Equestrienne wins derby

CHAMPION—Aurora Griffin, 14, leads her horse Savvy over a jump at the Foxfield Jumping Derby. Griffin, a student at Oaks Christian, earned first place with no faults—a perfect performance. Westlake Village resident Aurora Griffin, 14, riding her horse, Savvy, stunned more than 500 spectators with her perfect performance at the Foxfield Jumping Derby recently. Of the 50 competitors in the afternoon derby, only 12 riders qualified for the jump-off to determine the winner. Aurora earned her first place finish with no faults and an award-winning time of 29 seconds.

One of only a few events of its kind in America, the Foxfield Jumping Derby combines the precision and elegance of grand prix stadium jumping with the arduous challenges of crosscountry. The course consists of 20 obstacles. Riders must skillfully master the jumping arena with traditional fences as well as negotiate a more demanding cross-country field with water jumps, ditches, walls and banks. Nearly half of the morning’s horse and rider teams failed to complete the course.

“The youngest winner in the history of the Foxfield Jumping Derby, Aurora was competing against some of the top jumpers on the west coast,” said Mark Watring, Aurora’s trainer and a two-time Olympic equestrian.

“(The competition is) open to junior, amateur and professional riders. She competed against seasoned veterans with many more years experience in conquering the nearly four-foot heights, adjusting to the blistering speeds, and maneuvering around the difficult cross-country course,” said Watring.

“Mark did a great job preparing us for the event and Savvy certainly did her part,” said Aurora. “It takes a lot of stamina, concentration, discipline and hard work to master such a difficult and complicated course a t high speeds. I t was a dream come true to compete i n t h e Foxfield Jumping Derby. To have won it was beyond my expectations. I am grateful to have had so many of my friends there supporting me.”

Aurora attends Oaks Christian School and is the daughter of Paul and Marsha Griffin. She and her brother, Paul Erin, started riding as therapy for his Asperger’s Syndrome. Paul has also become an accomplished rider, recently winning a jumper championship at the Pebble Beach Classic.