Press release from Split Rock Jumping Tour

Just five days after leaving their mark on Week One of the Lugano Diamonds Split Rock Jumping Tour’s (SRJT) Hunter Jumper series as the FEI Grand Prix winning combination, Molly Ashe Cawley and Louisburg Farm’s Berdien (Bustique X Querlybet Hero) stepped straight back into the show ring with an unwavering rythym, this time taking top honors in the $35,000 C. Jarvis Insurance 1.45m Welcome CSI3*.

Ireland’s Alan Wade laid out a 16-effort track that saw athletes representing eight nations contest the initial round, with eight combinations finding their way fault-free. First to return for the jump-off track were the always-fast and Week One’s Welcome winners, Sydney Shulman-Desiderio (ISR) and Villamoura (Diamant de Semilly x Cassini I), putting forth an impressive clear round in 41.51 seconds.

“Villamoura is obviously crazy fast and I didn’t think there was any chance I could catch her so I took every chance I could take. [Berdien’s] strength is slicing verticals with tight turns back and luckily we had two [fences] in this jump-off that we could do that to,” Cawley commented on her second round that would edge ahead of Shulman-Desiderio in 40.59 seconds.

Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) and Otto BH (Norton d'Eole x Toulon), co-owned with Gochman Sport Horse LLC, followed next, giving a strong effort, but the pair couldn't quite mimic Cawley's handiness and they crossed the timers in 41.09 seconds to slide in between the two leading ladies to finish in second place, moving Shulman-Desiderio into third and leaving Cawley with another victory.

"I love my times at Split Rock shows – they’ve always been good to me," Cawley said of her success on Berdien with a win in the $100,000 Lugano Diamonds 1.45m Grand Prix CSI2* during Week One, in addition to wins in the CSI3* Speed and Welcome during last year's Hunter Jumper series for the duo. "It’s a great facility and great course designer – the whole thing is top notch so I love it."

Competition will continue through the weekend, culminating with the $100,000 Lugano Diamonds 1.50m Grand Prix CSI3*, presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, on Sunday, June 16. Hunters will be highlighted by the $25,000 Hunter Grand Prix, presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, on Saturday, June 15and USHJA National Derby Regional Championships with Open, Junior, and Amateur divisions on Sunday.