Five Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Regional Championships Conclude Across Country

Lexington, Ky.—Dec. 12, 2023—The third annual Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Regional Championships wrapped up in November after five championships were held across the country in the North Central, North, South, South Central and Southwest regions. As an added benefit to the USHJA International Hunter Derby Program participants, riders may choose whichever regional championship to compete in and horses may show in multiple regional championships.

The North Central Championship was held June 7-11 at the Split Rock Hunter Jumper Classic I CSI3* in Lexington, Kentucky. 

• Champion: Joey Roman, of Freehold, New Jersey, aboard his own Cascatero
• Reserve: Greg Crolick, of Clarkston, Michigan, and Carole Chase's Chappy

The North Championship took place at the I Love New York Horse Show, July 4-9 in Lake Placid, New York. 

• Champion: Patricia Griffith, of Wellington, Florida, riding Champs Elysees, owned by Hallowell Lane Farm, LLC
• Reserve: John French, of Wellington, Florida, and Milagro, owned by Kent Farrington, LLC

The South Championship was September 14-18 at the Aiken Fall Festival II in Aiken, South Carolina. 

• Champion: Daniel Geitner, of Aiken, South Carolina, with Coltrane, owned by Magnolia Lane Stables, LLC
• Reserve: Geitner riding Hazelwood, owned by Andrea Guzinzki

The South Central Championship was held at the Southwest Showdown, September 20-24 in Katy, Texas.

• Champion: Hanley O'Neal, of Madison, Mississippi, and Lisa Metrick's Silhouette ES
• Reserve: Peter Pletcher, of Magnolia, Texas, with Sue Copeland's Hallpass

The Southwest Championship finished off the year at the National Sunshine Series II, November 8-12 in Thermal, California.

• Champion: Emma Lindstrom, of Newbury Park, California, and June Salin's Coraggio
• Reserve: Caroline Ingalls, of Rancho Santa Fe, California, with her own Concerto

Each year, horses enrolled in the USHJA International Hunter Derby Program can choose from six regional championships held across the country to compete in and vie for a regional title. In 2024, horses may compete in multiple Regional Championships with six locations to choose from:

• North Central Championship - Traverse City Spring Horse Show 3, Traverse City, Michigan, June 19-23, 2024
• North Championship - Saratoga Classic II, Stillwater, New York, June 19-23, 2024
• Northwest Championship - Northwest Spectacular in Wilsonville, Oregon, August 28 - September 1, 2024
• South Central Championship - Southwest Showdown in Katy, Texas, September 18-22, 2024
• Southwest Championship - National Sunshine Series II in Thermal, California, October 30 - November 3, 2024
• South Championship - Holiday & Horses in Wellington, Florida, November 27-30, 2024

The USHJA would like to thank Title Sponsor Platinum Performance; and Official Sponsors CWD, Parlanti and Nutrena. A special thank you also goes to the teams at Split Rock Jumping Tour, Lake Placid Horse Shows, Team NW Equestrian Sports, Equus Events, Southbound Show Management and Desert International Horse Park for hosting the Championships.

Learn more about the USHJA International Hunter Derby program at ushja.org/IHD. For more information about the USHJA International Hunter Derby Regional Championships, visit ushja.org/IHDRC.

Photos: Winslow Photography, Kind Media, A&S Photography, Jerry Mohme Photography