Amanda Derbyshire Claims Overall Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider Award

Credit: Jump Media

Amanda Derbyshire Claims Overall Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider Award


Great Britain’s Amanda Derbyshire was named the Overall Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider of the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) on Saturday night, March 30, in Wellington, FL.

Consistent throughout the entire 12-week circuit, Derbyshire came on strong in the final weeks to win back-to-back Leading Lady titles during WEF 10 and 11. Throughout WEF, the Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider Award, given in memory of fellow realtor and horsewoman Dale Lawler, was presented weekly to the high-score female rider based on performances in the WEF Challenge Cup and grand prix events.

“Having this award adds a whole other element of competition among some very talented female riders and I am beyond thrilled to win the overall title this year,” said Derbyshire, who won her first-ever Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider Award during the 2018 WEF season. “It was an incredible feeling to just win once, but to win twice more this season and take overall is indescribable.

“I am so grateful to Martha for recognizing leading ladies, but also for being such a steadfast supporter of horse sport in general,” concluded Derbyshire. “This season was a spectacular one for me and I could not have expected more out of my horses.”

Victories in the $134,000 CSI3* Horseware Ireland Grand Prix riding Roulette BH and the $72,000 CSI4* Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 11 aboard Luibanta BH were highlights of Derbyshire’s winter season, helping her to claim the Overall Leading Lady title. In recognition of her achievement, Derbyshire was presented with a custom-built jump of her choice from Jolicoeur.

“The Leading Lady Award was always the one that I aimed to win when I was competing because it is a testament to consistent top performances,” said Jolicoeur, who began presenting the award in 2010 as a way of recognizing female accomplishments in a sport where men and women compete as equals. “Wellington is the winter equestrian capital of the world and attracts some of the best riders in the world. To experience how horses have brought us all together is something special for me. It was an honor to watch Amanda find so much success this season and win her first Overall Leading Lady Rider Award.”

In addition to Derbyshire’s two titles, other weekly winners of the Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider Award in 2019 included Erynn Ballard, Laura Chapot, Margie Engle, Tiffany Foster, Lauren Hough, Eve Jobs, Beezie Madden, Karen Polle, and Jessica Springsteen.

Part of the elite Douglas Elliman Real Estate Sports and Entertainment division, Jolicoeur was recently named the No.1 realtor in the Wellington market as well as No. 1 in Florida overall. Specializing in properties in Wellington, FL, Jolicoeur has supported WEF as an integral sponsor for the past nine consecutive seasons.

Martha Jolicoeur Overall Leading Lady Rider Award – A History of Winners:

2018 - Margie Engle (USA)

2017 - Laura Chapot (USA)

2016 - Tiffany Foster (CAN)

2015 - Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER)

2014 - Lauren Hough (USA)

2013 - Reed Kessler (USA)

2012 - Beezie Madden (USA)

2011 - Beezie Madden (USA)