Carly Campbell-Cooper of Omemee, ON, sped to victory in the $5,000 Struck Speed Derby on Friday, July 7, 2023, at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, ON.
Held as part of the Ottawa Summer Tournaments I taking place from July 5 to 9, 2023, the $5,000 Struck Speed Derby attracted 19 entries to the grass field where speed was the name of the game with the fastest time winning. While riders were encouraged to step on the gas pedal, they incurred a four-second penalty for each downed rail.
As the fifth rider to tackle the speed track set by FEI course designer Steffen Buhling of Germany, Campbell-Cooper laid down a clear round in a time of 73.56 seconds. Then it was a waiting game as the 14 remaining challengers tried to catch her time.
Stephanie Bourassa of Laval, QC, came the closest with a clear round in a time of 75.21 seconds riding Chrome d’Argouges to eventually earn second place. As the final challenger, Jeanne Boudrias of Saint Laurent, QC, kept her hopes for a win alive by leaving all the rails in place with her mount, Capteyn TD Z, but a time of 76.33 seconds would place them third in the final standings. With that, Campbell-Cooper breathed a sigh of relief and celebrated victory with her winning mount, Leon von Briesen, owned by John Jamieson.
“My horse has so much heart,” said Campbell-Cooper. “He is completely brave, and I don’t have to set him up a lot; he reads the jumps himself well and has a fast way of covering the ground. There was an inside option to the double combination so we did that, and I felt I could trust him in the devil’s dyke.
“I thought that the course designer had been building quite nice courses all week, and this was very welcoming,” continued Campbell-Cooper. “He really used the whole field, allowing you to get on a good gallop. It made for a fun class!”
Campbell-Cooper and Jamieson purchased Leon von Briesen at the end of his five-year-old year from his breeder in Germany. Now seven, the approved breeding stallion by Lordanos is rewarding the pair’s faith in him.
“I haven’t been to Wesley Clover in three years, and coming back I remembered how special it was,” she said. “I was lucky enough to also do the hunter derby earlier today. It is rare to get out on the grass, and that’s why I chose the class today in particular for Leon von Briesen. It did not disappoint! I’d like to give a special thank you to the sponsor, as I love Struck Apparel and am a sponsored rider. Thank you also to Karen Sparks and the management team at Wesley Clover Parks.”
Taylor Brooks Wins $10,000 Hunter Derby
Friday’s competition on the grass field opened with the $10,000 Gladys Adam Memorial Hunter Derby, presented by Pommies Cider Co. A total of 37 horse and rider combinations took advantage of the opportunity to showcase their horses over natural obstacles on the grass with hometown favourite Taylor Brooks of Ashton, ON, emerging victorious with the flashy chestnut gelding, Spectre. The 10-year-old Zangersheide owned by Taylor Bond impressed the judges to take the win over Kristjan Good of Campbellville, ON, riding On The Bay for owner Jennifer Dean.
For more information on the Ottawa Equestrian Tournaments, visit www.OttawaEquestrianTournaments.com.
$5,000 Struck Speed Derby – Friday, July 7, 2023
1. Carly Campbell-Cooper / Omemee, ON / Leon von Briesen / 0 / 73.56
2. Stephanie Bourassa / Laval, QC / Chrome d’Argouges / 0 / 75.21
3. Jeanne Boudrias / Saint Laurent, QC / Capteyn TD Z / 0 / 76.33
4. Sarah Johnstone / Collingwood, ON / Laszla / 4 / 78.20
5. Rayne Dubois / Ottawa, ON / Eristos de l’Heribus / 4 / 80.23
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