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Babington and Moloney Take Top Honors at 39th
Annual Hampton Classic
Irish duo clams $250,000 Hampton Classic
Grand Prix Presented by Land Rover and
$30,000 Longines Rider Challenge
Bridgehampton, NY—Sep. 3, 2014—Kevin
Babington of Ireland guided the nine-year-old, Hanoverian
mare, Shorapur, to the fastest fault-free jump-off time
(39.16 seconds) to claim the $250,000 Hampton Classic Grand
Prix, presented by Land Rover, in an exciting climax to the
39th Annual Hampton Classic.
Brianne Goutal of New York City rode Nice De Prissey to
second place (0 faults/40.34 seconds), and Richie Moloney of
Ireland rode Freestyle De Muze to third place, with 4 faults
in 44.26 seconds. Ramiro Quintana of Argentina was the only
other rider to reach the jump-off and he guided Whitney to
fourth place with 8 faults in 38.58 seconds.
The Hampton Classic ran from August 24-31, offering
competition in six rings for more than 1,500 horses. The
Hampton Classic Grand Prix was an FEI-sanctioned qualifying
event for the 2015 Longines FEI World Cup Final in Las Vegas
next April.
Moloney’s third-place finish put him on top in the $30,000
Longines Rider Challenge for the second consecutive year,
earning 300 points from the week’s 10 open jumper classes.
Fellow Irishman Darragh Kenny had held the lead with 283
points before leaving the Classic on Saturday night to join
the Irish team at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in
Normandy, France; his total through Saturday held up for the
runner-up spot with Quintana finishing third and Shane
Sweetnam of Ireland taking fourth.
“It was nice to go into the jump-off knowing that I’d done
it already,” Moloney said. “I had a great week, and winning
the Longines award was a great way to finish it off.”
Guilherme Jorge of Brazil designed all the courses in the
Grand Prix Ring, and the track he set for the Grand Prix
proved considerably challenging to the 33 riders from five
nations who attempted it. Jorge agreed with the three
winners’ evaluation that the second half of the course was
especially demanding. “It was certainly a long course, with
challenges worthy of a $250,000 World Cup qualifier,” he
said. “I was happy that the faults were spread out over the
course.”
Moloney led off the jump-off round in front of the 15,000
fans surrounding the Grand Prix Ring. He said that Freestyle
De Muze, 10, is relatively inexperienced at this level and
isn’t a fast horse. Plus, he knew before the class that he
only had to finish fourth to win the Longines Award, meaning
that with only four in the jump-off, he was guaranteed of
that prize even if he was the slowest rider. So he
approached the shortened course conservatively. Freestyle De
Muze knocked down only the second-to-last fence, the
Longines oxer
Quintana’s plan was clearly to better Moloney’s time, and he
did it easily, but with two rails, leaving the door wide
open for Babington.
“I had planned to go medium fast, even before I watched
Richie and Ramiro go,” said Babington. “It was a careful
jump-off—you had to jump all the jumps before you worried
about your speed. But she’s a naturally fast mare, so I can
have a fast time without even trying.”
Goutal, 25, said that she “didn’t want to go crazy fast, but
I think I played it a little
too safe.”
Kenny Wins $40,000 Longines Cup
The Hampton Classic also offered FEI-sanctioned grand prix
events on Saturday (the $40,000 Longines Cup, presented by
the Crown Family) and on Friday (the $50,000 Douglas Elliman
Grand Prix, presented by Longines).
Kenny’s victory in the $40,000 Longines Cup, just before
leaving for Normandy, came when he galloped Picolo to the
fastest fault-free ride in the jump-off (40.32 seconds).
Quintana, riding Versus, had taken the lead at the start of
the jump-off with a clean ride in 41.73 seconds and his lead
held until the last ride of the day. Lillie Keenan, of New
York City, finished third with a clean ride in 42.53 seconds
on Balance.
Kenny accepted a Longines Conquest Sport Timepiece from
Juan-Carlos Capelli, Longines vice president, head of
international marketing. “I’m especially glad I won this
class, because I’ve always wanted a Longines watch,” he
said. “I’m very glad to be riding for Ireland in my first
World Championship, but I didn’t want to miss this show,
because this is a very important show to me. I’ve been
aiming for this class especially with Picolo, because he’s
been coming up to it perfectly. I thought all week that he
was capable of winning it if I could set him up right.
Setting him up for the Longines Cup included winning the
$20,000 Hampton Classic Jumper Challenge on Tuesday.
On Friday, Molly Ashe-Cawley of Wellington, FL and Carissimo
scored a comeback victory in the $50,000 Douglas Elliman
Grand Prix Qualifier, presented by Longines. Their jump-off
time of 43.80 seconds defeated Karen Polle, representing
Japan, on With Wings (44.38) and Ronan McGuigan,
representing Ireland, on Capall Zidane (46.99).
