Two For Two: Keri Kampsen and Citation Capture Second Consecutive $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, Presented by FreeJump, Win
Equestrian Village welcomed riders back for a final week of competition during Wellington International’s Summer Series before the competition break from June 15 – August 15, which included an equitation day and three days of hunter/jumper competition.
Numerous equitation classes were held in the Van Kampen Covered Arena during Thursday’s June II Equitation Day. Siena Macdonald of Teton Village, WY, and Alise Hunter’s Iconic proved unbeatable in the ASPCA Maclay and the WIHS Jumper Phase. Winning the Dover Saddlery USEF Hunter Seat Medal, the Hamel Foundation/NHS 3’3″ Medal, and the THIS Children’s Medal was Katelyn Martin of Tampa, FL. Martin piloted her own Releve to win the Dover Saddlery USEF Hunter Seat Medal and her entry, Sensation, in the Hamel Foundation/NHS 3’3″ Medal and the THIS Children’s Medal.
“I love using the equitation days to get more points towards all the finals. He [Releve] is green, so it’s a great way to get him into the ring before the rest of the week’s classes as well,” shared Martin after her win in the Dover Saddlery USEF Hunter Seat Medal.
On the Derby Field Annex, hunter riders had time to shine in two hunter derbies. Isabela De Sousa of Lexington, KY, claimed top honors in the $1,000 CLPR Wind 2’6″-2’9″ Hunter Derby “Hunt and Go” aboard GFS Mikado, owned by Sergent Stables, LLC. The winning combination earned a cumulative score of 153. Second place was awarded to Cheyenne Sickle of Smithtown, NY, and Wind Song, LLC’s Portofino I with a score of 142. De Sousa also earned a third-place finish on Sergent Stables, LLC’s Diara Blue thanks to a total score of 125.
The week’s featured hunter class, the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by FreeJump, began on Friday but was completed on Saturday due to inclement weather. Taking home the top score for the second week in a row was Keri Kampsen and Citation, who she co-owns with Lexy Reed.
“Citation was excellent once again,” smiled Kampsen of Wellington, FL, after her win. “I was ready to go yesterday afternoon, and then the downpour commenced, so I was happy to go this morning in better conditions and the field held up incredibly well.”
Fifteen riders navigated through the course, designed in a “Hunt and Go” format, meaning the Classic and Handy phase were included in a single round. Robert McGregor designed the course consisted of twelve obstacles with four high options. Fences one through seven made up the Classic portion of the course, while fences eight through twelve represented the Handy phase. Kampen and Citation were the first combination to return to the field after the class was postponed yesterday afternoon, taking the lead with an overall score of 177. The pair managed held the top score for the remainder of the class.
“This is a fantastic practice arena; it’s large and the surface is incredible,” noted Kampsen, who plans to head to Kentucky next before competing at the Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships in August. “It rides a lot like the Walnut Ring because there’s so much to look at when you’re out there, so it’s great practice for me to keep him focus on the task at hand.”
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