Their total score of 373.5 edged out teenage sensations Victoria Colvin on Inclusive (368.75) and Lillie Keenan on Monterrey (368.0). Colvin also finished 11th on Listen (271.0) and 12th on VIP Z (268.0) in the 35-horse field.
This was first time that the USHJA International Hunter Derby has been held in the Hampton Classic’s Grand Prix Ring, but Ashe-Cawley, an accomplished grand prix rider, felt right at home. Kennzo, a 10-year-old Finnish warmblood owned by Kristen Abbatiello-Neff, felt at home too, because he used to show as a jumper, until he made it really clear that he disliked water jumps. “This was fun, and it was a beautiful course—a lovely, flowing course,” said Ashe-Cawley. “He always liked this grass field—he showed here twice as a jumper—so I thought I’d give this a go with him.”
The Hampton Classic was Kennzo’s second start in a USHJA International Hunter Derby. He’d finished second in his first start.
Ashe-Cawley and Kennzo were the final pair on course in the fist round, and they took the lead by scoring 182.0 from the four judges, seated in two locations around the Grand Prix Ring. Ashe-Cawley and Kennzo also earned the top score in the second, shorter “handy” round (191.5).
“Riding a hunter course actually causes me more stress than riding a jumper course. When there are 10 or 12 strides between jumps, I can do all sorts of things wrong!” said Ashe-Cawley with a laugh. “And I never love going last, but there really wasn’t any extra pressure this time.”
The 37th annual Hampton Classic Horse Show runs through Sunday, September 2 and features world-class show jumping competition, as well as magnificent shopping and a variety of entertainment attractions. The Classic features six show rings with more than 100 classes of competition for horses and riders of all ages. A wide range of jumper, hunter, equitation, short stirrup and leadline classes are all part of the Classic’s schedule, as well as competitions for riders with disabilities.
The highlight of the Hampton Classic is the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix and FEI World Cup™ Qualifier on Sunday, September 2. The Grand Prix, open to horses that successfully complete Friday's $50,000 Spy Coast Farm/Young Horse Show Series Grand Prix Qualifier, features Olympians, World Champions and other show jumping veterans such as defending champion and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward. This year, the Grand Prix is part of the new Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge which awards a $200,000 bonus should the same horse-and-rider combination win the $100,000 Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon, $250,000 FTI Grand Prix at the Hampton Classic, and $250,000 Alltech Grand Prix at the Alltech National Horse Show. Ward won the Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon on Antares F in May and now stands to win the $200,000 bonus should he ride Antares F to wins in the remaining two events in the Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge.
For those who can’t make it to the show grounds, WVVH-TV, the official Long Island television station of the Hampton Classic, broadcasts up to five hours of competition and highlights each day during the Classic. These broadcasts can also be seen on line at www.wvvh.tv.
All classes held in the Grand Prix Ring will also be available live throughout the horse show on webcasts provided by ShowNet. Access to this pay-per-view stream may be found on the Hampton Classic website at www.HamptonClassic.com, or via ShowNet membership at www.ShowNet.biz. In addition, most of the Classic’s jumper and hunter classes from all other rings will also be available, many live, through ShowNet at www.ShowNet.biz.
USEF Network.com, Presented by SmartPak, will offer a free live webcast of the Classic’s featured event, the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix and FEI World Cup™ Qualifier on Sunday, September 2 starting at 2:00 p.m. EDT. This free live webcasts is available at www.USEFNetwork.com.
Further information on the Hampton Classic Horse Show 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.