THERMAL, Calif. — The USHJA Amateur Hunter Championships made their West Coast debut on Friday, October 31, at Desert International Horse Park’s National Sunshine Series 1. Four overall champions were crowned, along with 10 age-group division winners, recognizing amateur riders competing from 2’6” to 3’6”.
Ann Deren-Lewis Leads the Way in Low Adult Amateur Hunter 2’6” Championship
Just six weeks ago, Ann Deren-Lewis was undergoing ankle surgery, but on Friday, she was back in the saddle and back to winning in a big way.
Sixteen horse-and-rider combinations vied for top honors in the Low Adult Amateur Hunter 2’6” Championship, but it was Deren-Lewis and her own Playing Country who ultimately claimed the first tricolor of the day. The duo took home the Amateur Hunter 2’6” 50 & Over division championship before being named the overall 2’6” champions.
“We worked all year, and then I had a little setback [having ankle surgery],” said Deren-Lewis, who trains with Kate Considine. “I jumped about two times before I got here, and I’m so pleased. I hope I can hold my tears back!”
For Deren-Lewis, it helps that she has known her winning mount, Playing Country or “Cupid,” since the now 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding was 6.
“He’s an amazing creature. I’m so lucky to have him,” said Deren-Lewis. “This morning, I was nervous, but I went in there and said, ‘Calm your mind, just get over the fences carefully, be consistent. Good things happen when you’re consistent and just believe. Keep my hands out front, look at the fences, and when he says go, let’s just go.’”
Deren-Lewis continued, “[This Championships] is important as folks are moving up or coming down with age. To offer things for everyone at the highest level—it’s so exciting to be recognized. No matter what height fence you’re going over, it’s still you and your partner out there doing the best you can, and by offering us this opportunity at 2’6”, we get to go show that like anybody else.”
While the USHJA Amateur Hunter Championships – West was one of Deren-Lewis’ goals, she also has another big one outside of the show ring: getting back on the running trail.
“When I’m not riding, which is my true passion, I’m an ultra-trail runner, so I run 100 mile races,” explained Deren-Lewis. “I’ve done eight of them so far. My next goal is not only this riding, but now to get back on the trails and the mountains and go to a race in July.”
Finishing behind Deren-Lewis as the 2’6” overall reserve champions were Claire Sears and Catira, owned by Mary Gatti. The pair also earned the 18-35 division championship honors.
The 36–49 champion title went to Martha Price who rode her own Oktoberfest to a tenth-place overall finish.
Adult Amateur Hunter 3’ Championship
Joann Niffenegger piloted her own Syncopation to the top of the Adult Amateur Hunter 3’ Championship, besting a field of 28 exhibitors. Posting a three-round score of 84.34, the Corona, California, rider rode consistently to also secure the 50+ Champion title.
“It feels a little unbelievable. I’ve only had Syncopation for two and a half months, so we’re just really getting to know each other, and he’s just been amazing,” said Niffenegger. “We got him, and we were like, ‘You only have 2 shows to get qualified before the end of the year.’ That was our goal, and we did it on our second show, and then came here. So it’s a little unbelievable that we’re actually the overall winner.”
Overall Reserve Champion and 18–35 Champion honors went to Zoe Ryder, of Medina, Washington, aboard Zinnia Ryder’s Cafe Noir, finishing on a score of 83.
The 36–49 Champion, placing fifth overall with a score of 80.82, was Melissa Brandley, of Rocklin, California, riding her own Reminiscent.
Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3” Championship
Hilary Sosne, of Portland, Oregon, topped a field of 21 to claim the Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3” Overall Champion title aboard her own Vino Bianco. Posting a three-round score of 83.39, Sosne also took the 18-35 Champion honors.
“It’s really exciting! It’s just a lovely icing on the cake to end a really great year. We’ve had such a good show here, and it’s fun to come back to the Horse Park and have even more success,” said Sosne of her win. “It’s fun for the Amateurs to have a chance to get back into that groove. It’s also nice for those of us who stay on the West Coast during indoors to have our own piece of excitement over here.”
“I got [Vino Bianco] about a year and a half ago, and she’s just a really lovely horse. I can count on one hand the number of times she’s done something I didn’t ask her to do. If you keep yourself together and ask her the right way, she’ll always deliver. She’s a very ‘yes ma’am’ kind of horse, and it’s been really lovely to develop that partnership over the last year and a half,” she continued of her mount.
Taking Overall Reserve, as well as the 36+ Champion title, was Lauren Kay, of Los Angeles, California, and her own Newsflash. The pair finished on a three-round score of 83.17.
Amateur Owner Hunter 3’6” Championship
Finishing off the day, Caroline Ingalls, of Rancho Santa Fe, California, bested a field of eight to claim the Amateur Owner Hunter 3’6” Championship aboard her own Concerto. The pair topped the Handy Round with a score of 84.67 before finishing on a three-round total of 84.53 to earn both the Overall and 18–35 Champion titles.
“When I heard that the USHJA was putting on this event, and especially at the Desert Horse Park, it was just so exciting to hear! I rode in the Junior Hunter Final as a Junior, and we’ve always been wanting something of that caliber for the Amateurs, so to see it happen and to have this be the inaugural year, I really see a bright future for this event. It’s just really, really special to have such success with my horse this first year,” said Ingalls.
Julie Henderson, of Los Angeles, California, piloted her own Beatrise to Overall Reserve Champion and 36+ Champion honors, finishing on an 83.13.
The new USHJA Amateur Hunter Championships give Amateur Hunter riders a national final across four divisions: 2’6” Low Adult Amateur, 3’ Adult Amateur, 3’3” Amateur Owner, and 3’6” Amateur Owner Hunters. Each Championship features three phases: Under Saddle, a First Hunter Round, and either a Classic Round or Handy Round, depending on the height. Riders qualify by earning champion or reserve at a USEF-licensed Channel I or Channel II competition, or if their horse ranks in the top 10 of their Zone Horse of the Year standings.
The USHJA sends special thanks to the entire Desert International Horse Park team for hosting the Championships; to Official Sponsors Herm Sprenger, Nutrena, and Parlanti; and Supporting Sponsor Essex Classics.
For more information about the USHJA Amateur Hunter Championships, visit ushja.org/AmateurChampionships.