Of the 30 horse-and-rider combinations representing nine countries in Sunday’s culminating $410,000 Hampton Classic 5* Grand Prix and nine pairs to make the jump-off, only five went double-clear over Alan Wade’s (IRL) 17-effort, 1.60m course. Last to go in both rounds was American Karl Cook, who returned with his Grand Prix Qualifier mount, Kalinka Van’t Zorgvliet, to stop the clock in 36.710 seconds and secure his second victory at the Hampton Classic.
Defending champion Daniel Bluman (ISR) rode immediately before Cook in the jump-off, and his fast-paced time of 36.930 seconds with Blue Star Investments’ 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Gemma W gave them the potential to win for their second consecutive year. That added pressure didn’t faze Cook and Kalinka when they entered to tackle the course.
“I watched Karl’s ride, and he’s a deserving winner,” Bluman said. “He rode great all week and had a lot of success, and I already knew when I crossed the timers that he would beat my time. It was just a matter of if the rails stayed up or didn’t. I tried to get the crowd going to interfere with his focus, but I know Karl. He’s a winner, and I did absolutely everything I could. I’m very happy for him.”
Both riders had Katie Dinan’s (USA) time of 38.320 seconds for their target. In the end, Dinan and Grant Road Partners LLC’s 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Brego R’N B walked away with third-place honors.
“In the prize-giving with a group like this, you just feel really good about the sport,” Dinan said. “We’ve all grown up on a similar circuit, even though Karl is West Coast-based, and we all have a lot of respect for each other.
“I don’t think I would have ridden my round any differently,” she added. “That’s why I’m not kicking myself too hard. I really laid down the jump-off exactly like I planned. I came out thinking I had seven incredible horse/rider combinations behind me, and I needed a lot of luck to stay in first. My horse has a huge stride; I did all the leave-outs and made all the turns I could. He gave me everything. Having these speed demons going second-to-last and last broke my heart, but I’m still thrilled to be on the podium and just very happy with my weekend.”
This win landed Cook on top of the $30,000 LONGINES Rider Challenge with a total of 330 points. Fellow American Aaron Vale finished second with 300 points, while Bluman jumped to third with 280 points. For his additional victory, Cook won the $30,000 purse and a new LONGINES watch.
Final champions were also crowned in the hunter rings throughout the afternoon. Bringing home a big win in the $10,000 Sam Edelman Junior/Amateur Hunter Classic, Becky Gochman of Wellington, FL, rode Gochman Sport Horse LLC’s 18-year-old Westphalian gelding Mythical to a winning two-round score of 177 points. Joey Roman of Freehold, NJ, finished in second place with a score of 173.5 points aboard Cascatero, his 8-year-old Warmblood gelding. Tracy Treace of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, rode her 14-year-old Warmblood gelding Belgravia to third-place honors with a score of 173 points.
Taking home the Medium Pony Hunter 2’6” Championship was Vivian Golden of Wyomissing, PA, riding Betsee Parker’s Baroness of Locheil. Agatha Lignelli of New York, NY, piloted the Lignelli family’s Higher Love to the Large Pony Hunter 3’ Championship and earned the Currey Challenge Cup.
At the opinion of the judges, Holly Orlando of Wellington, FL, earned the Charlie Weaver Memorial Trophy as the Best Hunter Rider of the Classic. The Horse Haven Trophy was awarded to Finley Baras of Bedford Corners, NY, as the Best Junior Rider on a Pony, while the Kathy Scholl Perpetual Trophy went to Ariana Marnell of Las Vegas, NV, as the Best Junior Rider on a Horse. Carlee McCutcheon of Aubrey, TX, earned the Gordon Wright Trophy as the Best Junior Equitation Rider of the week.