Edited press release from Hampton Classic Horse Show

Thirty entries representing ten countries also starred in the $75,000 Hampton Classic CSI2* Grand Prix presented by the Deslauriers family and Lynne Tarnopol, which saw a Granat-designed course over 16 jumping efforts set at 1.45m. Fresh off the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Thaisa Erwin (AUS) posted the best of seven jump-off rounds aboard Michael and Wendy Smith’s 12-year-old gelding Vanturo, faultlessly tripping the timers in 34.81 seconds. 

“Thank you to the Deslauriers family and Lynne Tarnopol for sponsoring this class and, of course, the amazing crew behind this whole show,” Erwin said. “Today’s course was technical and wide enough for a proper 2*. I think Nick did a fantastic job as the course designer. It presented enough problems that could catch you off-guard, but nothing that was un-jumpable. My strategy was to go fast and clear. I knew Molly (Ashe Cawley) was behind me, so I had to keep every jump flowing toward the next. I did leave two strides out in some of the lines to beat her, and I’m just grateful it all worked out in our favor today.” 

Sunday’s (August 25) $30,000 Open Jumper Challenge winners Sydney Shulman Desiderio (ISR) and Villamoura (Diamant de Semilly x Cassini I), her and Jill Shulman’s 15-year-old Selle Francais mare, returned to the podium for second-place honors with their time of 36.15 seconds. Taking third in 40.20 seconds was Beat Mändli (SUI) riding Grant Road Partners LLC’s 9-year-old Italian Sport Horse mare Kay Grey (Messenger x Carthago Z).