Déjà Vu! McLain Ward Leads the Way Again in the $116,100 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier CSI 5*

By Jumper News on 2026-08-29

Bridgehampton, United States – August 28, 2026 – World #12 McLain Ward (USA) successfully defended his title in the $116,100 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier CSI 5*, presented by Longines, at the 2026 Hampton Classic Horse Show CSI 5* & CSI 2* on Friday, this time returning to the winner’s circle with Robin Cleary Parsky’s 13-year-old Oldenburg mare First Lady. The duo was uncatchable after posting a faultless jump-off round in 43.93 seconds.

Celebrating 51 years of world-class equestrian competition in Bridgehampton, NY, the Hampton Classic features FEI CSI 5* and CSI 2* show jumping and USEF Premier hunter competitions with more than $1 million in prize money, August 23-30.

Ward and First Lady were just the fifth of 39 horse-and-rider combinations representing 11 countries to tackle Nick Granat’s (CAN) initial 16-effort, 1.55m course in Friday’s $116,100 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier CSI 5*; they were the first of 12 to return for the jump-off. As the pathfinders over the shortened track, they set a blistering time to beat of 43.93 seconds, which held down to the wire for the win.

Egypt’s Nayel Nassar (EGY) was just 0.02 seconds off Ward’s time, finishing in 43.95 seconds for second place aboard Orphea HQ, Evergate Stables’ 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare.

**Savannah Jenkins** (USA) & **Hector du Ter**

Savannah Jenkins (USA) took third with the only other double-clear round; she stopped the clock in 44.38 seconds aboard Ilan Ferder’s 9-year-old Selle Français gelding Hector du Ter.

“It’s always nice to be in the winner’s circle here,” Ward said. “First Lady, Robin Parsky’s wonderful mare, is a great partner. She’s a very quick horse and very reliable, so I didn’t mind going early in the jump-off. Being the first can be extra challenging if you haven’t seen the track, and I knew with the number (of riders) behind me, there were some very fast ones. I did the best I could everywhere and hoped things would fall a little my way. There are certainly some moments in certain competitions when you want to be at the end where it becomes a ‘take every risk’ situation, but a lot of the time, going early isn’t such a disadvantage when you know your horse well.

“For the Grand Prix, I have a relatively inexperienced horse here this year, Lestro VD Valckenborg, owned by a great supporter of ours, Marta Mattox from Texas,” he added. “He’s performed well at some big events already. He’s a big jumper, and I think he’s ready to perform here on Sunday. The Hampton Classic always has a challenging Grand Prix. It’s a 5* level, the highest in our sport, and we have a pretty strong group of riders here this year. I think it’s going to be a good challenge.”

Fourth went to World #28 Aaron Vale (USA), who tripped the timers on a four-fault jump-off score of 44.50 seconds aboard Carissimo 25, The Carissimo Group’s 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding. Rounding out the top five were Charlotte Jacobs (USA) and North Star’s 11-year-old Zangersheide gelding Playboy JT Z with their four-fault, 45.22-second time.

Nassar now leads the $20,000 Longines Rider Challenge for the 5* division with 200 points. Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) sits second with 194 points. Jacobs has moved into third with 175 points. The $30,000 Longines Rider Challenges will be awarded as two separate bonuses for the FEI 5* and 2* divisions following the $400,000 Longines Hampton Classic Grand Prix CSI 5*and $70,000 Hampton Classic Grand Prix CSI 2* on Sunday.