Tina Judge-Boyle and Giviera Top $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby at Lamplight Spring Spectacular II
Wayne, Ill. – June 16, 2023 – Spectators gathered at the Main Hunter Ring on Saturday afternoon to watch 40 horse and rider combinations vie for the winning honors in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby at HITS Chicago. Tina Judge-Boyle and Giviera captured the attention of the judges as soon as they stepped in the ring, and with two flawless rounds they earned impressive scores of 92 and 94 to take home the winning title.
Tina Judge-Boyle and Giviera
“I found Giviera a couple of years ago and sold her to somebody in Oklahoma,” explained Judge-Boyle about her journey with her winning mount. “When they decided to sell her again, we bought her back for my client, Judy Power. Judy has been wonderful letting me bring the horse along. I started her in the Green 3’6”, then the Green 3’9”, and now she's doing the High Performance. She was Horse of the Year twice, and we're aiming for the National Horse Show at the end of the year. She's been doing great and Judy supports Giviera’s career the whole way.”
The competition kicked off with the classic round designed by Chris Collman, which featured four high options that also offered different turns. The top 12 returned for the handy round, where a high and low trot fence was introduced in addition to inside turns to provide exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their mounts' handiness before hand galloping the final oxer.
Kathleen Caya and Copa Du Cache
Judge-Boyle and Giviera earned a score of 92 in the first round, leading by just one point in the handy round. Giviera was brilliant over each fence and topped the standings once again with a score of 94 and winning total of 186. Kathleen Caya and Copa Du Cache took home the second-place award, earning a score of 182 with a pair of 91s. Judge Boyle also garnered the third place prize with her second mount, Afelix Dell’a, after earning a total score of 179.5, but at the end of the day, she returned with Giviera for the traditional victory gallop at the Lamplight Equestrian Center.
Tina Judge-Boyle and Afelix Dell'a
“Her owner Judy shows Giviera in the 2’ classes, so she did 2’ this morning and then she comes and does this with me,” smiled Judge-Boyle. “I just wanted to give her a nice ride. I knew she would really shine in the handy – it's one of our favorite things to do!”
Judge-Boyle’s win was extra special, having grown up competing at Lamplight Equestrian Center. “I've grown up showing here, so I've been coming here for 30 years,” she concluded. It's close to home and we love it. It's a beautiful facility, and all the customers really enjoy coming here.”
Tina Judge-Boyle and Giviera
Competition during the Lamplight Spring Spectacular II will continue throughout the weekend as part of the HITS Chicago Series. Junior and amateur athletes will showcase their skills during their respective hunter classics to close out the first week of the horse show, earning valuable points toward qualifying for the Marshall and Sterling Finals.
Tina Judge-Boyle and Giviera