Devon, PA – July 2, 2011 – The Brandywine Valley Summer Series presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services featured an exciting evening of competition in the Dixon Oval this Saturday. The top horse and rider combinations gathered to showcase their skills during the $3,000 Johnson Horse Transportation USHJA National Hunter Derby. Meredith Lipke and The Specialist led the class from start to finish and eventually garnered the winning honors after earning a total score of 357. Lexi Graham and Landmark jumped up from the 11th place position to finish second, while Devon Yacka piloted Furst Laugh to the third place award.
Tonight’s courses were designed by Michael Rheinheimer and simulated riding over a hunt country with all of the fences set to 3′ with four 3’5” options and three handy options. Meredith Lipke of Buffalo, NY, took an early lead with The Specialist, scoring an 86 and an 87 during the first round with four bonus options for a 181 total. They were the last to return during the handy round, but the duo did not hold back. After executing a beautiful inside turn to the first fence they held a big gallop throughout the course, receiving scores of 85 and 83 with four bonus points. Their two-round total of 357 points would net the winning title.
“This is my first derby, so I am very excited,” beamed Lipke after her victory gallop. “The Specialist has done quite a few of them, so he knew exactly what he was doing, which really helped me out. He had a great turn to the first fence in the handy and was really on it for every jump. He was just happy to be out there after having a month off!”
Lipke continued, “I need to have a definite plan and I wanted to make sure The Specialist knew exactly where he was going. My trainer Kristy McCormack had me do a different turn to the first fence, which allowed us to keep flowing.”