Reigning Champions Hunt Tosh and Cannon Creek Clinch Round One of the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship
Friday morning in the Rolex Arena saw the start of one of the most highly anticipated hunter events in the sport. Round one of the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship not only invited 69 horse-and-rider combinations, but it welcomed the most talented hunter riders from all corners of the United States. The 13-obstacle course designed by Alan Lohman (USA) proved to be inviting for the field of horses. It presented the riders with unique challenges to take risks and show off their horse’s brilliance, or stay conservative to ensure an error-free round. Hunt Tosh and Cannon Creek returned to the stadium in the same brilliant manner as they did last year, taking the win in the fierce first round of competition and securing their leading position going into round two.
The International Hunter Derby Championships is the gold standard for hunter competition. The format of the championships was made to highlight the most stylish and qualified horse and rider combinations, who have been entered in the program throughout the course of the competition year. All qualified and entered horses compete in the first round of competition over a Classic Hunter course featuring International Hunter Derby style fences, including height options. Based on scores in the Classic Hunter round, horse-and-rider combinations advance to one of two possible second rounds: 1) the Handy Hunter Round (split into Sections A and B) or 2) the Derby Challenge that will feature 42 athletes. The top 25 overall horse-and-rider combinations from the Classic Hunter round will be invited to compete in the Handy Hunter Round as part of Section A. The 15 horse-and-rider combinations who ribboned Friday in the Classic Hunter round will compete in Section B/Tier II for the championship title and for a share of the prize money.
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