Wilmington, Ohio – Twenty competitive hunter athletes vied for top honors Friday evening in the $15,000 Clinton County CVB USHJA National Open Hunter Derby of World Equestrian Center – Wilmington Winter Classic 17. Samantha Cooper and her trusted partner, Nandino, owned by Ellen Malson, ultimately delivered two textbook rounds in the R+L Arena to round out their winter circuit with a win.
“I was just hoping for a solid round. He has had a lot of rubs at the last couple of shows, so I was just hoping that I could put it all back together this time and get back in the winner’s circle. I was really happy with how we did. He jumped great,” Cooper shared. “I loved the courses. I thought there were plenty of options in the handy. For him, the 3’ is not much of a challenge, so he needs the turns to set himself apart.”
Returning for the handy phase with an impressive first round score of 95 and a competitive group of riders in front of her, Cooper opted for a tight inside turn untried by the rest of the field.
“I thought for sure Melissa [Donnelly] was going to do it! I didn’t get to see her go and she is always so handy, so she really makes me work for it. I assumed that the riders that went right before me did and that I would have to go for it. Up until now, I didn’t know I was the only one that did it,” Cooper laughed.
Cooper and the 16-year-old Brandenberg Warmblood were rewarded by the judges with a high second round score of 96, taking the win with a two-round total of 191.
Cooper spoke highly of her special mount, “I just think it is awesome to have such a longtime partner. I trust him, he trusts me. I know if I point him somewhere, he is always going. He knows that I am not going to mislead him. It is nice to have that kind of faith in each other.”
$15,000 Clinton County CVB USHJA National Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 Nandino, Samantha Cooper, Ellen Malson | 95 | 96 | 191
2 Corlando 49, Melissa Donnelly, Elizabeth Becker | 93 | 92 | 185
3 Giviera, Tina Judge-Boyle, | 92 | 87 | 179
4 Fineas, Jessica Jurkowitz, Clover Hill Farm | 88.5 | 88 | 176.5
5 MTM Favored, Richard Rinehart, Alexander Adkins | 89 | 86.5 | 175.5
6 Coubertin, Sarah Robertson, Jaime Sisskind | 87 | 85 | 172
7 Lawrence C, Richard Rinehart, Abigail Paton | 84.5 | 86 | 170.5
8 Cooley Moondancer F, Tina Judge-Boyle, Alexandra Roe | 92.5 | 74 | 166.5
9 Jackson, Devin Milan, Elizabeth Blake | 85.5 | 80 | 165.5
10 Rule In Favor, Laura Kessler, Elizabeth Sanders | 85 | 77 | 162
Lizzie Rinehart Claims One-Two Finish in the $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby
Of 19 horse-and-rider pairs to contest the $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby of WEC – Wilmington Winter Classic 17, none could best Lizzie Rinehart, as she earned first and second place with Bond (Clarimo) and Kingston Blue (Farfan M x G-Blue), respectively.
Rinehart repeated a recent Hunter Derby Friday from her trip to WEC – Ocala with her two mounts, “I was first and second on these horses in the derby in Ocala when I was there too! I just focused on making my rounds smooth today and making all the turns in the handy.”
Her newest partner, Bond, was untouchable with a pair of 94’s, securing the win with a two-round total of 188.
“We have been working on Bond. We got him over the winter so we are just building up our partnership, gaining confidence and getting to know each other,” Rinehart discussed her partnership with the 12-year-old Warmblood gelding.
Rinehart shared her thoughts on Robert Barton’s tracks, “The jumps come up quickly in here. The course was really fun. It was long and flowing, which suits Bond. That is what he likes to do, long bending lines and open singles.”
“I came over from the jumper ring in between my rounds,” laughed Rinehart. “I was kind of flustered, so I was just hoping I knew the course!”
Rinehart also earned second place honors with scores of 92 and 85 aboard Claire Rockacy’s nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Kingston Blue.
$15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby Results:
1 Bond, Lizzie Rinehart, Lizzie Rinehart | 94 | 94 | 188
2 Kingston Blue, Lizzie Rinehart, Claire Rockacy | 92 | 85 | 177
3 Counselor, Claire Mullally, Judgement Farms LLC | 88 | 88 | 176
4 Certainty, Nicole Lyvere, Nicole Lyvere | 84 | 91 | 175
5 Caius, Izzy Beisel, Harlow Investment Enterprises LLC | 86 | 82 | 168
6 No Secret, Luke Rinehart, Donald Stewart | 82 | 83 | 165
7 Cinda, Elizabeth Becker, Elizabeth Becker | 79 | 83 | 162
8 Light Dance, Carli Ann Kooi, Carli Ann Kooi | 81.5 | 79 | 160.5
9 Fairplay De Fremis, Lucy Puhalla, Emily Ainslie | 79.5 | 74 | 153.5
10 Top Shelf, Lorien Parry Luehrs, Lorien Parry Luehrs | 84.5 | 65 | 149.5