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he $12,500 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunt-N-Go Derby at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington saw 29 competitors test their skill over the flowing course in the R+L Arena. Rising to the occasion, Lizzie Rinehart delivered an impressive performance, not only taking the top spot aboard her own Bond but also claiming second place with Story Hour.

In the featured $15,000 USHJA National Open Hunt-and-Go Derby, Melanie Wright emerged victorious aboard her own Game Day, leading the field of 13 entries to claim top honors.Designed by Scott Alder, the Hunt-and-Go track challenged riders to demonstrate both classic hunter style and handiness within a single, flowing phase.

Darya Davoudi added her name to the list of first-time derby winners on Friday at Desert International Horse Park, capturing the $10,000 USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Junior/Amateur, sponsored by Vogel, aboard Told You So. Competing on the Grass Field during Desert Circuit 2, Davoudi’s performance capped off a standout day of hunter competition.

Friday proved to be a career-defining day at Desert International Horse Park as Gabriela Pattinson captured her first-ever USHJA National Hunter Derby victory during Desert Circuit 2. Competing on the Grass Field, she rose to the occasion in her respective $10,000 USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby, delivering confident performances that earned them top honors.

A strong field of 31 junior and amateur riders stepped into the ring for the $15,000 USHJA National 3’ Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby, but once again it was Augusta Iwasaki who rose to the top aboard Iwasaki and Reilly’s Small Love (Chacco Blue x Wisilvia).The experienced partnership set the tone early with a smooth and confident classic round.

A competitive field of 24 horse-and-rider combinations stepped into the ring for the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3′ Open Hunter Derby, but it was Matt Martin who ultimately emerged victorious aboard Mia Holstead’s O-Chadischa (Chaccato x Cencibel).

Seventeen horse-and-rider combinations returned to the ring to close out the day in the $20,000 Golden Ocala 3’6”–3’9” Hunter Derby, where Daniel Geitner delivered a confident and composed performance to take the win aboard Lynn Seithel’s Walk The Moon.

The first week of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) wrapped up with championship honors awarded in the junior hunter divisions on Sunday, highlighting the depth of talent among the nation’s rising riders.

The first hunter derby Friday of 2026 at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington during Winter Classic 5 brought together twenty-nine junior and amateur athletes in the Standlee Sanctuary. After several weeks of competition in Florida, Lizzie Rinehart returned north to pilot her longtime partner, Bond (Clarimo), to victory in the $12,500 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby.

A talented field of hunter riders gathered Friday evening in the Standlee Sanctuary at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington for World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) week during Winter Classic 5. Nineteen horse-and-rider combinations contested the $15,000 CWD USHJA National Open Hunter Derby, with multiple entries posting scores in the 90s.