The Hampton Classic: Karen Polle Finishes 40th Annual Hampton Classic with Victory in $250,000 Hampton Classic Grand Prix Presented by Longines Dominant Performances Also Turned in by Sweetnam and Co

Source: News Release/Classic Communications

Karen Polle Finishes 40th Annual Hampton Classic with Victory in $250,000 Hampton Classic Grand Prix Presented by Longines
Dominant Performances Also Turned in by Sweetnam and Colvin

Bridgehampton, N.Y. - Karen Polle and her long-time partner, With Wings, topped a star-studded field in the $250,000 Hampton Classic Grand Prix, Presented by Longines, to take the biggest prize at the 40th Annual Hampton Classic.

Karen Polle and With Wings (c)Shawn McMillen

Polle, 23, who lives in New York City and rides for Japan, was one of only four entries to reach the jump-off and she completed it fault-free in 47.96 seconds to claim the win. Todd Minikus, of Wellington, Fla., took second place on Babalou 41 (4 faults/43.89 seconds), Chris Sorensen of Canada took third on Bobby (4 faults/46.23 seconds), and Meagan Nusz, of The Woodlands, Texas, took fourth on Dynamo (8 faults/47.58 seconds).

"This is definitely the biggest win in my career, and I can't believe it," said Polle. "I can't believe I won the Grand Prix at the Hampton Classic!"

Minikus, who actually trained Polle for a season, said, "She's always been a very good rider. And With Wings is a very special horse-they're a great match. Japan is lucky to have her. The one thing that she forgot, though, is that when you're in the jump-off, you have to let the old guy win. So today she wasn't the best of students!"

Polle, who's entering her senior year at Yale University, claimed her Japanese citizenship in 2014. She's hoping to qualify for the Japanese Olympic team in 2016 and when Japan hosts the Olympics in 2020.

The three top-placed riders each received a Longines timepiece. Sorensen, who earlier in the week won the award from the Classic and Equis Boutique for Best Turned-Out Horse and Presenter at the FEI jog, told Juan-Carlos Capelli, Longines Vice President and Head of International Marketing, "Thank you for the watch, because I've been trying to get one of these for a long time. I've been close but not quite done it."

Course designer Guilherme Jorge of Brazil explained that he intended to create a challenging course, with so much prize money at stake and a field that included half a dozen Olympic riders and four previous winners. "This is a proven international event," he said.

"It's always a long grand prix course here, and I always try to incorporate the double of liverpools and the open water, because you don't see those very often and they are part of our tradition," said Jorge, who'll be designing the show jumping courses for the 2016 Olympics. "It takes a special horse."

Capelli presented a fourth Longines timepiece, and a $30,000 check, to Shane Sweetnam

Longines Vice President, Juan-Carlos Capelli and Hampton Classic Executive Director Shanette Cohen present Shane Sweetham with his $30,000 check and Longines timepiece (c)Shawn McMillen

of Ireland, winner of the Longines Leading Rider Challenge. Sweetnam was the only rider who scored points in all 10 of the week's open jumper classes, winning two of them. Sweetnam's total of 355 points easily outdistanced Minikus (170) and Paul O'Shea (165).

"This award is a great thing for the riders, because we don't often get this at a show. So I started from the first of the week to push for it," said Sweetnam, who competes for his native Ireland but lives in Wellington, Fla.

O'Shea and Ward Win Earlier FEI Grand Prix

On Saturday, Paul O'Shea of Ireland recovered from what seemed a devastating crash in Friday's $50,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix to win the $40,000 Longines Cup aboard Skara Glen's Dolphin.

His faultless jump-off round, in 41.52 seconds, handily eclipsed Hayley Barnhill on Zephire (O faults/42.51 seconds) and Molly Ashe-Cawley on Cocq A Doodle (0 faults/43.86 seconds). O'Shea was the final starter, riding Skara Glen's Dolphin, a 10-year-old stallion.

During Friday's class, O'Shea fell with Skara Glen's Sienna and was eliminated. But O'Shea, an international competitor who lives in Wellington, Fla., pushed the crash to the back of his mind as he prepared for the Longines Cup.

"I didn't want to dwell on it. It's best to get it out of your mind," he said. "It actually took me a long time to learn to go forward after a mistake. But now if I make a mistake, I say to myself, 'I know something good is going to happen next.'"

Riding last gave O'Shea the advantage in the five-horse jump-off field. While Barnhill, of Collierville, Tenn., had the disadvantageous position of going first, she and Zephire, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood, galloped smoothly around the Grand Prix Field-and their time held up until O'Shea edged them out for the win.

McLain Ward could not be denied victory in Friday's $50,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier, presented by Longines. As the seventh of 10 riders in the jump-off, Ward and HH Azur made a tight turn to the third fence that no one before him had attempted, slicing the leading time by more than 2 seconds.

