Molly Ashe-Cawley Wins FTI WEF USHJA International Hunter Derby

Molly Ashe-Cawley And Kennzo Top $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby

Wellington, FL. – March 30th, 2014 – The final day of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival featured several action packed classes including the second round of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, where Molly Ashe-Cawley and Kennzo bested twenty-five entries in the handy round.

The course, designed by Ken Krome of Maryland, featured a trot jump, a small bounce, tight turns for handy points and three high options. It was technical and riders had to remain sharp and focused to bring out the best in their horses.

Kate Ross was one of four riders with more than one entry in the class – Tara Metzner and Keri Kampsen had two entries and Kelley Farmer had three. The junior rider from New York, NY., was 7th to go aboard Sancho and although they received a low score of 135.00 she used the experience to her advantage and rode a beautiful round aboard her second entry, Friday Night, whom was 19th to go and received a high score of 199 for a combined first and second round total of 371, moving right up into first place.

Ross, whom trains with Valerie Renihan of Findlay’s Ridge LLC and rides Friday Night for Kar LLC, explained that she was thrilled to be riding amongst such talented riders and said, “I was really nervous going in [to round two], but my horse was amazing and I am so happy!”

Scoring a 178.00 for third place finish during round one, the previous day, Molly Ashe-Cawley and Kennzo returned to face off with the competiton for round two and they did not disappoint. The duo’s second round score of 193 combined with their first round score for a total of 371, tying with Kate Ross and Friday Night for first place. Tying in a hunter class is an extremely rare occurrence, but as fate had it Ross and Ashe-Cawley would have to jump off against each other for a grand champion to be announced.

With an unfortunate rail down Ross and Friday Night settled for an overall second place finish, with the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby grand champion title going to Ashe-Cawley and Kennzo.

Molly Ashe-Cawley piloted the 12-year-old 15.3hh Finnish Warmblood gelding for Kristen Abbatiello-Neff of Newtown, CT., and trains with Walter “Timmy” Kees, also of Conneticut. Regarding her round and mount she said, “[Ken Krome] made a really exciting course for us today and Kennzo was great. He was with me the whole time and did his job perfectly.”

Check out some photos from the handy round of the derby below.