Faleh Suwead Al Ajami and Karmalensky emerged victorious in the $70,000 Hampton Classic CSI2* Grand Prix presented by the Deslauriers family and Lynne Tarnopol. Photo © KindMedia.
Press release from Hampton Classic, edited by World of Showjumping
A total of 32 entries representing 10 nations competed over Nick Granat’s 16-effort, 1.45m track in the $70,000 Hampton Classic CSI2* Grand Prix presented by the Deslauriers family & Lynne Tarnopol, with six moving on to the jump-off and only two going double-clear. Qatari rider Faleh Suwead Al Ajami’s faultless time of 46.09 seconds launched him to the top of the leaderboard in the penultimate trip, and he brought home the win with Blue Atlantic Doha’s 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Karmalensky (Cornet Obolensky x Douglas).
Celebrating 50 years of world-class equestrian competition in 2025, the Hampton Classic Horse Show took place in Bridgehampton, NY, August 24-31, featuring CSI5* and CSI2* show jumping and USEF Premier hunter competitions with more than $1 million in prize money.
Beat Mändli and Cordani PS finished second. Photo © KindMedia.
“It was a nice class – a bit of a challenge for all the riders,” Al Ajami said. “We had so many good entries in that class. Beat Mändli is my idol, and I always followed his riding when I was younger. To be in the same classes as him now has been a pleasure. This is my first time at the Hampton Classic, and I don’t think it will be my last.”
Second place went to three-time Olympic veteran Beat Mändli (SUI), who had the only other double-clear round in 46.91 seconds aboard Cordani PS (Balou du Reventon x Baloubet du Rouet), Grant Road Partners LLC’s 11-year-old Hanoverian mare. Ariana Marnell (USA), who was faster than Al Ajami in 45.06 seconds, rounded out the podium with a four-fault score aboard Jikke-Cara (Denzel van het Meulenhof x Casco), Alison Firestone LLC’s 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare with whom she won team gold and individual fifth in the 2025 Gotham North/North American Youth Championships presented by USHJA – Young Rider division.
Ariana Marnell and Jikke-Cara took third. Photo © KindMedia.
With this victory, Al Ajami earned a total of 290 points throughout the week and secured the $10,000 Longines Rider Challenge for the CSI2* division, which awarded a $10,000 bonus and a Longines timepiece. Overnight leader Stella Wasserman (USA) finished in second place with 248 points, while Marnell landed third with 245 points.
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