Ward's time (39.88 seconds) even withstood the challenge of Sweetnam, who made the same turn on Chaqui Z but didn't keep his foot on the gas and settled for second (41.26 seconds).

Ward and Sweetnam had to make that short turn because Daniel Bluman of Colombia, who rode right before Ward, had galloped aggressively throughout the course to wrestle from Ward the lead he'd taken on Rothchild. Bluman and Conconcreto Believe finished in 42.14 seconds to hold onto third. Ward and Rothchild took fourth (42.56 seconds).

"Very few horses can do that turn, and she did it beautifully. I knew it was an option, and I had walked it. It was definitely in the back of my mind if I needed it," said Ward, of Brewster, N.Y. "She's very special, like nothing I've ever sat on."

Ward, individual Gold Medalist at the 2015 Pan American Games a few weeks before the Classic, and Double H Farm purchased HH Azur, 9, last year, with the 2016 Olympics in mind.

Other Jumper Winners

Abigail McArdle rode Cosma 20 to the win in the $15,000 Merrill Lynch Speed Derby presented by Sotheby's International Realty. The pair also won the $10,000 Shamrock Ventures Open Jumper earlier in the week. McArdle's time (69.62 seconds) in the Speed Derby easily bested Sydney Shulman on Wamira (72.27).

McArdle, 21, of Wellington, Fla., said that she intended to win the moment she and her chestnut mare stepped into the ring. "You have to go out there and go for it, and I went for it. There were a lot of fast riders in there," she said.

Emma Waldfogel, of Palo Alto, Calif., made her first trip to the Hampton Classic a rewarding one by winning the $5,000 Strong's Marine Low Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic and the Low Amateur-Owner Jumper Championship, on Zorro.

"The Hampton Classic has always been a show that I've wanted to come to, so I'm really glad that I'm here," said Waldfogel, 19, who brought Zorro, two hunters and her equitation horse. "I always thought that it looks beautiful, and the competition is really hard. It just seemed like a fun show to come to, and I've loved it."

Francesca Dildabanian of New York City won the $5,000 Gray Equestrian Services Junior Jumper Classic presented by Skyline Stables on Catika Van De Helle. That victory gave Dildabanian and Catika Van De Helle the Low Junior Jumper Championship. Dildabanian also grabbed the reserve championship with Ollywood Des Horts.

Lucy Deslauriers won the

$25,000 Campbell Stables Show Jumping Derby

(c)Shawn McMillen

Lucy Deslauriers, of Southampton, N.Y., defeated three rivals in the jump-off to win the $25,000 Campbell Stables Show Jumping Derby. Her faultless round in 39.66 seconds bested Kaely Tomeu on Fidalgo Van Het Leliehof (0 faults/41.44 seconds) and Philip Richter on Pistoya (4 faults/39.06 seconds).

Victory in the Show Jumping Derby was meaningful for Deslauriers, 16, who won the Young Rider individual Gold Medal at the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships in July. "This definitely has special meaning to be able to win," said Deslauriers. "I've been coming here longer than I can remember, and it's one of my favorite shows all year, not only because I can stay at home in my own bed, but it is also a really special place."

Sophie Simpson won the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Style of Riding Award, chosen by the jury from riders competing in the Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper division.

Colvin Wins in Jumper, Hunter and Equitation Rings

Victoria Colvin was among the most dominant riders at the Classic, winning in hunters, jumpers and equitation. She won the $50,000 iHeart Media Hunter Derby; the $10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Welcome Stake; two Junior Hunter championships; the $10,000 Sam Edelman Equitation Championship; the $30,000 East Coast 7-Year-Old Young Jumper Championship and the $10,000 Hermès Hunter Classic.

Victoria Colvin and Avalanche Are Presented With The Top Award in the Sam Edelman Equitation Championship (c)Shawn McMillen

Colvin's two-round Sam Edelman score of 185 points defeated T.J. O'Mara (170) and Emily Perez (165). Colvin had finished second in the Sam Edelman Equitation Championship in 2012 and 2014.

"I love that this class is on the Grand Prix Field, and the second round is kind of like a speed class-you pick up the canter and just keep going," said Colvin.

In the second round, riders returned in inverse order of standing, but Colvin said that she didn't feel any pressure. "I don't really ever get nervous. I like to go first or last. I like to go first and show them what to do or go last and win it," she said with a smile. Her win made it nine wins in the last 11 years for trainer Andre Dignelli and his team at Heritage Farm.

Colvin opened up the Hampton Classic by guiding Heritage Farm's Vaillero to the top score (182.5) to claim the $50,000 iHeartMedia Hunter Derby, presented by Ghurka.

