Rodney Tulloch pilots Fleetwood over a victory jump following the podium presentations for the SJC Canadian Hunter Derby National Championships at 2023 Royal West held at the Calgary Stampede Park in Calgary, Alta. on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. Photo by Shealynn Choy.
Rodney Tulloch of Calgary, Alta. showed off his seasoned Hunter Derby skills once again by winning Phase III of the $50, 000 SJC Canadian Hunter Derby National Championships aboard the 12-year-old grey gelding, Fleetwood, owned by Brent Therrien. Being at the top of the overall standings, Fleetwood was the last horse to step into the arena at the Nutrien Western Event Centre, proving true that sometimes the best is truly saved for last! The pair earned an impressive base score of 89, 8 handy points, and 10 bonus points for high options, sending them straight to the top of the leaderboard. This win, paired with their win in Phase I, and second place finished in Phase II, meant Tulloch earned the overall gold medal by a whopping 37 points.
Peter Holmes of Cowichan Bay, BC, designed an incredible course for both the competitor and spectator alike in last nights third and final phase. The course proved challenging for many, but plenty of competitors stepped up to the plate and expertly took advantage of the numerous opportunities for handiness. Holmes gave Rocky Mountain Show Jumping's new horseshoe jump, pictured above, its first opportunity to be used in an indoor competition.
A two-stride combination that could be jumped from either direction was also incorporated, "I wanted to give the riders some more options and add some excitement and interest to the class. I have personally never seen this done in a Hunter Derby before, so it was exciting to see what the riders chose to do," said Holmes when asked about this unique element of the course.
The recipients of the silver and bronze medals were up in the air leading up to the nail-biting third phase of competition, but Channay Lloyd and Central Park, of Delta, B.C. proved consistently is key when it comes to championship competitions. The pairs 12th, 4th, and 7th placings combined to a total of 259 points. 18-year-old Katrina Klimach made herself known on her first trip out of British Columbia as she piloted her gelding, Black Pearl, of Victoria, B.C. were hot on their heels with 256 points.
The 2023 edition of the SJC Canadian Hunter Derby Championships will prove to be even more exciting, as the total prize money will be doubled to $100, 000.
Tulloch and Fleetwood tackle the course designed by Peter Holmes for the final phase of the SJC Canadian Hunter Derby National Championships at the Calgary Stampede in downtown Calgary, Alta. on October 17, 2023. Photo by Shealynn Choy.
Rodney Tulloch and Fleetwood pose for a victory photo with John Anderson and Janna Tymstra of Rocky Mountain Show Jumping, and Fleetwood owner, xxxx, at 2023 Royal West held at the Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Alta. on October 17, 2023. Photo by Rylee Smolarchuk.
John Anderson, Channay Lloyd, Rodney Tulloch, Katrina Klimach, and Janna Tymstra pose for a photo during the podium presentation at the $50, 000 SJC Canadian Hunter Derby National Championships at Royal West in Calgary, Alta. on October 17, 2023.