Taken and Erynn Ballard Capture Victory in Chicago Hunter Derby

Source: JWM Inc./Photo Credit: Photos © Aullmyn Photography.

Taken and Erynn Ballard Capture Victory in $25,000 Chicago Hunter Derby presented by CN
Meredith Darst and Copyright Gallop to Win USHJA National Hunter Classic presented by Barrington Saddlery

Antioch, IL - September 12, 2011 - The full weekend of events at the third annual Chicago Hunter Derby presented by CN was a great success. Along with top hunter competition, the event successfully raised money to donate through Chicago Equestrians for a Cause to the Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago and the USHJA Foundation. Erynn Ballard of Tottenham, Ontario, Canada, rode Nancy Amling's Taken to victory in the $25,000 Chicago Hunter Derby, a member event of the USHJA International Hunter Derby Series. The weekend kicked off with the USHJA National Hunter Classic, presented by Barrington Saddlery. The three-foot class was a new addition this year to the schedule of events, and it was fourteen-year-old Meredith Darst of Lebanon, OH, who rode Copyright for owner Jeanette Collins to victory.

"We were thrilled with how well the event went," said one of the hosts, Caroline Weeden. "The addition of the USHJA National Hunter Classic presented by Barrington Saddlery made it a full weekend of incredible competition to support two great causes. A big thank you goes out to all of our sponsors, exhibitors and spectators. Thanks also go to show manager Bobby Murphy and his fantastic crew from Kentucky, as well as the Brookwood staff who worked so hard to make our event special. This would not be possible without my husband, Rush Weeden, who really put 200% of himself into this event and worked with the whole crew behind the scenes."

The beautiful derby field

  Erynn Ballard had a full day of riding when she accepted the ride on four horses for trainer Larry Glefke. She took the top prize on Taken, but also finished second, ninth, and eleventh with Bases Loaded, Crown N Scepter, and Clearly. Third place went to Yes Indeed, ridden by Sarah Mechlin for Olivia Weaver.  

While the horses' usual rider Kelley Farmer was showing in Saugerties, NY, Ballard was flown out for the day to compete in Chicago. The Canadian rider is known for representing her country in show jumping, but she is successful in the hunter ring as well. Catch riding horses has become a way of life for the talented rider, and her results this weekend showed why.

Erynn Ballard and Taken

"It is a little bit of my thing," she acknowledged. "I do it more than most people to just show up somewhere and ride a horse that you have never ridden before, and it works out in my favor. It was a pretty big experience for me, but when you are with people like that and you trust them, and they know their horses, it works out. Taken and Bases Loaded really rose to the occasion today. They went out there and they were ready and they wanted to be good. The other two each had a good round. I don't think we could have asked any more from them."

This was the first time Ballard had competed at the Chicago Hunter Derby and she was very complimentary of the event. "I think that this class is what the hunter derbies are trying to be. It is a specific class for only hunters, and it is a charity horse show," she said. "This is a really specific event just for the class. The ring was different and beautiful. They had a great panel of judges, they had great course designers, they had a big tent, they had a great crowd. There was not one thing that you would want to be different about the day."

The lovely tables in the VIP tent overlooking the derby field

Course designers Ken Smith and Bobby Murphy set an inviting course for the competitors full of new and interesting jumps. Ballard noted, "I thought they did a beautiful job with the course. The jumps were very decorated. Larry was saying earlier and I agree with him, that the jumps were set in a very nice place. Most of the class had good scores and I think that the show organizers should be pretty proud of themselves for the event that they put on this weekend."

Ballard and Taken received the second highest score in the first round and returned as part of the top 12 for the second round, where they had the highest score from judges Ken Smith, Danny Robertshaw, Steve Wall, and Heide Casciaro.

The CN jumps

"Kelley and Larry have done all the hard parts; they have done all of the training and the preparation," Ballard remarked. "Taken has the experience, he has the knowledge, and he has the ring time. He is a horse that has a great show record. He has been well exposed and he knew what his job was today."

 She added, "Taken was my fourth one out of four in the handy round, and by the time I got to Taken he was the best horse that I had. I cut everything a little shorter. Everything jumped well."

Ballard's solid riding paid off for an unexpected weekend of showing. "It means a lot to me that Kelley and Larry would let me show their horses. They could have any rider that they wanted that wasn't in Saugerties and the fact that they chose me is pretty amazing. People are hopefully going to get to know me and hopefully I will get the opportunity to show more."