In 2012, Carissimo, a 14-year-old gelding, pulled off his
right front shoe while making a turn in the jump-off in the
Classic’s $250,000 grand prix, causing him to nearly fall at
a jump. Ashe-Cawley later sold him to current owner Olivia
Jack, who had the showing duties until she left for college
in August. Her departure left Ashe-Cawley reunited with
Carissimo just in time for this year’s Classic.
The 2012 mishap “was a bummer because he was going so well.
But he was spectacular out here today—he couldn’t have gone
any better,” said Ashe-Cawley.
The Longines Conquest Sport Timepiece she received had a
special meaning to her. Ashe-Cawley recalled that eight
years ago she won his and hers watches for winning the grand
prix in Dublin (Ireland), and she gave them to her grooms as
thank-you presents. “But I’m not doing that again. I’m
definitely holding on to this one!” she said.
Throughout the week, the Classic earned rave reviews from
the riders for the improved footing in the Grand Prix Ring.
Juniors and Amateurs
Junior and amateur riders and young horses also spent time
in the spotlight of the Grand Prix Ring. In the $25,000
Marders Show Jumping Derby, just two of 30 starters
qualified for the jump-off, where Promised Land, with
Addison Gierkink, defeated Chamonix H, with Kelli Cruciotti.
Both riders lowered one rail, but Gierkink galloped across
the finish in 37.91 seconds, almost 2 seconds faster than
Cruciotti (39.29 seconds).
Gierkink, 18, said “It’s a big honor for me just to ride in
this class, let alone to win it. I rode in the Hampton
Classic for the first time last year and I didn’t even
qualify for this class. I’ve come a long way.”
Following the Derby, Lucy Deslauriers was honored with the
Show Jumping Hall of Fame Style of Riding Award as the
junior jumper rider who best exemplifies the American style
of equitation as modeled by Show Jumping Hall of Famers Joe
Fargis, Conrad Homfeld and George Morris.
On Thursday, Madison Goetzmann aboard her own Wendalineke
won the $5,000 EnTrust Junior Jumper Classic. Lucas Porter
rode Sleepy P. Ranch LLC’s Psychee D’Amour to the second
place, with Lauren Fischer on her Norton De La Sapaie
picking up the third place honors.
Also Thursday, Christina Firestone rode Zodiac to victory in
the $5,000 Strong’s Marine Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic.
Sarah Ryan, riding Orleen, placed second, while Firestone
claimed third place on Chantilly.
Those two ribbons propelled Zodiac to the Amateur-Owner
Jumper 1.30m Championship, for which Firestone received the
Firefly Challenge Trophy, a trophy newly established by
Board Member Philip Richter in honor of Hampton Classic
co-Founder, Christophe de Menil. Firestone’s Chantilly won
the Reserve Championship. Both warmblood mares are owned by
Firestone’s grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Bertram R. Firestone,
who also bred Zodiac, 10.
On Saturday afternoon, Chloe Reid celebrated
her birthday with an impressive win over 46 starters in the
$15,000 Carolex Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic
Presented by The Deslauriers Family and Lynne Tarnopol. Reid
claimed the win on Athena.
On Saturday morning, Devin Ryan rode Eddie Blue to victory
in the $20,000 SHF Enterprises YJC 5-Year-Old Final,
presented by North Star, and Cody Auer rode Imerald Van Het
Voorhof to victory in the $30,000 Split Rock Farm YJC
6-Year-Old Final. The $30,000 7-8 Year-Old Final, presented
by Callan Solem Show Stables, was held Sunday morning with
the win going to Calais ridden by Jeffery Welles. The finals
were the culmination of the Young Jumper Championship’s 2014
season.
Sam Edelman Equitation Championship
Michael Hughes topped 36 other riders, with a two-round
total of 179 points, to win the Sam Edelman Equitation
Championship. Victoria Colvin finished second (177.5
points), and Kelli Cruciotti finished third (171 points).
The Sam Edelman Equitation Championship’s format requires
riders to negotiate two rounds, over two different courses,
in the sprawling Grand Prix Ring. “It’s different from all
the other equitation championships, because of the two
rounds in this big ring. It takes a special horse to come in
and do this class,” said Hughes, 18. “This means a lot to me
because I’ve been riding in it for so many years—and I
finally did it,” he added. He said in the last five years
he’s gotten a ribbon every year, including a second place
and a fourth place.
The Atlantic Opening Day
Patricia Griffith, riding Black Label, won the $50,000 Clear
Channel Hunter Derby, presented by MeadowView Farms, to
highlight The Atlantic Opening Day. Black Label scored 179
points over the two rounds to defeat Carrico (Callie Seaman,
171) and Pioneer (Victoria Colvin, 165). Thirty horses
started, with the top 12 returning for the second round.
