Keri Kampsen and Ocean Road Top the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, Presented by Equiline

Wellington, FL – December 11, 2020 – The ESP Holiday II CSI4* hits its midway point on Friday at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), and show jumpers came out in high numbers for the prize money classes. Besting a field of 66 entries, Lucy Deslauriers (USA) and Lisa Deslauriers’ Hester (Wandor van de Mispelaere x Palestro vd Begijnakker) added another FEI win to their resume with the victory in the $73,000 Sweet Oak Farm 1.50m Qualifier CSI4*. The win was a welcome addition to the pair’s growing list of international successes after topping the $214,000 Holiday & Horses Grand Prix CSI4*, presented by Palm Beach County Sports Commission, on November 29 at PBIEC. Competition will continue at the ESP Holiday II CSI4* through Sunday, December 13, when the show will conclude with its highlight event, the $214,000 Holiday II Grand Prix CSI4*, presented by Spy Coast Farm.

“It feels great to be back!” commented Deslauriers on competing at PBIEC. “Obviously, it’s an interesting time for everyone. I had a little bit of a break at school. I was at school the past two months and came down two weeks ago, so I’m still trying to get back into the swing of things. Because of the strong people behind me that kept my horses going, it made this transition back into the grind of showing so much easier. It feels good. We’re lucky to be able to show and to get back into what we love doing while so many people are unable to do so. It’s definitely a fortunate situation we’re in.”

Course designer Héctor Loyola (PUR) created a track of 14 efforts for international competitors in the first round of the $73,000 Sweet Oak Farm 1.50m Qualifier CSI4*. Out of the initial starting list of 66 pairs, 16 duos advanced to the jump-off. The group of returners represented six nations, including the United States, Ireland, Israel, Great Britain, Switzerland, and the Dominican Republic.

Click above to watch the winning ride from Lucy Deslauriers and Hester!

As the second to go over the short course, Laura Kraut (USA) and Goldwin, owned by Stars and Stripes, set the standard with a clear ride in 45.72 seconds. Their lead held for six trips until Daniel Bluman (ISR) entered the ring aboard Gerardo Pasquel’s Alamo, the 2019 FEI Jumping World Cup Finals champion who was previously campaigned by Steve Guerdat (SUI) before Bluman took over the ride in the summer of 2020. On Friday, the pair put in a double-clear effort in a time of 44.24 to take over the top spot with only a handful of challengers remaining.

“On the turn back to the second to the last jump I took a big risk, but it was going to go one of two ways, and my horse was really right there with me,” reflected Deslauriers of her winning jump-off. “He saw it too, so luckily it went our way today. I’m really thrilled with my horse, and I have such a great team of people behind me that makes today and last week’s CSI4* win possible.”

Just a few trips later, the winning partnership of Deslauriers and Hester took their turn around the pattern, tripping the timers in 43.94 seconds, a time that would retain the head spot on the leaderboard. Bluman and Alamo (Ukato x Equador) maintained second position, and Kraut and Goldwin (Emerald x Understone van de Kapel) rounded out the top three.

“After this Sunday, my horses will have at least a month off to recoup a little bit and rest up,” noted Deslauriers on her upcoming plans. “I think we’ll have a lot of top people here, as there are only so many options available at the high-level right now in the world. I think it’ll be a long season to come, and it’ll be a good break for everyone to try and stick to what’s been working and stay focused on our goals.”

The $10,000 Bainbridge 1.40m Open Stake was the final class of the day in the International Arena and hosted a large pack of 67 horse-and-rider combinations. Just like the earlier FEI class, 16 pairs turned in clear performances to advance to the jump-off, which concluded with six duos going double-clear. As the fastest by more than two full seconds, Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Sweet Oak Farm’s Byzance Mail claimed victory in a time of 43.16 seconds. The next-quickest, Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) navigated Louisburg Farm’s Berdien to second place after crossing the timers in 45.57 seconds, and Erynn Ballard (CAN) added another country into the mix to make for a diverse podium with her third-place ride on Ilan Ferder’s Kamilla D in 48.16 seconds.

FINAL RESULTS: $73,000 Sweet Oak Farm Holiday & Horses 1.50m Qualifier CSI4*

1. HESTER: 2005 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Wandor van de Mispelaere x Palestro vd Begijnakker
LUCY DESLAURIERS (USA), Lisa Deslauriers: 0/0/43.94

2. ALAMO: 2008 KWPN gelding by Ukato x Equador
DANIEL BLUMAN (ISR), Gerardo Pasquel: 0/0/44.24

3. GOLDWIN: 2012 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Emerald x Understone van de Kapel
LAURA KRAUT (USA), Stars and Stripes: 0/0/45.72

