Wilmington, Ohio – Hunter athletes took center stage at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington Friday afternoon for the $15,000 USHJA National Open 3’ Hunter Derby of Winter Classic #8. Bobby Murphy (USA) built the decorated track for the field of horse-and-athlete combinations. At the conclusion of both phases of competition, Kristjan Good (CAN) made a grand return to the winner’s circle, taking his second consecutive $15,000 USHJA National Open 3’ Hunter Derby, this week aboard Quirocks.
Murphy’s first-round track mimicked a classical hunter course including a related five-stride and one long bending line to a high option fence. Ending on a picturesque green hedge, riders had the opportunity to showcase their horse’s brilliance.
Good, of Kristjan Good Show Stable in Campbellville, Ontario, rode into the R+L aboard Jennifer Lecluse’s Quirocks with determination after his most recent win at Winter Classic #7 on his top mount, Carano.
“This horse [Quirocks] is newer to me. This is our second year showing him and he has been doing the 3’6” greens all year. He was champion in the division here this week. He had a rail in the derby last week, so this was his redemption week. I didn’t play it safe in the handy today like I did last week because he felt like he was in a really good state of mind,” Good spoke on his promising young mount.
The duo came back for the handy round sitting on top with a first-round score of 89 and looked to secure their leading position. The stylish Quirocks rounded out his two weeks of competition at WEC Ohio with the highest scores of the day, earning a 94 for his handy effort and an overall score of 183 to secure Good his second derby win.
$15,000 USHJA National Open 3’ Hunter Derby Results:
1 Quirocks, Kristjan Good, Jennifer Lecluse | 89 | 94 | 183
2 Cooper, Emily Corkhill, Decker Equigroup, LLC | 88 | 91 | 179
3 Victorious, Ashley Holsinger, Samantha Jurick | 76 | 86 | 162
4 Horatio, Matthew Piccolo, Adelyn Rogers | 78.5 | 81 | 159.5
5 Brighton, MacKenzie Suffy, Lee Ann Ingram | 77 | 79 | 156
6 After Hours, Liz Hutchison, Robin Owens | 71 | 84 | 155
7 Contigo, Izzy Beisel, David Beisel | 68 | 80 | 148
8 All I Need, Jamie Mills, Tracy Beavers | 75 | 71 | 146
9 Karina, Nicki Mataronas, Nicki Mataronas | 67 | 70 | 137
10 Confidant, Troy Hendricks, Deirdre Agnew | 82 | 49 | 131
Alexa Bing & Subtil Claim $15,000 UHSJA National Non-Pro 3’ Hunter Derby Win at WEC Ohio Winter Classic #8
Twenty-four polished duos competed for top honors in the $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro 3’ Hunter Derby earlier in the afternoon. Alexa Bing (USA) and Subtil claimed the win, distinguishing themselves as the only pair to notch a score in the 90s.
Bing from Royersford, Pennsylvania and training out of Kimber-View Stables, is no stranger to the winner’s circle in the R+L Arena, as she took the win in $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro 3’ Hunter Derby at Winter Classic #3. Bing returned to WEC Ohio in the new year looking to maintain her winning reputation.
With a first-round score of 85, the pair sat in fifth place returning for the handy round.
“The handy offered a lot of places to use inside turns and stay on the inside tracks to get bonus points. My goal was to make all of the turns but to also stay consistent and it worked out nicely. I love the handys with him. I knew I was coming back sitting in fifth, so I wanted to pull out all the stops and try everything. I knew that he could do it, so I just trusted it and it all worked out smoothly,” Bing shares on her strategy to move up the leaderboard.
The 16-year-old Selle Francias gelding, Subtil, glided effortlessly around Murphy’s tracks. The longtime partners returned for the second round taking each handy effort in synch to impress the judges and earn a score of 92 for a two-round total of 177 and the win.
$15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro 3’ Hunter Derby Results:
1 Subtil, Alexa Bing, Alexa Bing | 85 | 92 | 177
2 The Politician, Meredith Smith, Meredith Smith | 86.5 | 87.5 | 174
3 Fusion, Lauren Schmitt, Lauren Schmitt | 88 | 83.5 | 171.5
4 Donatello, Addison Mae King, Addison Mae King | 86 | 85 | 171
5 Halouet, Elizabeth Lile, Donald Stewart | 80.5 | 86 | 166.5
6 Fitzgerald, Emilie Smith, Emilie Smith | 87 | 78.5 | 165.5
7 Nureyev SCF, Jaclyn Fisher, Jaclyn Fisher | 78 | 87 | 165
8 Gentlemen Jack, Mary Skey, John Skey | 81 | 78.5 | 159.5
9 Indigo, Addison Kane, Addison Kane | 80 | 79 | 159
10 MTM Passport, Natalie Coffin, Natalie Coffin | 74 | 81 | 155