Mattias Tromp (USA) trumped the competition to win the $50,000 Longines Cup at the 41st annual Hampton Classic Horse Show riding Avon, owned by Beyaert Farm, Inc. Pablo Mejia Villa (COL) was second on his Reglisse Top and Catherine Tyree (USA) was third on Enjoy Louis, owned by Mary and Joseph Tyree. 

In the Longines Cup, eight riders went clear out of the field of 41 from five nations on the Alan Wade-designed course, but only three went double clear. Tromp, of North Salem, NY, was the fastest of the three, stopping the Longines timers in 38.34 seconds, nearly three seconds faster than Mejia Villa who finished in 40.96. Tyree had the first double clear of the day as the second rider in the jump-off and finished with a time of 42.74.

"I thought the jump-off had a great flow to it. I saw the distance far away. I saw where I wanted to be and the track I wanted to be on. It doesn't always happen when you land off the jump. I was a little bit lucky," said Tromp. "This was my biggest win at the Classic. I won the 1.40m class here a few years ago, I've done the Derby a few times and when I was younger I did the high juniors, but this is a hard venue to win at, so it is really exciting."

As far as winning a $50,000 FEI Grand Prix at the Hampton Classic,Tromp said, "This is definitely the most significant win of my career."

The 52.5 points that Tryree earned in the Longines Cup catapulted her into the lead in the $30,000 Longines Leading Rider Challenge with 239.5 points. Richie Moloney dropped to second with 237.5 points. McLain Ward stands third with 190 points. "I am very excited and  honored to be wearing the Longines sash for Sunday's Grand Prix," said Tyree. 

Source: Press release from Classic Communications // Picture © Shawn McMillen Photography