Wilmington, Ohio – Winter Classic 17 at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington featured top hunter/jumper competition from Wednesday, April 3 to Sunday, April 7. Sam Pegg (CAN) returned to Wilmington top the leaderboard in the $30,000 Shires Grand Prix, while Elizabeth Parish (CAN) clinched victory in the $10,000 Horse Vans LLC Futures Prix. Samantha Cooper prevailed in the $15,000 Clinton County CVB USHJA National Open Hunter Derby, with Lizzie Rinehart claiming a one-two finish in the $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby. Charlotte Clark (USA) started the week with a win in the $10,000 Perfect Products Welcome Stake.
Pegg and his 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Gin Tonic 158 (Graf Top x Hauptstutbuch), picked up right where they left off, speeding to the win in the $30,000 Shires Grand Prix.
“Gin Tonic has been really consistent. He has won six grands prix in the 2024 season. He won a couple here in January and a few in Florida. He has a big personality. He is proud of himself when he jumps clear, and he always knows that the second part is the speed phase,” Pegg laughed.
Parish (CAN) and Natalie Parish’s 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Darius De W (Berlin x Zuera De W), ultimately bested a six-horse jump-off, making their first debut in Wilmington together a winning one in the $10,000 Horse Vans LLC Futures Prix.
Parish felt that Darius De W rose to the challenge of Pegg’s technically set track, “He jumped it super. There were a lot of difficult turns. The triple bar to the tall vertical was a really short seven and Darius has a massive step. So, I just decided to take out that stride and let him flow.”
Cooper and her trusted 16-year-old Bradenberg Warmblood gelding, Nandino, owned by Ellen Malson, ultimately delivered two textbook rounds for scores of 95 and 97 to win the $15,000 Clinton County CVB USHJA National Open Hunter Derby.
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.”
Rinehart earned first and second place with Bond (Clarimo) and Kingston Blue (Farfan M x G-Blue), respectively, in the $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby.
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.”
Clark and her 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare, Kinsella (Capitalist x Jerpoint Mist), landed the leading time in the $10,000 Perfect Products Welcome Stake.
Clark discussed where she made up time around the short course, “I had watched the first few jump off, and from one to two I saw 11 and 12 strides. I angled the first jump a little bit and once I got up there in 10 I knew she was really game and I could just keep going. The last line, I walked 10 and got there easily in nine.”
Competition at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington continues Wednesday, April 10, with Winter Classic 18.
Make sure to visit the WEC Blog and follow us on social media @worldequestriancenter for full coverage on all feature classes!
Results can be found at horseshowing.com.
All horse show images are provided by Winslow Photography and can be purchased onsite at WEC – Wilmington or online through their website.