Junior, Amateur and Open Champions Crowned at Standlee/USHJA National Hunter Derby Regional Championships

Lexington, Ky.—Sept. 29, 2023—The third annual Standlee/USHJA National Hunter Derby Regional Championships wrapped up in September after six championships were held across the country. Following the same two-round format as the regular National Hunter Derby class, the Regional Championships are offered in three sections—Open, Amateur and Junior—across six regions of USHJA Zones.

The North Central Championship was held June 13-18 at the Split Rock Hunter Jumper Classic II CSI3* in Lexington, Kentucky. Congratulations to the champions:

• Open: Halie Robinson, of Santa Barbara, California, and Leisure, owned by Stable Assets
• Junior: Noah Kai Nelson, of Santa Barbara, California, and Oscuro, owned by Megan Camaisa
• Amateur: Jennifer A. Speisman, of Wellington, Kentucky, and her own High Life

The Southwest Championship took place at the Blenheim June Classic II, June 21-25 in San Juan Capistrano, California. Congratulations to the champions:

• Open: Tasha Visokay, of Thousand Oaks, California, aboard Ingenium Farm's Diablue
• Junior: Emma Post, of Rolling Hills, California, with her own Won Love
• Amateur: Christina Smith, of Villa Park, California, aboard her own Sunday Styles

The North Championship was August 23-27 at the Princeton Classic Encore in Princeton, New Jersey. Congratulations to the champions:

• Open: Jessica Barno, of Clinton, New Jersey, and Marlin, owned by Melissa Thomas
• Junior/Amateur: Aly Muir, of Allison Park, Pennsylvania, and ESP Farm's Inouk P

The South Championship was July 11-16 at the Tryon Summer 5 in Mill Spring, North Carolina. Congratulations to the champions:

• Open: Stella Wasserman, of Los Angeles, California, and Skyhawk, owned by Laura Wasserman
• Junior: Gabriella Curry, of Plantation, Florida, and GA Stables LLC's Cantero
• Amateur: Samantha Karp, of Great Falls, Virginia, and her own Icadello

The Northwest Championship was held at the Oregon Summer, August 23-27 in Wilsonville, Oregon. Congratulations to the champions:

• Open: Shelley Campf, of Canby, Oregon, and Delegate, owned by Nicole Stern
• Junior: Ella Cate Duke, of Lake Oswego, Oregon, aboard her own Understudy
• Amateur: Lynn Olson, of Wilsonville, Oregon, on her own Mooern Man

The championships wrapped up with the South Central Championship at Southwest Showdown on September 20-24 in Katy, Texas. Congratulations to the champions:

• Open: Nada Wise, of Hempstead, Texas, and Kirby McCool's Call Me Sir
• Junior: McKayla Brombach, of Wimberley, Texas, and Emily Campbell's Trident
• Amateur: Laura Cho, of West Lake Hills, Texas, and her own Calvados

The USHJA National Hunter Derby program, which provides horses and riders a place to gain experience in Derby competition at a lower height, has enjoyed continued success and growth with Juniors, Amateurs and Professionals continuing to showcase their Hunters. The Regional Championships were introduced in 2021 as an added benefit to competitors.

The USHJA would like to thank Title Sponsor Standlee; Official Sponsors CWD, Parlanti, and Nutrena. A special thank you also goes to the teams at Split Rock Jumping Tour, Blenheim Equisports, Princeton Show Jumping, Tryon International Equestrian Center, Team NW Equestrian Sports and Southbound Show Management for hosting the Championships.

Learn more about the USHJA National Hunter Derby program at ushja.org/NHD. For more information about the Standlee/USHJA National Hunter Derby Regional Championships, visit ushja.org/NHDRC.

Photos: Winslow Photography, Grand Pix Photography, Jerry Mohme Photography