52 Photos
Ines Marteau was the overall winner in the leadline division on Sunday. Her mother, Brianne Goutal-Marteau, also took home a blue ribbon, winning the $10,000 Marders Local Hunter Derby. MARIANNE BARNETT
Getting ready in the lunging area. MARIANNE BARNETT
Lynn Avalone of Firefly Farm in the schooling ring. MARIANNE BARNETT
A mustang demonstration was part of the opening day festivities in the Grand Prix ring. MARIANNE BARNETT
Rising Starr Horse Rescue was part of the Opening Day ceremonies. The Hampton Classic Horse Show is dedicated to supporting horse rescue and adoption organizations. MARIANNE BARNETT
Irish rider Christian Coyle and his mount Ma Pomme de Tamerville won the $30,000 Hampton Classic Jumper Challenge, the first open jumper class of the week, in the Grand Prix ring on Sunday. MARIANNE BARNETT
Southampton resident Paige Mattingly and her horse, Karla, in the local junior hunter division. CAILIN RILEY
East Quogue resident Kelly Sleece and her horse, Inspired, in the adult equitation division. CAILIN RILEY
Southampton resident Piper Shearer and her horse, Sochi, after winning the hack in the medium children's equitation division. CAILIN RILEY
A quick nap in the schooling ring for horse and rider. CAILIN RILEE
Sag Harbor resident Ava Lynch and her horse, Bay Street, in the medium children's equitation division. CAILIN RILEY
Southampton resident Piper Shearer and her horse, Sochi, in the medium children's equitation division. CAILIN RILEY
On the lookout in the schooling ring. CAILIN RILEY
Eastport resident Sadie Berkhout and Quality won two classes in the high children's equitation division. CAILIN RILEY
Eastport resident Sadie Berkhout and her trainer, Merry Harding. CAILIN RILEY
Eastport resident Sadie Berkhout after winning a class in the high children's equitation division with Quality. CAILIN RILEY
Jagger Topping of Swan Creek Farm with Gibson Lane in the local hunter pro division. CAILIN RILEY
Westhampton resident Lainey Posa and her pony, Summerwood's Blue Steel. CAILIN RILEY
Southampton resident Paige Mattingly and her mare, Karla, were in the group of 11 riders called back for the handy round in the $10,000 Marders Local Hunter Derby. The duo took home the 10th place ribbon in a highly competitive class where seasoned professionals, many of whom also ride in the Grand Prix, compete against teen amateur riders. CAILIN RILEY
Southampton resident Paige Mattingly and her mare, Karla, were in the group of 11 riders called back for the handy round in the $10,000 Marders Local Hunter Derby. The duo took home the 10th place ribbon in a highly competitive class where seasoned professionals, many of whom also ride in the Grand Prix, compete against teen amateur riders. CAILIN RILEY
Southampton resident Paige Mattingly and Karla finished 10th in the $10,000 Marders Local Hunter Derby. CAILIN RILEY
Brianne Goutal-Marteau and Heartland won the $10,000 Marders Local Hunter Derby, with a combined score of 180 after two rounds. CAILIN RILEY
Susan Falkowski and her horse, Chunky Monkey, finished sixth in the adult equitation division. CAILIN RILEY
Cindy Sulzberger and her horse, Coeur de Leon, were champions in the local amateur owner hunter division. CAILIN RILEY
Nancy Banfield and Sue Ellen Marder O'Connor pose for a photos during the $10,000 Marders Local Hunter Derby on Sunday, August 27, 2023 in Bridgehampton, New York. LORI HAWKINS
Opening Day at the Hampton Classic. MARIANNE BARNETT
Ellie Mahoney on Black Magic at the Hampton Classic. MARIANNE BARNETT
Emily Robertson with Abracadabra, a mustang from Rising Starr was adopted. MARIANNE BARNETT
Christian Kissel checks out the Land Rover lion with his dad, Eric at the Hamtpon Classic. MARIANNE BARNETT
Leanne Ederi at the Hampton Classic. MARIANNE BARNETT
A Great Dane chills out at Vogel in the boutique shops at the Hampton Classic. MARIANNE BARNETT
Valerie Angeli, Georgina Bloomberg and Jill Rappaport at Adoption Day at the Hampton Classic. MARIANNE BARNETT
Opening day at the Hampton Classic Horse Show. LORI HAWKINS
Opening day at the Hampton Classic Horse Show. LORI HAWKINS
Opening day at the Hampton Classic Horse Show. LORI HAWKINS