Galloping around two separate courses in the sprawling, grass-covered Grand Prix Ring, Colvin and Vaillero topped Kelly Tropin on Libertas Farms LLC's Chablis (174.0) and Daisy Farish on Heritage Farm's Pioneer (173.0)

"I always love to ride on the big grass fields, and these jumps look amazing to me. I especially like that they used the bank in the handy round, so it's a real derby kind of course," said Colvin, who also finished sixth on Dr. Betsee Parker's Avalanche, the horse she rode to win the Sam Edelman class.

During the week, Colvin rode Parker's Way Cool to win the Large Junior Working Hunter High-Score Award for the fourth year in a row-scoring a 98 to win one class-on the way to the Large Junior Working Hunter, 16-17, Championship and the Grand Junior Hunter Championship. Colvin also won the Small Junior Hunter, 16-17, Championship with Ovation and the Reserve Championship with Canadian Blue. Parker, of Middleburg, Va., owns both horses.

She capped off her week by riding Way Cool to victory in the Hermès Hunter Classic, in which she also finished second with Small Affair, fourth with Ovation and fifth with Canadian Blue.

Emily Perez, of Pittsburg, N.Y., rode Cassanto, 9, to win the Large Junior Hunter, 15 and Under, Championship. "We bought him as an equitation horse a year ago, and then we turned him into a hunter-and he's been great!" said Perez, who will be a junior in high school this fall. She also trains at Heritage Farm.

Perez said that she likes jumping in the Hampton Classic's grass Anne Aspinall Ring, where the junior hunter divisions competed. "I love the rings here. I think they're so pretty, and I love how big they are. I love it here," she said.

Coco Fath, of Fairfield, Conn., won the Small Junior Hunter, 15 and Under, Championship on Akinda.

Stewart Earns Hunter Tricolors

As has been true for the last several years, Scott Stewart was the man in the hunter ring at the Hampton Classic. Horses he rode or trained won two championships and three reserve championships. The professional hunter champions were:

Huntland First Year Green: champion-Mirror Image/Amanda Steege; reserve-Catch Me/Scott Stewart.
Second Year Green: champion-Zaretina/Jamie Taylor; reserve: Casimir/Jennifer Bauersachs.
Green Conformation: champion-Wisdom/Amanda Derbyshire; reserve-First Light/Scott Stewart.
High Performance Hunter: champion-Cleaveland/Jennifer Bauersachs; reserve--A Million Reasons/Scott Stewart.
Regular Conformation: champion-Lucador/Scott Stewart; Lucretia/Taylor Adams.
Lucador also won the Grand Hunter Championship.

"The Hampton Classic is always a great show to come to, and the horses went great out there," said Stewart, of Wellington, Fla.

Samantha Karp rode Zentina B to the blue ribbon in the $2,500 Marshall & Sterling Children's, 15-17, Hunter Classic. Zentina used her jumper background to propel her to the top of the Children's Hunter Classic. The regular children's hunter classes were held in Hunter Ring 2, but the classic moved to the much larger Anne Aspinall Ring.

"So the jumps were pretty spooky for a children's hunter rider. We don't get to have much experience in a ring that huge with jumps that impressive, but with my horse, when there's something challenging, it only makes her work harder," said Karp.

Emily Sun, of Scarsdale, N.Y., rode her own Balthazar to win the $2,500 Marshall & Sterling Children's, 14 and Under, Hunter Classic. Like Karp, Sun, a 10th grader at Scarsdale High School, trains at Heritage Farm.

Hase and Marder-Connor Star on Local Day

Chloe Hase, 17, a senior at Southampton High School, and Sue Marder-O'Connor, a teacher at the nearby Springs School, finished in a tie for the South Fork Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the Grand Local Hunter Champion.

Hase rode Brando, 18, to the Revco Local Junior Hunter, Sec. B, title on her way to the grand championship. Marder-O'Connor rode Tour Guide, 18, to the Long Island Pulse Local Amateur-Owner Championship on her way to the grand championship.

"We've grown so much in the last few years, and we've become so in sync with each other. It was an amazing experience for both of us. One of the best experiences we've ever had," said Hase. "The show is really special because it's close to home, but it's a huge show that people come from all over the world to show in."

"This show is really everything to us," said Marder-O'Connor, whose family owns and runs Marders Landscaping, which has handled the trees and other plantings on the show grounds since the show's inception. "So we're here 24/7. We define our lives by this show, so this is huge. It made my year."

Hase bought Brando five years ago, when they were both 12, and "we've grown up a lot in the last five years. Now we can read each other's minds."