Taken and Erynn Ballard in their awards presentation

The weekend's competition started out with the USHJA National Hunter Classic presented by Barrington Saddlery. While fourteen-year-old Meredith Darst is no stranger to the winner's circle, it was her first time competing in a major hunter derby class.

Darst and Copyright landed in second place after the first round when they scored an 82 plus four option bonus points. She and Copyright sat in second place going into the second round, where their consistency garnered a score of 83 plus four bonus points for a total of 173 and the win.

Copyright and Meredith Darst in their awards presentation

Second place went to Caitlin Creel and her horse Calvin 46, who were just behind with 172 points. Danielle Rewiako rode Kashmir for Believe It Farm to third place with 170 points.

This was the first time that Darst has shown Copyright in a derby style hunter class. "I showed him once in the equitation in Kentucky," she explained.

Trainer Patty Rogers commented, "This was Maddy's very first attempt at a derby on him. She rose to the challenge and rode beautifully. She was out of her element on the rolling grass field, and she followed the directions to a 'T.'"

Rogers added, "She was very, very handy in the second round. She did all the turns that she could and nailed it."

"He was spectacular," Darst acknowledged. "He was really good. I just galloped around and he jumped well. I galloped a lot every place that I could have, and every place that I could, I showed a change of pace. He has a huge stride, so I don't really have to do much into the lines."

About her win today, Darst said, "It's very exciting. It's the first derby I've ever done. I think I'll do some more in the future, for sure."

This is the third time that Rogers has attended the Chicago Hunter Derby, but the first time that Darst has been to the show. "We love it," Rogers said. "It's a beautiful venue, and they really make exhibitors feel welcome."

Darst also competed in the $25,000 Chicago Hunter Derby on another new horse, Can't Catch This.

The awards table at the Chicago Hunter Derby

For more information on the Chicago Hunter Derby, please visitwww.chicagohunterderby.com.

  Final Results: $25,000 Chicago Hunter Derby presented by CN
1.   Taken, Erynn Ballard, Nancy Amling: 183, 206, 389
2.   Bases Loaded, Erynn Ballard, Am Free Inc.: 173.5, 202, 375.5
3.   Yes Indeed, Sarah Mechlin, Olivia Weaver: 178, 194.5, 372.5
4.   Sansierra, Nick Novak, Nick Novak: 171, 183, 354
5.   Rex the Wonder Horse, Kris Killam, Morel Masuoka: 160, 187, 347
6.   Valentino, Caroline Weeden, Margaret Shank Benjamin: 166.5, 175, 341.5
7.   Miss Lucy, Jennifer Alfano, Helen Lenahan: 154, 187, 341
8.   Michigan Ave, Jennifer Alfano, Jennifer Alfano: 154.5, 178.5, 333
9.   Crown N Scepter, Erynn Ballard, Larry Glefke: 133, 197, 330
10.   The Spy, Caroline Weeden, Ila Lemonis: 155, 174, 329
11.   Clearly, Erynn Ballard, Jane Gaston: 173, 154, 327
12.   Jersey Boy, Jennifer Alfano, SBS Farm: 184, 114, 298

Final Results: USHJA National Hunter Classic presented by Barrington Saddlery
1.   Copyright, Meredith Darst, Jeanette Collins: 82/4, 83/4, 173
2.   Calvin 46, Caitlin Creel, Caitlin Creel: 80/4, 84/4, 172
3.   Kashmir, Danielle Rewiako, Believe It Farm: 83/4, 81/2, 170
4.   Coin Toss, Maggie Gould, Am Free Inc: 73.5/4, 85/4, 166.5
5.   Sting, Jennifer Alfano, Helen Lenahan: 74/4, 82/4, 164
6.   Dallas, Danielle Rewiako, Lacey Gilbertson: 76/4, 74/2, 156
7.   Esperado, Leann Ablin, Serah Vogus: 73/4, 72/4, 153
8.   Starr, Maria Dritsas Rasmussen, Use the Ring LLC: 69/4, 70/4, 147
9.   Tudor Royale, Sara Gentry, Sara Gentry: 72/4, 45/4, 125
10.   ZZ Top, Maggie Gould, Amanda Morrissey: 70/4, 45/4, 123

The 2011 Chicago Hunter Derby is a 2011-12 Member Event of the USHJA International Hunter Derby Series.

 Following in the footsteps of its first two events, the Chicago Hunter Derby hopes to raise even more money for Chicago Equestrians for a Cause, a philanthropic group that donates money to significant charities, including the Children’s Memorial Hospital and the USHJA Foundation.   

For more information, please visit www.chicagohunterderby.com or visit their Facebook page!  