Mark Bluman Soars to Victory in the $39,000 Wölffer Estate Jumper Classic CSI 2* at the Hampton Classic

By Jumper News on 2 02America/Sao_Paulo September 02America/Sao_Paulo 2023

Bridgehampton, New York, USA – September 01, 2023 – Speed was the name of the game in Friday’s $39,000 Wölffer Estate Jumper Classic CSI 2* at the 48^th annual Hampton Classic Horse Show, which saw an extremely competitive jump-off with placings separated by just hundredths of a second. Colombia’s Mark Bluman (COL) and Zuperman MT flew around the course the fastest, putting in a winning double-clear time of 34.45 seconds.

The Hampton Classic, August 27-September 3, is one of the world’s most prestigious horse shows, 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.

Course designer Alan Wade presented his technical 15-effort, 1.45m track to a field of 71 entries representing 17 countries in this qualifying class for Sunday’s $78,000 Hampton Classic Grand Prix CSI 2*. With faults scattered around the course, 16 horse-and-rider combinations made it through to the jump-off, where Bluman claimed top honors with his blistering time of 34.45 seconds aboard Florencio Ramirez Martinez’s 8-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding.

“My horse is extremely fast,” Bluman said. “It was a big field in the jump-off, and my draw was pretty early on. I just tried to lay down a very quick round, starting with one rhythm and continuing with it all the way around, and took advantage of how fast he is.

“It’s an honor for us riders to compete here at the Hampton Classic,” Bluman added. “It’s a horse show we look forward to every summer.”

Immediately following Bluman in the order, Conor Swail (IRL) gave it his all with Count Me In, a 16-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Mannon Farm and Sandy Lupton, but ultimately landed in second place with his time of 35.24 seconds. Third went to Luiz Francisco de Azevedo (BRA), who stopped the clock in 36.20 seconds aboard Santa Cecelia Stables LLC’s 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Collin.