WEF: Stewart and Empire Wow the Crowd in their USHJA Qualifying Round

Source: FTI WEF News Release/Brooke Bidgood/ESP

Stewart and Empire Wow the Crowd With Their High Scores in the
Qualifying Round of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby

It was an important day for hunters at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Sixty entries took their shot at a chance to compete in the $50,000 USHJA Hunter Derby, one of the biggest purses offered for hunter competitors in the world. The class began this afternoon in the E.R.Mische Grand Hunter Ring. With a large number of spectators standing by, each horse and rider combination took their turn over a course of eleven jumps, with four high option fences.

There were two teams of judges - Danny Robertshaw and Jim Clapperton (Panel 1 - tiebreaker), John Barker and Scott Williamson (Panel 2) - one team on either side of the ring. Each team of judges awarded a numerical score plus a bonus point for each high option fence that was jumped. The sum of the scores was given as each rider's final score for the first round of competition.

Scott Stewart wasted no time getting down to business on the first of his six mounts in the class. Going fourth in the order, Stewart led the Fashion Farm's entry Dedication to a combined score of 186, which was good enough to leave the pair in fourth overall going into tomorrow night. "Dedication is a First Year horse, who has been champion a few times here. He's very scopey and very easy, but he just turned six, so he's still pretty green. I was very happy with him," beamed Stewart.

Scott Stewart and Empire

Scott Stewart and Empire

It wasn't until Stewart went on the last of his six mounts that he secured the lead for round one of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. Empire, an entry of Becky Gochman, left the crowd and the judges speechless as he exited the ring. Empire and Stewart secured a score of 94 plus 3 bonus points from the first pair of judges, and an 89.5 plus 3 bonus points from the second pair of judges, giving the winning duo a total score of 189.5 to take the class. "What made me decide to do it on him was a couple weeks ago I was schooling him out here, and we put the jumps up pretty high, and he just did it so easily," Stewart explained about his decision to show the young Empire in the derby.

Adding a little icing to the cake, Victoria Colvin rode Stewart's horse Inclusive to the third place ribbon after today's first round class. The pair left the ring with a combined score of 186.

Stewart doesn't anticipate any problems with tomorrow's second round in the International Arena under the lights. "He was champion in World Hunter Rider Week out there, so hopefully he'll be good tomorrow night," smiled Stewart. "He's just very brave."

Scott Stewart

Scott Stewart in his presentation with ringmaster Cliff Haines

The course was comprised of natural looking obstacles, some which have not been used yet this winter in the hunter rings. Most contained some form of hedge, shrubbery, or wall as well. Stewart shared his views of today's course. "I thought it was nice. I was a little worried about the brick wall at the end, but I don't think anybody had too much trouble with that. The rest was really huntery and nice, I thought."

With four high options throughout the course, most riders chose to do all or none of them. However, Stewart opted to do three high options, leaving out the first one. "The first high option was so early in the course, and it rode quite big away from the gate. I was afraid with most of my horses that they would try too hard and get playful, so I played it safe. The others were more inviting," he explained.

Now that today's course is history, riders have to look forward to tomorrow night's course, which is sure to be even more impressive, with impressive jumps and a longer course. "Last year's course was very huntery, nice, and flowing. I'm hoping this year's will be the same thing, and just a fun class," stated Stewart about his expectations for tomorrow night.

Hunter Derby presentation

Round One ribbon winners Scott Stewart, Jennifer Alfano,

Victoria Colvin, Louise Serio, Holly Orlando, Kelley Farmer,

and Maggie Jayne

All of the riders in today's qualifying round worked hard to make the top twenty-five, and now those riders have to work even harder to get a piece of tomorrow night's very large purse. The $50,000 in prize money is a rarity in the hunter ring, and gives riders and owners the opportunity to take home a nice prize and some good recognition too. "I think its great," said Stewart. "To be at night again is fabulous, and hopefully there will be good attendance."

Join the crowd tomorrow night as the top 25 vie for the number one spot in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. For those that are away and unable to attend, the class will be aired live on the USEF Network at the following web address:http://www.usefnetwork.com/WEFDerby2011/

For full results please visit www.showgroundslive.com for more information, visitwww.equestriansport.com.

Final Results: $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Round One

PLACE	#	HORSE	RIDER	OWNER	PANEL 1	PANEL 2	BONUS	ROUND 1 TOTAL
1	2384	EMPIRE	SCOTT STEWART	GOCHMAN, BECKY	94	89.5	6	189.5
2	6238	JERSEY BOY	JENNIFER ALFANO	FARMS INC., SBS	90	90	8	188
3	2414	INCLUSIVE	VICTORIA COLVIN	STEWART, SCOTT	93	87	6	186
4	2396	DEDICATION	SCOTT STEWART	FARM, FASHION	88	92	6	186
5	3267	PRAISE	KELLEY FARMER	GLEFKE, DAVID	86	88	8	182
6	2915	ROCK STAR	LOUISE SERIO	BRIGHT STAR 158, LLC	87	85	8	180
7	6240	MISS LUCY	JENNIFER ALFANO	LENAHAN, HELEN	86.25	85.5	8	179.75
8	1225	SIENNA	PATRICIA GRIFFITH	MAOUNIS, LEXI	83	89	6	178
9	2217	SAILOR'S VALENTINE	HOLLY ORLANDO	FARM, WESTERLY	85	86	6	177
10	1205	DELOREAN	PATRICIA GRIFFITH	COLLINS, WENDY	85.5	84.5	6	176
11	418	SUMMER PLACE	MAGGIE JAYNE	LANE FARM, PONY	82.25	85.25	8	175.5
12	1511	THE SPECIALIST	KRISTY MCCORMACK	LIPKE, MEREDITH	84	82	6	172
13	6702	MONTAGUE	GARY YOUNG	GOLDSMITH, ISOBEL V	82.5	81.5	8	172
14	3090	GOGOL	LYMAN WHITEHEAD	FIORE, MAGGIE	82	84	6	172
15	5921	BASES LOADED	KELLEY FARMER	FREE, INC, AM	84	77	8	169
16	2426	CARLOS BOY	SCOTT STEWART	WEISMAN, ALEXA	80	80	8	168
17	406	FRANCESCA	MAGGIE JAYNE	LANE FARM, PONY	79	79.75	8	166.75
18	1512	SUNDANCE	KIM MC CORMACK	MC CORMACK, KIM	81.75	77.35	6	165.1
19	6311	COOPER	SCOTT STEWART	GREENE + FOUR WINDS FARM, TAYLOR	78	81	6	165
20	1332	GENEROUS	DAVID OLIYNYK	GAUDET, LORI	76.25	80.5	8	164.75
21	1145	COASTING	LAENA ROMOND	ENTERPRISES, INC., SHF	77	77.5	6	160.5
22	5256	ELON AF OSTRA HULT	MELISSA BARK	FARM LLC, ENTERPRISE	76	75	8	159
23	2931	LUXOR	TIFFANY CORNACCHIO-MORRISSEY	NIKKI CARR, SCNC INVESTMENTS &	74.5	78.5	6	159
24	2368	DECLARATION	SCOTT STEWART	FARM, FASHION	76	75.5	6	157.5
25	6009	ENSO	LILLIE KEENAN	FARM, HERITAGE	72	79.5	6	157.5

Photo Credit: Scott Stewart and Empire win the first round of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby during the twelfth week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo © Sportfot, Official Sport Photographer of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, www.sportfot.com.