Keri Kampsen and Citation Kick Off Summer with Win in USHJA National Hunter Derby Presented by FreeJump
June I of Wellington International’s 2023 Summer Series commenced on Friday at Equestrian Village. The highlight of the week’s hunter action was the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by FreeJump. Held on the Derby Field Annex, the class was held in a “Hunt and Go” format, meaning the first seven jumps of the course were judged as the classic round, and jumps 8-13 were judged as the Handy round. Thirteen competitors took to the combined course, but it was Keri Kampsen and Citation that came out on top.
Kampsen, of Wellington, FL, shared her appreciation for the spring and summer derbies, saying, “this class was a great prep for Citation and I before heading to the Hunter Incentive Finals later this summer in Kentucky. The course had options in terms of how ‘handy’ you wanted to ride the latter portion of the course, and as always jumping on the grass was great.”
Kampsen and her nine-year-old mount, Citation, co-owned alongside Lexy Reed, were the second pair to show across the course, setting a high score of 176 for her competitors to follow. “I rode the course a bit conservatively, following all this Florida rain, I was a bit concerned with the footing,” mentions Kampsen, “however I was quite impressed with how the field held up and I was just as impressed with Citation’s performance.”
Following Kampsen in the lineup was Ella Bostwick, of Wellington, FL, and K&T Game of Thrones, owned by Christine Bostwick. The pair scored 168 two rounds after Kampsen to hold their second-place spot throughout the class. Closing out the podium was Kim Barone, of Wellington, FL, and her own Enjoy, who scored 166, taking home the yellow ribbon.
The Derby momentum continued Saturday with the $1,000 2’6”-2’9” Hunter Derby presented by CLPR Wind. The class saw six competitors, also held in the “Hunt and Go” format. Taking home the blue was Katherine Nunez, of Coral Gables, FL, and Eloquent HBF, owned by Iana Cherepanova. The pair was last to go in the class and topped the leaderboard with a score of 160. Second place went to the first in the order, Ella Bostwick, of Wellington, FL, and Ondine D’Orleans, owned by Summerfields Equine, LLC, with an overall score of 156. The yellow ribbon went to Isabela De Sousa, of Lexington, KY, and GFS Mikado, owned by Sergent Stables, LLC, with a score of 155.
The 2023 Summer Series will continue next week with June II, a USEF Channel I National “A” rated, jumper 4* competition.
For the full prize list of the Summer Series, please click HERE.
The Summer Series Kicked Off with the First Equitation Day of the Season
The Wellington International Summer Series kicked off on Thursday with the first of two Equitation Days for the season. The first group of equitation riders showed their skills in the ASPCA Maclay. Out of seven competitors, Kaitlyn Sheerahamed, of Lake Worth, FL, and her own Dany Villers, took the top prize after competing for a score over a single jumping course and a test on the flat.
Following the Maclay, eight competitors rode for ribbons in the Dover Saddlery USEF Hunt Seat Medal. After completing a jumping course and being called back in the top four for a test over-fences, Faith Schuttemeyer, of Boca Raton, FL, and Q, owned by Wellington Equestrian Center Inc, took home the medal win.
Schuttemeyer spoke to the benefits of the Summer Series Equitation Days, mentioning, “these days are a great opportunity to familiarize myself with new horses and how they feel over more technical courses. They help prepare me for the bigger classes that will come later in the year.”
Equitation Day #2 of the Summer Series will take place on Thursday, June 8th, 2023.
