LEXINGTON, Ky.--Amanda Steege of Califon, N.J., won one of the five regional championships of the International Hunter Derby.
Amanda Steege on Lafitte de MuzeThe first year of the USHJA International Hunter Derby Regional Championships wrapped up after five championships were held across the country.
North, North Central, South, South Central and Southwest regions had champions crowned throughout the year.
New in 2021, the Regional Championships served as an additional benefit to USHJA International Hunter Derby Program participants.
Exhibitors did not need to qualify for the Championships and chose to compete in any one regional of their choice.
THE NORTH Central Championship began the Regional Championships at the Split Rock Hunter Jumper Classic I CSI3* on held June 9-13 in Lexington, Ky., with Havens Schatt, of Georgetown, Ky., on Ken and Amy Wexler LLC's Cascartini taking the top prize.
Greg Crolick of Clarkston, Mich., finished reserve aboard Handwritten, owned by Jon Cotton.
Amanda Steege rode LaFitte De Muze, owned by Cheryl Olsten, to win the North Championship, July 6-11 at the I Love New York Horse Show in Lake Placid, N.Y.
Jean Sheptoff, of Littleton, Mass., on her own Camillo VDLwas reserve.
The Aiken Fall Festival I hosted the South Championship, Sept. 8-12 in Aiken, S.C.
Megan Rosenthal, of Charlotte, N.C., rode The Pirate Bay, owned by Fairy Tale Farms, LLC, to the championship, and reserve went to Elizabeth Boyd of Camden, S.C., on Gigi Manigault's Walk-Off.
The South Central Championship took place at the Southwest Showdown, Sept. 22-26 in Katy, Texas.
Alexandra Ansteth of Spring, Texas on Tori Wiesner's MTM Hay Day won the title, and Katia Cannon, of College Station, Texas, on her own Canal Street was reserve.
The championships wrapped up with the Southwest Championship at National Sunshine Series II on Nov. 9-14 in Thermal, Calif..
Nick Haness, of Temecula, Calif., on Caldiano, owned by Double Down Farm, LLC, was champion. with Shawn Casady, of Harriman, Tenn., on Ashland Farms' Cassario 8 reserve.
In 2022, horses may compete in a maximum of two Regional Championships per year, and competition returns with six championships for exhibitors to choose from:
North Championship - I Love New York in Lake Placid, N.Y., July 5 -10, 2022
North Central Championship - Split Rock Hunter Jumper Classic I in Lexington, Ky., June 8-12, 2022
South Championship - Aiken Fall Festival II in Aiken, S.C., Sept. 14-18, 2022
South Central Championship - Southwest Showdown in Katy, Texas, Sept. 21-25, 2022
Northwest Championship - Northwest Spectacular in Wilsonville, Ore., Aug. 31 - Sept. 4, 2022
Southwest Championship - National Sunshine Series II in Thermal, Calif., Nov. 8-13, 2022
Learn more about the USHJA International Hunter Derby Regional Championships at ushja.org/IHDRC.
