Wilmington, Ohio – Hunter competition at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington Winter Classic 12 culminated today in the spacious R+L Arena with the $15,000 CWD USHJA National Open 3’ Hunter Derby. A decorated group of professionals showed their horse’s athleticism and brilliance over courses designed by Joseph Carnicom (USA), but none could best Jason Berry who laid down two picturesque performances to earn the highest overall score of the day aboard Cadbury.
No stranger to the spotlight on hunter derby Friday, Berry of Jason Berry Stables in Verona, Virginia, prevailed in the prestigious class, guiding the seasoned 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding to scores of 88 and 89 for an overall score of 177 for the win.
Berry earned second-place honors with Alisa Berry’s On Point (Cola Zero x Lolita). The eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding moved up a notch from Winter Classic 4, where he earned third place in the class.
With scores of 85 and 89 and a two-round total of 174, the talented young horse stepped up to add another success to his growing record.
Alisa Berry shared on the top two mounts, “We have a newer crop of horses with us. We showed the month of January and then we went home for some rest. With On Point, since he is still a green horse and he is brand new to us, we weren’t sure if he would come back where he left off or if we would have to start over, but from day one he has been perfect. Cadbury is an older horse that has a huge show career. He has done about five of these derbies and had something unlucky each time, so he was due for this win!”
$15,000 CWD USHJA National Open 3’ Hunter Derby Results:
1 Cadbury, Jason Berry, Jason Berry | 88 | 89 | 177
2 On Point, Jason Berry, Alisa Berry | 85 | 89 | 174
3 Jukebox, Joshua Graves, Caroline Swanson | 86 | 84 | 170
4 Fineas, Jessica Jurkowitz, Clover Hill Farm | 83 | 78 | 161
5 Brugh’s Mill, Jason Berry, Joan Alberti | 72 | 87 | 159
6 Lehnbach, Jessica Jurkowitz, Clover Hill Farm | 76 | 65 | 141
7 Udefix, Colleen Holton, Colleen Holton | 84 | 49 | 133
8 Majesty, Dana Wille, Dana Willie | 82 | 44 | 126
9 Gunther, Victoria Lombart, Anne Laplante | 49 | 54 | 103
10 Royal Casino, Erika Nesler, Doug Howe | 62 | 34 | 96
Nicole Lyvere & Vaillero Conquer $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro 3’ Hunter Derby at WEC Ohio Winter Classic 12
Fourteen horse-and-athlete combinations kicked off hunter derby Friday with the $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby. Nicole Lyvere (USA) and her own Vaillero (Vaillan x Highlight Z) ultimately perfected Carnicom’s tracks and worked their way up the leaderboard to conquer the class.
Lyvere, of Lexington, Kentucky, piloted her own 15-year-old Zangersheide gelding to a respectable first-round score of 80. Returning for the handy phase, the talented amateur looked for every opportunity to move up the ranks.
“I just had to go in and trust him. He is 15 this year and I have had him for quite a while. He is still a very quirky horse, but we have a pretty good understanding of each other. I knew that if I could go in and trust him and set him up to be good that he would give me all the confidence in the world,” Lyvere commented on her longtime partner.
The duo delivered a textbook handy hunter round to earn the highest score of the day. With a 92 and a two round total of 172, they went home with the blue ribbon.
“I made a mistake in the first round, and I was a little mad at myself for it,” laughed Lyvere. “I knew that I had to lay it down in the handy and hope that it was good enough to move me up. I knew that he could do it and our strong suit together is definitely the handy because we know each other so well. I just went in and tried to redeem myself and he was even better in the second round than the first round.”
$15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro 3’ Hunter Derby Results
1 Vaillero, Nicole Lyvere, Nicole Lyvere | 80 | 92 | 172
2 Que Sera, Emma Rupinski, River Run Farm LLC | 86 | 85 | 171
3 Svalegards Gold Crelido, Olivia Jacob, Olivia Jacob | 83 | 86 | 169
4 Clayton 35, Sarah Steele, Sarah Steele | 81 | 87 | 168
5 C’est La Vie, Emma Rupinski, Rive Run Farm LLC | 76 | 87 | 163
6 A Million Dreams, Reagan Gehm, Rgg Equestrian LLC | 82 | 78 | 160
7 A Million Reasons ES, Reagan Gehm, Rgg Equestrian LLC | 82.5 | 77 | 159.5
8 Espumante, Katarina Kojis, Katarina Kojis | 80.5 |78 | 158.5
9 High Noon, Hannah Jackson, Hannah Jackson | 79 | 75 | 154
10 Viva Las Vegas, Emma Lena Green, Emma Lena Green | 74 | 76 | 150