The other Local Day Hunter Champions were:

Junior Hunter, Sec. A: Al Pacino I, ridden by Olivia Kramer
Local Hunter (Pro), Sec. A: Quartermaster, ridden by Lainie Wimberly
Local Hunter (Pro), Sec. B: Rockford, ridden by Holly Orlando
Local Hunter (Non-Pro): Hands Down, ridden by James Henderson
Leadline: Agatha Lignelli

For the 10th consecutive year, the Hampton Classic hosted the championship finals for the Long Island Horse Show Series for Riders with Disabilities, with riders in three divisions competing for year-end titles. Bridgehampton National Bank sponsored the day of competition for riders with disabilities, and James Manseau, the bank's executive vice president, handed out the ribbons and trophies. Hermès provided commemorative coolers to the champions, and Priscilla Smith-Gremillion presented them.

USEF-licensed judge Gary Duffy awarded the following championships:

LIHSSRD Walk-Trot Equitation Academy Class-Lauren Fisher of New York City, riding Just Keep Swimming. Todd Pritscher of Yaphank, N.Y., riding White Diamond, won the reserve championship.

McLain Ward and Quentin Judge present an award for Long Island Horse Show Series for Riders with Disabilities (c)Jon Kassel
LIHSSRD Walk Equitation Academy Class-Emily McGowan of Melville, N.Y., riding Bella Ragazza. Bonnie Bokser of Farmingdale, N.Y., riding Knight In Shining Armor, and Joshua Gootnick of Jericho, N.Y., riding Down Town Man, tied for the reserve championship.
LIHSSRD Walk With Aids Academy Class-Isaiah Forte of West Hempstead, N.Y., riding White Diamond. Justine Wallace of Dix Hills, N.Y., won the reserve championship on Knight In Shining Armor.

Not only are the horses and riders competitive at the Hampton Classic Horse Show, but so are the VIP table patrons.

Hamptons Cottages and Gardens magazine had their work cut out for them again this year, judging more than 150 beautifully decorated tables in the VIP tents. The winner of the fourth

annual VIP Table Décor Contest was The Feffer Table.

(c)Rob Rich/SocietyAllure.com

Special Events and Awards

With its orange vintage Citroen truck blazing the way, the French shoemaker Galet was named the outstanding boutique among the more than 80 boutiques in the beautiful Boutique Garden and Stable Row in a contest judged by actresses Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and Ashley Cline of Equestrian Stylist, the contest's sponsor.

"The Citroen is very French and very iconic. We're a French shoe brand, and we do very iconic shoes, so we thought this truck was a great way to represent us here in the United States," said Jonathan Horemans, one of the company's owners.

Optimum® Kids Day was a huge hit once again and children from all around the New York metropolitan area enjoyed pony rides, a petting

Children under 12 enjoyed free pony rides during

Optimum® Kids Day

area, musical entertainment face painting, magic acts and more.

ASPCA Adoption and Animal Welfare Day offered more animals for adoption than ever before. Valerie Angeli, ASPCA senior director of equine and special projects, and Jill Rappaport, TV host and animal-welfare advocate, welcomed three area horse rescues, which brought seven horses to the presentation in the Anne Aspinall Ring. In addition, seven local rescue organizations staffed booths with numerous dogs and cats available for adoption.

"To me, this is what it's all about-to save the life of what I like to call 'steeds in need.' They all need our help, our help to give them a second chance," said Rappaport. "And thank you to the Hampton Classic for giving us this opportunity every year."

Joining Rappaport were five riders who have been named by ASPCA officials as Equine-Welfare Ambassadors: Georgina Bloomberg, Hayley Barnhill, Brianne Goutal, Jennifer Gates and Stacia Madden.

Shanette Cohen, executive director of the Hampton Classic, told the crowd, "I hope that you connect with one of these rescues, either by adopting a horse, a dog or a cat or by simply supporting one of these groups."

Matt and Annette Lauer (c)Victor Cangro

As always, this year's Hampton Classic featured its usual impressive line-up of celebrity attendees including television stars Brooke Shields, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Jerry Seinfeld, Matt Lauer, Katie Couric, Georgina Chapman, Amy Hargreaves, Jill Rappaport, Luis Ortiz, LuAnn de Lesseps, Kelly Bensimon, Jill Zarin, Ramona Singer and Jame s Lipton, plus former New York City Mayors Michael Bloomberg and Rudy Giuliani, Congressman Peter King, producers Harvey Weinstein and L.A. Reid, Donna Karan, Martha Stewart, Tom Wolfe, Marla Maples, hockey Hall of Famer Rod Gilbert, and supermodels Christie Brinkley and Christy Turlington.

Further information on the Hampton Classic is available at the Hampton Classic website at www.hamptonclassic.com or by calling 631-537-3177. Hampton Classic Horse Show, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation.

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