Victoria Heurtematte Earns First FEI Win in Thursday’s $10,000 Citarella Open Jumper CSI2* at the 2022 Hampton Classic Horse Show

The Hampton Classic, August 28-September 4, is one of the world’s most prestigious horse shows, offering more than $1 million in prize money during a full schedule featuring competitors at every level from young children in leadline to Olympic, World, and World Cup Champions. The Classic also has competitions for riders with disabilities.

“This was my first time at the Hampton Classic and my first FEI win, so it’s very exciting,” Heurtematte said. “I’ve only had Scarlett for three or four months, so she’s pretty new. I’m still getting to know her, but she’s very fast. I think the course was great for us.”

For the first FEI competition of the week, Ireland’s Alan Wade presented a field of 40 competitors representing ten countries with a two-phase 1.40m course featuring 15 total jumping efforts. Top placings continued to shift throughout the class as the entries grew faster and bolder. Heurtematte’s position at fourth-to-last in the order allowed her time to watch her competitors’ rounds.

“I was very lucky to go later in the class because I could see what the others were doing,” Heurtematte said. “We had a good plan by the time I went in, and it really worked out. My mare is just awesome. Since we’ve been together, she’s been great. We went to Bolivarian Games in Colombia in June and finished eighth in the final, and she had a good rest before we came here. She’s just been incredible.” 

Americans Aaron Vale and Georgina Bloomberg finished in second and third, respectively, after both also used their rounds in the latter half of the order to their advantage. Vale piloted Lori Osterstock’s I.Adermie R 4, a 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, to second place with a time of 31.140 seconds, while Bloomberg stopped the clock in 31.880 seconds aboard Sempa Fidelis, a 13-year-old Hanoverian mare owned by Gotham Enterprizes LLC.

McLain Ward (USA) reclaimed his top spot in the $30,000 LONGINES Rider Challenge following Thursday morning’s featured event with a total of 120 points. Richie Moloney (IRL) has moved into second place with 105 points; Alison Robitaille (USA) is in third with 104 points. The Challenge, which awards $30,000 and a LONGINES watch to the winner, will be awarded Sunday following the $410,000 Hampton Classic 5* Grand Prix.  

Many of the top young jumpers also competed throughout the week in the Stomp Capital/Compass 7 & Under Jumpers, where Canada’s Mario Deslauriers piloted Lisbeth, Wishing Well Farm LLC’s 7-year-old Hanoverian mare, to the division championship.

Other titles awarded on Thursday included the $5,000 Mane ’n Tail Hunter Rider Challenge, where top hunter riders collected points throughout the three competition weeks at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows and the Hampton Classic Horse Show. Geoffrey Hesslink of Shelbourne, VT, maintained his lead from the spring to finish the final leg at the top of the leaderboard with over 1,100 points. This was the second consecutive year he won the Challenge.

“I’m really grateful,” Hesslink said. “Like I said last year, I’m just so lucky to be surrounded by such amazing people and supporters. That hasn’t changed. I’m so lucky to ride the horses I have every day. It’s a real treat to show them, not only at Old Salem but here at the Hampton Classic. I couldn’t have done this without everyone at my back.”

Regardless of which horses they rode, Rider Challenge competitors earned points based on their overall placings in several of the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows and Hampton Classic hunter divisions: Green Working 3’6” and 3’9” hunters, Green Conformation, High Performance Conformation, High Performance Hunter, and Old Salem Farm’s Performance 3’6” Hunter and $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Mane ’n Tail. Holly Orlando of Wellington, FL, finished in second place, while Holliday Ryals of Bayville, NY, was third. 

Riding Tracy Treace’s Belgravia, Hesslink also won the Co-Championship in the Ollywear Performance 3’3” Hunter division, which had a California split. Sharing the Co-Championship was Jared Depermentier of Franklin, TN, and John & Stephanie Ingram LLC’s Heckfield.

For live show results, visit ShowNet.biz. Each year approximately 50,000 people come to watch the nation’s best equestrian athletes compete at the Hampton Classic. The Classic is rated USEF ‘Premier-6’ for both hunters and jumpers with FEI 2* and 5* classes. Ireland’s Alan Wade serves as Grand Prix Ring course designer. The Hampton Classic features more than 200 competitions in six spectacular show rings, the Agneta Currey Boutique Garden with more than 70 vendors, and a wide selection of dining options, all on its world-class 60-acre show grounds. Offering more than $1 million in prize money, the Classic is highlighted by the $410,000 Hampton Classic 5* Grand Prix on Sunday, September 4. The Hampton Classic’s FEI competition begins Thursday, September 1, with the $10,000 Citarella Open Jumper CSI2* and $37,000 Hampton Classic 5* Speed Stake and continues throughout the weekend with seven 2* and 5* classes. FEI competition also includes Friday’s $37,000 Wölffer Estate 2* Jumper Classic and $74,000 Douglas Elliman 5* Grand Prix Qualifier, Saturday’s $74,000 Hampton Classic 2* Grand Prix and $74,000 5* LONGINES Cup and the culminating $410,000 Hampton Classic 5* Grand Prix on Sunday, September 4. The Hampton Classic continues to support several charitable organizations including Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, the Kevin Babington Foundation and Sag Harbor Food Pantry. Everyone who comes to the Classic on Tuesday and Wednesday with three or more non-perishable food items for the Sag Harbor Food Pantry will have their entire car admitted free. Daily admission to the Classic is $20 per carload (cash at the gate only). Admission is free on Monday; seniors and military are also admitted free on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Grandstand tickets for the $410,000 Hampton Classic Grand Prix on Sunday, September 4, are $55 per person for reserved bucket seating. Grandstand tickets are electronic only; E-Tickets are provided thanks to support from Green is the New Blue. The Hampton Classic is pleased to continue its relationship with ShowNet by offering its services FREE to all exhibitors. Services include: Orders of Go; Live Ring Status; and Live Results. For those who can’t make it to the show grounds, complimentary live webcasts of all Grand Prix ring competitions air on the Hampton Classic website, produced by ClipMyHorseTV and courtesy of LONGINES. ClipMyHorseTV is also producing a live webcast of all Anne Aspinall ring competitions, available for free on the Hampton Classic website, thanks to Pacaso. In addition, WVVH-TV, Hamptons Television, broadcasts up to five hours of competition and highlights each day during the Classic. These broadcasts can also be seen online at www.wvvh.tv.