“I’ve always loved riding in this field, so this is really
special to me,” said Griffith. “I always say this is my
favorite show—it’s really a showplace event. It’s the show I
look forward to every year. I’ve been coming here since I
was 10, and I’m 37 now.
Horses stabled on Long Island also had their day in the
spotlight on The Atlantic Opening Day. They competed in five
restricted hunter divisions, jumping on the grass in the
Anne Aspinall Hunter Ring or next door in Hunter Ring 2.
Saratoga, ridden by Holly Orlando, and Tivoli, ridden by
Laura Bowery, were the Grand Local Hunter Co-Champions. They
each won a section of the Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialists
Local Working Hunter Professional division. Saratoga also
won a section of this division in 2013, ridden then by
Hayley Barnhill. Tivoli, with owner Anne Byers, aboard, also
secured the Local Amateur-Owner Hunter Championship.
Clever Z, ridden by M.L. Stevenson, won the Local Hunter
Non-Professional division. Landis, ridden by Sabrina
Kalimian, won the Revco Local Junior Hunter Championship
Hunters, Ponies and More
On the show’s closing day, Stephanie Danhakl of Pacific
Palisades, CA, rode her horses Golden Rule and Enough Said
to first and second places in the $10,000 Hermès
Junior/Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic.
Danhakl, rode Golden Rule, 10, to the first round’s top
score, an 88, and returned in the second round to score an
82. Since her two horses were the last two to perform in the
second round, it meant she’d already clinched first place
with Golden Rule when she returned on Enough Said, 8. But
she galloped and jumped him to the best second-round score,
an 86.
“When I went in the second time on Golden Rule, I was a
little nervous, and I don’t usually get that way. So I rode
a little defensively. I was basically trying not to lose,”
Danhakl said.
Enough Said was the Amateur-Owner Hunter (3’3”), 18-35,
Champion, and Golden Rule was the Amateur-Owner Hunter
(3’6”), 18-35, Champion.
Victoria Colvin, 16, earned the most awards in the Junior
Hunter division. She was named the Grand Champion Junior
Hunter Rider after winning the Small Junior Hunter, 16-17,
Championship and Reserve awards, the Large Junior Hunter,
16-17, Reserve Championship, and she rode two of the three
horses who tied for the Junior Hunter High-Score Award.
Ovation won the Small Junior Hunter, 16-17, title over
Canadian Blue. Dr. Betsee Parker of Middleburg, VA, owns
both horses. This was the fourth time that Ovation has won
the Raynes Perpetual Cup that goes to the winner of Small
Junior Hunter Grand Championship, a feat never accomplished
before. Ovation was also named the Grand Hunter Champion.
Way Cool, also owned by Parker, won the Large Junior Hunter,
16-17, Reserve Championship, and he tied with Inclusive,
owned by Parker, and Garfield, owned by Rose Hill Farm and
ridden by Cloe Hymowitz, for the Junior Hunter High-Score
Award and the Deanne Vallier Dominguez Memorial Trophy. All
three horses achieved a class score of 88.
Hymowitz rode Garfield to the Large Junior Hunter, 16-17,
Championship. Her sister, Lilli, rode Enjoy to the Small
Junior Hunter, 15 & Under, Reserve Championship and Tiffani
to the Large Junior Hunter, 15 & Under, Reserve
Championship. The sisters rode a total of 15 horses.
Caroline Passarelli and Sophie Gochman notched the highest
honors in the pony division. Passarelli, 13, won the $2,500
Pony Hunter Classic on Dr. Betsee Parker’s Bit of Love, and
Gochman, 11, was named best child rider on a pony after
winning the Medium Pony Hunter Championship on Truly Noble
and finishing third in the Pony Hunter Classic on Laugh Out
Loud. Bit of Love also won the Small Pony Hunter and the
Grand Pony Hunter Championships.
Scarlett Lee Aylsworth rode Alamo to the Children’s Hunter
Grand Championship. En route to the grand championship among
the seven divisions, Aylsworth, 14, and Alamo clinched the
tricolor in the Children’s Hunter Horse, 14 & Under, Sec. B.
Haley Barnhill rode Fonteyn to the championship in The
Chronicle of the Horse High-Performance Hunter division.
Scott Stewart said he usually brings about 50 horses to the
Hampton Classic, and three of them won hunter championships:
Showman, owned by Krista Weisman, won the Regular
Conformation Hunter championship for the second consecutive
year; Lucador, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, won the Green
Conformation Hunter championship; and Loyalty, owned by
Fashion Farm, won the Second Year Green Hunter Championship.
Stewart was named the Leading Hunter Rider.
