show and spend our winter here and to be able to get WCHR weeks on top of that makes it even better, we couldn’t ask for anything more.”
$20,000 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results:
1 Cannon Creek, Hunt Tosh, The Wheeler Family: 96 | 89 | 185
2 Quew De Kreisker Z, Megan Young, Bailey Schram: 90 | 91 | 181
3 Coltrane, Daniel Geitner, Magnolia Lane Stables, LLC: 89 | 90.5 | 179.5
4 Easy Money, Daniel Geitner, Laura Cramer: 88 | 90 | 178
5 Colmans Blue, Abigail Russo, Maurah Burkholder: 86 | 85 | 171
6 MTM Ahoy, Dorothy Douglas, Nina Koloseike: 87 | 83.5 | 170.5
7 Didi Blue, Alicia Wilkinson, Horse Show Leases LLC: 84 | 86 | 170
8 Cliff Affair, Skylar Gurtis, Laura Barrett: 82 | 84 | 166
9 Cruseon, Sophia Segesman, Georgy Maskrey-Segesman: 71 | 86 | 157
10 CMS Talisman, Rebecca St. Onge, Jai Smith Rezac: 73 | 77 | 150
Jennifer Jones and Copper Canyon Secure the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby Win
The sun was shining for the first hunter derby of the day in Hunter 1, the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby. Outshining a field of 32 magnificent hunters, Jennifer Jones secured the top position aboard Copper Canyon (Irish Wiskey Z x Fubertha), owned by Adele Einhorn.
Executing an impressive first round, Jones and Copper Canyon earned an impressive score of 91. Returning for the handy sitting in second, Jones followed her plan, “It rode exactly how I planned. He handled the inside turn to the trot jump really well. I was able to gallop to the pink flowers and the last line came up perfectly.”
The pair received another top score of 92 culminating in a two-round total of 183 for the win.
Jones spoke about her partnership with the seven-year-old Warmblood gelding, “I’ve been riding him for three years. He’s an amazing horse. He’s very quiet. We just started doing him in the derbies this year, and he’s been great. He was third a few weeks ago, but this is his first derby win.”
$15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 Copper Canyon, Jennifer Jones, Adele Einhorn: 91 | 92 | 183
2 Shameless, Josh Dolan, Kim Domenicone: 91 | 90.25 | 182.25
3 Elliot, Hillary Johnson, Copper Fox LLC: 90 | 89.5 | 179.5
4 Jagerbomb, Kate Conover, Double E, LLC: 89 | 89.75 | 178.75
5 Icytonic, Amanda Steege, Jacquelyn Maggiore: 89.5 | 89 | 178.5
6 Not To Worry, Tiffany Cambria, Sabrina Hellman: 88 | 90 | 178
7 Your Welcome BC, Daniel Geitner, Donald Stewart: 86.5 | 90.75 | 177.25
8 Quality, Daniel Geitner, Dana Noga: 86 | 91 | 177
9 Suede, Hillary Johnson, Copper Fox LLC: 85 | 88 | 173
10 Even Steven, Daniel Geitner, Margaret Russell: 84 | 86 | 170
Maddie Tosh and Cerano Land the $15,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby Victory
Amidst a competitive field of 47 junior and amateur athletes vying for victory in the $15,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby, it was Maddie Tosh who emerged triumphant, claiming the top spot on the leaderboard with her brand-new partner Cerano, owned by Ceil Wheeler.
Tosh skillfully guided the 13-year-old Meckenburg gelding through an exceptional first round, earning an impressive score of 92. Reflecting on their debut together, Tosh laughed “We did a ticket on Tuesday and now we are here.”
“He was great. In the first round, I just wanted to get to know him. He has a huge stride, but he is super adjustable, so he can really help you out if you need it. He is so brave, and I think he is going to be a really fun horse for me to show.”
Returning for the handy, Tosh wanted to see what Cerano could do, “We decided to shape out and do the nine to make the inside turn a little bit easier in the handy. A lot of professionals did that, and when I talked to them, they agreed that was the smartest choice. I felt like I could really call on him in the handy even though the weather got a little crazy. But he couldn’t have been better for our first show, and I am so thankful for the Wheelers’ for purchasing him. I am so excited for the rest of the year.”
The duo delivered yet another impeccable display, securing another score of 92, culminating in a total of 184 and clinching the top prize.
$15,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby Results:
1 Cerano, Maddie Tosh, Ceil Wheeler: 92 | 92 | 184
2 Banks Mill, Lillian Geitner, Daniel Geitner: 88 | 89 | 177
3 Semi-Automatic C, Taylor Matalon, Matalon Equestrian LLC: 89 | 87 | 176
4 St. Elmo’s Fire, Anna Klee, Anna Klee: 87 | 88 | 175
5 Hazelwood, Gigi Phillips, Andrea Guzinski: 84 | 84.5 | 168.5
6 DSH Absolut, Sarah Kelley, Rachel Sternberg: 82 | 86 | 168
7 Damingo, Tia Gay, Tia Gay: 79 | 82 | 161
8 Darko C, Emma Albertini, Emma Albertini: 78.25 | 78 | 156.25
9 Challenger, Maggie King, Maggie King: 83 | 72 | 155
10 Easy B, Gabriella Rivera, Gabriella Rivera: 81 | 70.5 | 151.5
‘THE STYLE OF RIDING AWARD’
Before the start of the handy round in the $15,000 USHJA National 3′ Jr/Am Hunter Derby, Bill Rube presented the prestigious Style of Riding Award to Gigi Phillips for her classic style and her sportsmanship. The recipient serves as a role model for preserving the integrity and tradition of equestrian sport. “This award is very special to me because the recipient of this award pays it forward both in and out of the show ring,” says Rube. Phillips received an elegant duffel bag and wore a white rose corsage on her lapel throughout the handy round to signify her achievement.
Visit HorseShowing.com for final results.
Spectators are welcome! From now until March 24, 2024, experience the thrill of the 2024 Winter Spectacular Show Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. Explore the daily class schedule, orders of go, class counts, and final results on HorseShowing.com. For real-time scoring, check out Ryegate.Live.
A limited number of weekly stalls remain for the 2024 Winter Spectacular Show Series, book your stall today!
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