Bridgehampton, New York, USA – September 02, 2023 – In the morning, 45 entries representing 10 countries opened Jumper Ring 2 in the $39,000 Open Speed Class CSI 2*, with course designer Nick Granat (USA) presenting a winding 15-effort, 1.45m track. Stopping the clock 1.2 seconds ahead of his fellow competitors with a time of 58.67 seconds, Mclain Ward (USA) claimed top honors with his speed specialist Catoki.
“Catoki is always a speed professional, and he came to the Classic just for this class,” Ward said of his, Bob Russell, and Marilla Van Beuren’s 14-year-old Westphalian gelding. “I wanted to compete and not miss some of these nice ranking classes on the schedule. The course rode well, and he performed at his best.”
Luiz Francisco de Azevedo (BRA) rode Santa Cecilia Stables LLC’s 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Collin to second-place honors in a time of 59.88 seconds. Third place was claimed by Diego Perez Bilbao (ESP) and Dialuna, Over Fences Farm LLC’s 10-year-old Holsteiner mare, for their time of 63.50 seconds.
Darragh Kenny (IRL) has overtaken the lead for the $30,000 Longines Rider Challenge with 227 points. Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen (USA) and Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) have dropped into second and third place, respectively, on their overnight scores of 215 points and 206 points. The Challenge, which awards $30,000 and a Longines watch to the rider accumulating the most points in the week’s Open Jumper classes, will be awarded on Sunday following the $425,000 Longines Hampton Classic Grand Prix CSI 5* (2:00 p.m. start).
Final Results – $39,000 Open Jumper CSI 2*, sponsored by Carolyn Rockafellow
1) Mclain Ward (USA) & Catoki – 0 – 58.67
2) Luiz Francisco de Azevedo (BRA) & Collin – 0 – 59.88
3) Diego Perez Bilbao (ESP) & Dialuna – 0 – 63.50
Source: Press Release by Marty Bauman / Classic Communications for The Hampton Classic Horse Show
Photo: © KindMedia
Categories: CSI 2*, English, Jumper News USA