Other Classic Events
Monday was ASPCA Adoption and Animal Welfare Day at the
Hampton Classic. Six local rescue groups brought dogs and
cats to be available for adoption, many of which found new
homes.
ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassadors Georgina Bloomberg and
Hayley Barnhill and NBC’s Animal Welfare Advocate Jill
Rappaport, along with James Hastie, executive director of
the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, hosted a program
advocating adopting horses from rescue organizations. Four
adoptable horses joined them in the Anne Aspinall Hunter
Ring, including a 22-year-old, Thoroughbred mare whom
Barnhill rode around the ring.
For the ninth consecutive year, the Hampton Classic hosted
the championship finals for the Long Island Horse Show
Series for Riders with Disabilities, with riders in three
divisions competing for year-end titles. Bridgehampton
National Bank sponsored the competition and Kevin O’Connor,
the bank’s CEO and president, handed out the ribbons and
trophies. Hermès provided coolers to the champions, thanks
to the sponsorship of Priscilla Gremillion. Prior to the
competition, Olympic veteran Mario Deslauriers presented
LIHSSRD ribbons to the riders.
USEF judge Gary Duffy awarded the following championships:
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LIHSSRD Advanced Equitation
Spotter/Independent—Steven Snyder of Brightwaters, NY,
riding Blu. Tyler Havlicek rode Showdown to the reserve
championship.
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LIHSSRD Beginner Equitation
Spotter/Independent—Alex Donlon of Hicksville, NY,
riding Max Marks The Spot. Bonnie Bokser of Farmingdale,
NY, won the reserve championship on Knight In Shining
Armor.
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LIHSSRD Equitation With Aids—Alexandria
Economou of Muttontown, NY, riding Keep The Melody.
Emory Shapses of Plainview, NY, was the reserve champion
on Robin Hood.
Optimum® Kids Day, Saturday August 30, was a huge hit at the
Classic. More than 1,000 children enjoyed free admission,
free pony rides, a petting zoo, wildlife exhibits, musical
entertainment, magic acts and much more, just a few steps
from the action in the Grand Prix Ring and in the hunter
rings.
Special Awards
For 30 years, the Hampton Classic benefited from the
guidance of equestrian manager Steve Stephens. Earlier this
year, Stephens announced his retirement from the Classic and
he was honored in a center-ring ceremony before the start of
the Grand Prix. After a successful career as a grand prix
rider, Stephens established himself as one of the leading
course designers in the world. He was also the proprietor of
Stephens Equestrian Designs and jumps in the Grand Prix
Ring, featuring many of the show’s sponsors, were designed
by him and built by his company. In 2013, the USHJA honored
Stephens with its Lifetime Achievement Award, and earlier
this year, he was inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of
Fame.
Hermès (Americana Manhasset) won the blue ribbon as the best
of the more than 80 boutiques in the Classic’s Boutique
Garden and Stable Row. Judges Samantha Yanks, editor of
Hamptons magazine, and Michael Grim, of Bridgehampton
Florist and a regular guest on the Food Network’s “Barefoot
Contessa,” selected the Hermès boutique over those of
Wellington & Company Equestrian Antiques and Long Island
Livestock Co., the 2013 winner.
“Last year, we finished third, so we knew we had to step it
up this year to win,” said Priscilla Smith of Hermès. “We’re
now an official sponsor and supplier for the U.S. Equestrian
Federation, and I think those products gave us some snap.
But we also have a strong presence in silk this year, and
we’ve brought out a lot of exciting colors too.”
The Classic also recognized the best designed tables in its
famed VIP tents as selected by HC&G (Hamptons Cottages and
Gardens magazine). Honored as winner was the table of
Benhamo/Thomas,
followed by those of English Country Antiques and the Crown
Family.
Cara Raether won the Breeders’ Cup “Classic to Classic”
sweepstakes, winning 2 VIP tickets to the 2014 Breeders’ Cup
World Championships in Santa Anita Park.
As always, this year’s Hampton Classic featured its usual
impressive line-up of celebrity attendees including megastar
Jennifer Lopez, former New York City Mayors Michael
Bloomberg and Rudy Giuliani, Congressman Peter King,
musicians Jimmy Buffet and Bill Evans, television stars Matt
Lauer, Katie Couric, Gayle King,
Jill Rappaport,
Mary-Kate Olsen, Luis Ortiz, Frederik Eklund,
LuAnn de Lesseps,
Jill and Bobby Zarin, Noelle Reno
and James Lipton, and
Sports Illustrated
Swim Suit model Julie Henderson.
Further information on the Hampton Classic is available at
the Hampton Classic website at
www.hamptonclassic.com or by calling 631-537-3177.
Hampton Classic Horse Show, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable
corporation.
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