Press release from Hampton Classic Horse Show

Five-time Olympian McLain Ward (USA) and Blossom Z (Balou du Rouet x Chicago I Z), owned by Ward, Wyndmont, and Heller, brought home their second consecutive win at the Hampton Classic on Friday, riding to victory in the $37,000 1.50m Jumper Classic in a time of 57.410 seconds. 

Ward and the 11-year-old Zangersheide mare shaved over a full second off Jonathan Corrigan’s time of 59.000 seconds. Corrigan (IRL) piloted Andrea Vogel’s Fair Play (Gaillard de la Pomme x Cartier vd Heffinck), an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, through the first of 22 rounds. The 14-effort course was designed by Ireland’s Alan Wade. 

“It’s always nice to win, and Blossom performed beautifully,” Ward said. “There’s been a monumental effort this week by the Hampton Classic and their entire management team. We had some issues with the turf and a year off with COVID, so the environment has changed. They really moved Heaven and Earth – literally – to be able to get us back to the Grand Prix Ring for the weekend on all-weather footing. I think it worked and we’ll have some great sport.”

“Jonathan had the unenviable position of going first in a speed class, which is always difficult,” Ward added. “And with the new ground, we weren’t 100 percent sure how the horses were going to react. I think the advantage of the order was a big deal.”

Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) was the only other rider to beat Corrigan’s round, stopping the clock at a second-place time of 58.400 seconds aboard Lafayette Van Overis (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Tauber van het Kapelhof), a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Starlight Farms 1 LLC. Corrigan and Fair Play ultimately finished third. 

This victory increases Ward’s lead in the $30,000 LONGINES Rider Challenge with a total of 338 points. Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) has moved into second place with 190 points, and Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) is third with 160 points.