Kristen Vanderveen Takes Top Honors in Thursday’s $37,000 Hampton Classic Speed Stake CSI5* at the 2022 Hampton Classic Horse Show
Americans were the ones to beat as Hampton Classic course designer Alan Wade of Ireland challenged 47 horse-and-rider combinations representing 11 countries with a winding two-phase course for Thursday’s $37,000 Hampton Classic Speed Stake CSI5*. In the end, Kristen Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Prince of Peace came out on top with a fault-free time of 30.500 seconds.
The Hampton Classic, August 28-September 4, is one of the world’s most prestigious horse shows, offering more than $1 million in prize money during a full schedule featuring competitors at every level from young children in leadline to Olympic, World, and World Cup Champions. The Classic also has competitions for riders with disabilities.
“It’s great to be back at the Hampton Classic,” Vanderveen said. “My plan was actually to go all-out on my second horse, Faustino, but today it paid off to stay a little conservative. Prince of Peace is also a really fast horse, so I didn’t have to go all-out with him.”
Vanderveen thought her conservative riding on Prince of Peace might have left the door open for one of the quick horses dominating the last few entries in the order to catch them, but even through the last line, Prince of Peace’s big stride gave her the edge.
“He’s quite the character,” she said of Bull Run Jumpers Six LLC’s 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding. “He’s taken me a bit of time to figure out. He’s got a quirky personality, so he’s a little special in the barn. He always likes to have his groom with him; we call it ‘needing his support human.’ But he’s won many classes over the years and been great. He’s done speed classes and grands prix, and it’s nice to have a horse that I can use in both divisions.”
Aaron Vale gave it his best effort with fast-footed Elusive, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Thinks Like A Horse, but ultimately finished in second place with a time of 30.680 seconds. Keeping the top finishers’ times all within tenths of a second, Molly Ashe Cawley and Louisburg Farm’s 11-year-old Zangersheide mare Beriden took third in 30.830 seconds.
Five-time U.S. Olympian McLain Ward maintains his lead in the $30,000 LONGINES Rider Challenge with a total of 160 points. With his second-place performances in both of Thursday’s FEI classes, Vale has shot into second place in the Challenge with 120 points. Ireland’s Richie Moloney sits in third with 105 points.
In the hunter rings, Adonis and What A Wonder shared the Jenni Kayne Low Adult Amateur Hunter Co-Championship for their impressive rounds in the California split. Adonis is owned by Kent Farrington LLC and ridden by Jennifer Smith of Wellington, FL; What A Wonder is owned by Olivia Woods and ridden by Stacey Woods of San Antonio, TX.
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