The World Equestrian Center’s Fall Classic show series featuring five weeks of NSBA sanctioned hunter/jumper competition continued with this afternoon’s Derby Friday feature competition. The expansive R+L Arena played host to both the $20,000 WEC Hunter Derby 3’ Open and the $20,000 WEC Hunter Derby 3’ Non-Pro.
The classes featured courses designed by Bobby Murphy of Lexington, Kentucky, and included extravagantly decorated fences that closely mimicked Ohio’s outdoor classic fall season. Unique obstacles were incorporated into the course including natural corn-stalk jumps and a charming ferris wheel bound with fall foliage. Bright orange pumpkins were in abundance all througout the course.
The $20,000 WEC Hunter Derby 3’ Open saw thirteen entries vie for top honors over the course that included four high option fences. Competitors earned scores in the high eighties and low nineties, but it was Morgan Ward and Morlynn Farm’s Playmaker (Cassini 1 x Gipsy Lady 11) an eleven-year-old Holsteiner gelding who captured first place with two breathtaking rounds.
The pair received a 90 in their first trip on the course, but it was their return in the handy round that wowed judges – earning an outstanding score of 91.5. This took them to the top with a combined score of 181.5 to win the class.
We caught up with Ward of Flemington, NJ and Ocala, FL to chat about the class and her strategy. “The first round was really nice – it was flowing but it also got a little technical because of all of the singles in the beginning. The jumps are always beautiful at WEC, so it is nice to show our horses here. The designer gave us a few options in the handy round, but many people didn’t take them. On one horse I was able to do two nice inside turns, but on the horse that I won with, Playmaker, I was more cautious. Overall, the course was well done and it rode fantastic.”
Just 2.5 points behind first place, was Belynda Bond of Pilot Point, TX and Gesture LLC’s Norderney, a sixteen-year-old chestnut Hanoverian. Bond and Norderney delivered a stylish first round, earning them a respectable score of 89. In round, two the pair earned a 90, for a combined score of 179 to take second place.
Rounding out the top three with top scores was Ryan Genn and Dante’s Inferno (Diardo), riding for Wilhelm Genn, of Rheinland Farm, Lebanon, OH. This duo earned a total score of 177, receiving an 87 in the first round, followed by a 90 in the handy round.
$20,000 Hunter Derby 3’ Open Results
- Morgan Ward, Playmaker – 90 | 91.5 | 181.5
- Norderney, Belynda S. Bond – 89 | 90 | 179
- Dante’s Inferno, Ryan Michael Genn – 87 | 90 | 177
- Denmark, Morgan Ward – 84 | 89 | 173
- Comissario, Morgan Ward – 79 | 92 | 171
- Kadootje, Nicole Loochtan – 82 | 88 | 170
- Emilio, David Q. Beisel – 82 | 84 | 166
- Steller, David Q. Beisel – 81 | 82 | 163
- Corlando 49, Melissa P. Donnelly – 76 | 86 | 162
- MTM Bentley, David Q. Beisel – 86 | 69 | 155
Eighteen talented horse and rider combinations competed for top honors in the $20,000 WEC Hunter Derby 3′ – Non Pro. Ellen Toon of South Salem, NY and Gabriel (Azteca VDL x Ribalia H.B.) a ten year old Dutch Warmblood earned top honors, laying down two near-perfect rounds in this evening’s event. Toon and her long-time mount were stellar over the winding course – earning a 91 in both rounds, for a combined score of 182 to win the class.
“The horse I showed tonight, we have owned and shown for four years. Gabriel is a great horse and we mainly show him in big derbies. My husband has a business called JT Farm. He trains, buys and sells all types of horses and ponies. Although, most people would probably say that he is known for the Hunters! This was our first time back here to WEC since 2019. We love showing here and are glad to be back!”
Second place honors went to Sarah Gould aboard Catching Fire (Wunder Boy Van De Zuuthoeve x Fitane D) a fourteen year old Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Erica Zirkelbach. The special duo earned scores that soared into the high eighties in both rounds. They jumped to an 87 in round one and a delivered a handy round score of 86.5 giving them a total of 173.5.
Third place was presented to Isabel Harbour and Fitz (Numero Uno x Kootje). Harbour and the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding have successfully captured several wins in previous Non-Pro Derby classes at WEC – Ocala. On tonight’s course they negotiated the course for a score of 84 in round 1, followed by an 84 in the handy round. Their overall score was a total of 172, for a top three finish.
$20,000 Hunter Derby 3’ Non-Pro Results
- Gabriel, Ellen Toon – 91 | 91 | 182
- Catching Fire, Sarah Gould – 87 | 86.5 | 173.5
- Fitz, Isabel Harbour – 84 | 84 | 172
- Game On, Emma Callanan – 85 | 84 | 169
- Chablis 162, Luke Rinehart – 82 | 84 | 166
- Red Roc, Kiera C. Phlipot – 82 | 83 | 165
- The Boy Friend, Paige J. Beisel – 77 | 85 | 162
- Finch Hatton, Kimberly S. Maloomian – 71 | 90 | 161
- Cavalli, Luke Rinehart – 75 | 79 | 154
- Salem, Paige J. Beisel – 70 | 80 | 150
Thank you to all exhibitors, trainers and spectators for a great day of equestrian sport at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington.
Our fall horse show series continues next week with the Fall Classic II. This Fall show series features four more weeks of NSBA sanctioned hunter/jumper competition and nearly $1.2 million in prize money total. Reserve your stalls and submit your entries at www.horseshowing.com.
For more information regarding competing with the National Snaffle Bit Association please visit https://www.nsba.com/Photos courtesy of Winslow Photography.