(Vero Beach, FL) – The Professional Riders Organization is pleased to announce that its inaugural PRO Derby Cross Team Competition will take place at the International Equestrian Center of Palm Beach, Saturday March, 5th at 5:30 PM as a prelude to the Hermes Puissance Class held during the Wellington Equestrian Festival’s prestigious Nation’s Cup weekend.
PRO Derby Cross is a hybridized form of interactive entertainment and sporting competition designed to showcase some of the best equestrian talent in the United States and Canada. Olympian Leslie Law (Team GBR) and World Equestrian Games Competitor Boyd Martin (Team USA) host the two and a half hour team competition.
Five teams of five riders, three event riders, one show jumper and one polo player, will compete over a three-minute course designed by Olympic Gold Medalist David O’Connor. The course will ask horses and riders to be brave over the cross-country fences and accurate over show jumps all while competing against the clock.
Team Captains have selected a talented squad of event riders, show jumpers and polo players with the intent to win the inaugural PRO Derby Cross Team Competition hosted by event riders Leslie Law and Boyd Martin.
Team HAYGAIN: Captain Phillip Dutton (E); Sinead Halpin (E), Jennie Brannigan (E), Katie Prudent (SJ) and Nic Roldan (P)
Team FarmVet/Cavalor: Captain Buck Davidson (E), Bruce Davidson (E), Will Faudree (E), Aaron Vale (SJ) and Kris Kampsen (P)
Team O’Connor: Captain Karen O’Connor (E), Clark Montgomery (E), Hannah Sue Burnett (E), Laura Kraut (SJ) and John Gobin (P)
Team Triple Crown: Captain Allison Springer (E), Marcia Kulak (E), Will Coleman (E), Georgina Bloomberg (SJ) and Luis Escobar (P)
Team Canada: Captain Kyle Carter (E), Rebecca Howard (E), Jessica Phoenix (E), Ian Millar (SJ) and Brandon Phillips (P)
Triple Crown Nutrition was the first company to sponsor PRO Derby Cross: “When Marcia Kulak asked us to get involved with PRO Derby Cross, she knew it would be a perfect fit,” said Michelle Mulcahy of Triple Crown Nutrition. “All of us at Triple Crown Nutrition are so excited to be able to support this fresh, innovative format that will be showcasing some of the best riders in the country”.
Patrons tickets are available for the Calcutta Welcome Party presented by Windsor on Friday March 4, 5-7 PM at the White Horse Tavern in Wellington, Florida and the Wellington Equestrian Realty PRO Derby Cross Marquee on Saturday March 5, from 5:00 PM with full dinner and cocktails. For reservations please call: Samantha Lendl, 772 633-6129. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Operation Homefront.
DerbyCross History: DerbyCross (www.derbycross.com) was conceived and developed by advanced level eventing competitors, Rebecca Howard and Sinead Halpin, and Dana Voorhees, an avid amateur competitor and owner of Van Productions. This new equine sport combines the speed and accuracy of show jumping and the bravery and endurance of cross-country, showcased in a spectator-friendly format. The inaugural event took place in July of 2006 at Great Meadow Polo Club, in The Plains, Virginia. In 2010 DerbyCross joined the Professional Riders Organization to create PRO DerbyCross.
The PRO Derby Cross Teams are captained by: Phillip Dutton, Buck Davidson, Karen O’Connor, Kyle Carter and Allison Springer. Joining them are internationally renowned show jumpers: Katie Prudent, Laura Kraut, Aaron Vale and Georgina Bloomberg. Event riders include legend Bruce Davidson, long time Wellington resident Marcia Kulak and up and coming riders from the United States and Canada: Will Faudree, Sinead Halpin, Rebecca Howard, Will Coleman, Jessica Phoenix, Hannah Sue Burnett, Jennie Brannigan and Clark Montgomery. Polo players will be announced shortly.