4. EDDIE BLUE: 2009 KWPN gelding by VDL Zirocco Blue x Marlon
DEVIN RYAN (USA), LL Show Jumpers LLC: 0/0/46.33

5. CAPTAIN COOPER: 2007 KWPN gelding by Namelus R x Corland
HILARY MCNERNEY (USA), Hilary McNerney: 0/0/47.93

6. BULL RUN’S RISEN: 2006 KWPN gelding by Utopie x Indoctro
KRISTEN VANDERVEEN (USA), Bull Run Jumpers, Inc: 0/4/44.11

7. JUST A GAMBLE: 2009 BWP mare by Toulon x Corofino
ADRIENNE STERNLICHT (USA), Starlight Farms 1 LLC: 0/4/45.12

8. VERY CHIC DU TILLARD: 2009 Selle Français gelding by Diamant de Semilly x Quidam de Revel
SCHUYLER RILEY (USA), E2 Showjumpers: 0/4/50.08

9. ALEJANDRO: 2009 Rheinländer gelding by Acorado’s Ass x Contanga
SHANE SWEETNAM (IRL), Seabrook, SpyCoast Farm and Sweet Oak Farm: 0/4/51.86

10. CREEDANCE: 2007 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Lord Z x Notaris
KENT FARRINGTON (USA), Kent Farrington & Haity McNerney: 0/4/53.13

11. CARNAVAL: 2005 Oldenburg gelding by Chacco Blue x Landadel
HECTOR FLORENTINO (DOM), Spruce Meadows, Ltd.: 0/4/55.96

12. MONACO: 2009 Holsteiner gelding by Cassini II x Contender
HARRIE SMOLDERS (NED), Evergate Stables LLC.: 0/8/52.50

For the full results of the $73,000 Sweet Oak Farm 1.50m Qualifier CSI4*, please click HERE.

For the full results of the $10,000 Bainbridge 1.40m Open Stake, please click HERE.

Keri Kampsen and Ocean Road Top the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, Presented by Equiline

Friday’s $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Equiline, put the spotlight on the hunter competitors in the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter ring during the ESP Holiday II CSI4*. The highlight hunter class of the week saw 35 pairs test the classic round designed by Danny Moore. Sitting in second place going into the handy round, Keri Kampsen of Wellington, FL, navigated Ocean Road to a high-scoring performance in the handy round that moved them to the top of the scorecard to mark their second derby win during the 2020 ESP Holiday Series.

Following the classic phase of the class, the riders in the top three positions all held scores above the 90-point threshold. Patricia Griffith of Wellington, FL, and Eliza Kimball’s Vistano were the frontrunners after receiving a first-round score of 89 plus 4 bonus points for taking the high option fences to tout 93 points. Kampsen was right behind with a score of 92 on Ocean Road, while Kristy Herrera of Wellington, FL, and Valhalla, owned by Kate Ellis, walked out of the classic phase with a score of 91. The cut-off score for the top 12 sat at 84 headed into the handy round.

With the top 12 riders returning in reverse order of the standings for the handy phase of competition, Laena Romond “set the tone going first,” remarked Kampsen. “She forced everyone’s hand to do those turns. She did a beautiful job, and I copied her track basically. I love handy rounds, and it was so much fun to get to do some of those tight inside rollbacks. My horse is such a trier that it paid off for me today,” Kampsen shared of the horse she co-owns with Lexy Reed. “He jumped so high it was amazing. What a feeling!”

Click above to watch the winning handy ride from Keri Kampsen and Ocean Road!

Sitting in second place going into the handy round, Kampsen once again piloted Ocean Road to a high-scoring performance that moved them to the top of the scorecard with a handy score of 93 and a total tally of 185. That score would hold as the highest and secure first prize for the partnership. The duo also won the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Score At The Top, during the ESP Pre-Charity Show on November 13.

Griffith and Vistano put in a valiant effort but missed the top spot by one point after receiving a handy score of 91 to finish with 184 points, while Herrera and Valhalla retained their position in third with a cumulative two-round score of 178. Although Laena Romond of Brookfield, CT, went into the handy round in the 12th position, her performance in the handy phase earned her a base score of 85 plus 4 bonus points, moving her and Someday, owned by Rachel Suna Britchkow, to fourth place with a total score of 173.

Thanks to a victory over fences in the Performance 3’6” Hunters, Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL, was selected by Noltrex®Vet as the award winner of a leather lead rope on Thursday. Colvin rode Private Practice, owned by John & Stephanie Ingram LLC, to a score of 88 to capture the top prize in one of the division’s classes.

For the full results of the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Equiline, please click HERE. 

The prize list for the six shows that make up the 2020 ESP Holiday Series can be found HERE.

No spectators or outside media are allowed on-site at this time, but friends and family can view all classes via our SGL live stream HERE.

To learn more about the safety protocols and procedures at the horse show, please click HERE.

Photo credit ©Anne Gittins Photography. These photos may only be used once in relation to this press release with proper credit.