Patricia Griffith Wins USHJA International Hunter Derby Regional Championship North presented by Eastern Hay & Purina Animal Nutrition at Lake Placid Horse Shows
Patricia Griffith rode Champs Elysees to the win in the USHJA International Hunter Derby Regional Championship North presented by Eastern Hay & Purina Animal Nutrition to highlight the final day of the 2023 Lake Placid Horse Shows (LPHS) Sponsored by Bainbridge Farms, LLC, and Presented by Sea Shore Stables, LLC.
Celebrating 54 years of equestrian tradition and awarding more than $600,000 in prize money, LPHS hosts competitions for riders of all levels and ages ranging from young children on polished ponies, to glistening hunters, to Olympic veterans aboard their grand prix mounts. Competition at the North Elba Showgrounds is held in four spectacular show rings – the Richard M. Feldman Grand Prix Field, the E.R. Mische Jumper Ring, the EquiJet Main Hunter Ring, and the Kovacs Williams Hunter Ring.
Eighteen finalists contested the two Derby courses set by course designer Tommy Brawley in the all-grass Richard M. Feldman Grand Prix Field. The judging panels of Tucker Ericson and Scott Fitton and Gary Duffy and Linda Hake scored Griffith and Champs Elysees, owned by Hallowell Lane Farm LLC, on top in both rounds, giving them a score of 190 in the Classic Round and a score of 195 in the Handy for a two-round total of 385.
“Typically on this field with the hill, they have a nice flowing course, not a ton of short lines but a lot of longer lines where the hill always comes into play,” Griffith said. “I hadn’t ridden in this ring yet this week, but I’ve ridden in here many times, and I was quickly reminded of the hill. You have to allow for the hill to take you a little closer than you think coming down and the reverse on the way up, where you have to keep going a little more. The hill for sure was a factor today. It requires a little more accuracy from the rider, and my horse rode amazing and was super responsive.”
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