Amelia Burnside, an 8th grader at Pierson Middle-High School in Sag Harbor wins the Junior Jumper 1.2 meter on Tuesday morning on Coco Chanel. MARIANNE BARNETT
Amelia Burnside, an 8th grader at Pierson Middle-High School in Sag Harbor wins the Junior Jumper 1.2 meter on Tuesday morning on Coco Chanel. MARIANNE BARNETT
Eva Tucci and Lexie Tucci prepare to show in The Hampton Classic Opening Day on Sunday. LORI HAWKINS
Emma Altuzarra-Weissman, 3 1/2 years old at The Hampton Classic Opening Day on Sunday. LORI HAWKINS
The Hampton Classic Opening Day was held on Sunday. LORI HAWKINS
Nancy Banfield and Sue Ellen Marder O'Connor pose for a photos during the $10,000 Marders Local Hunter Derby on Sunday. LORI HAWKINS
Shari Siadat and Elijah Daunte attend The Hampton Classic Opening Day on Sunday. LORI HAWKINS
Fatemah Khalfan concludes the first day of the Hampton Classic winning the Children's Large Pony Medal on Sunday. LORI HAWKINS
Lexie Tucci, 11, wins the Children's Equitation Fences Class on Curious George at The Hampton Classic Opening Day on Sunday. LORI HAWKINS
Eva Tucci rides Rollingwoods Walking Tall during the Children's Equitation Medium Over Fences at The Hampton Classic Opening Day on Sunday. LORI HAWKINS
Allison Coleman takes the win in The Marshall and Sterling Junior Medal on Gama Conzzo at The Hampton Classic Opening Day on Sunday. LORI HAWKINS
Laura Bowery on Positano during the Local Hunter Pro Division at The Hampton Classic Opening Day on Sunday. LORI HAWKINS
The Hampton Classic is one of the biggest and most prestigious horse shows in the country, drawing top equestrian talent to the East End of Long Island at the end of the summer season.
But the first day of the weeklong show always belongs to locals.
On Sunday, August 27, the bulk of the classes on the schedule were created specifically for the local equestrian community, with classes open exclusively to horses stabled in Nassau and Suffolk counties for at least 75 days since January of the calendar year.
One of Sunday’s biggest prizes — the Grand Local Hunter Championship and the South Fork Perpetual Trophy — went to a familiar face, with professional trainer Laura Bowery of Sea Aire Farm Inc., based in Water Mill, taking home the honor for earning the most points in any local hunter division for the second year in a row. She piloted Denise Landman’s “Capote” to the championship in the local hunter pro-section B division. Bowery also took the championship tri-color ribbon in section A of the local hunter pro division, aboard Anne Byers’s “Rocklyn.”
Michael Zuckerman of Mill Neck was champion in section C with Maxine Oren-Williams’ “Donrato X.”
In the local junior hunter division, Grace Majoros of New York City was champion with “Edgewood’s Wonder,” while in the local hunter nonpro division, Danae Oliveri of West Islip and “Lurango” took home top honors. Cynthia Sulzberger of Wellington, Florida, was champion in the local amateur-owner hunter division with “Coueur De Leon.”
Toward the end of the day, Brianne Goutal earned the win in the $10,000 Marders Local Hunter Derby, with a combined score of 180 points after two jumping rounds on “Heartland.”
After the first jumping round, the top 11 riders in the derby were called back for a “handy” round, equestrian shorthand for a jumping course that requires riders to make tighter turns to the jumps while still maintaining the steady, consistent pace that earns high marks from the judges in the hunter divisions.
The hunter derby differs from other opening day classes in that there is no restriction placed on the ability level of the riders. Whereas in the local hunter pro division, only riders with professional status can enter the class, and in the nonpro division, only amateur riders are allowed to enter, the derby is open to anyone. This means high-level professional trainers like Goutal and Bowery, veterans who also regularly compete in the Grand Prix, are competing alongside teenage amateurs who may be managing the jitters that come from riding in the Anne Aspinall ring — the grass ring next to the VIP tent — for the first time.
Goutal and Heartland made themselves almost impossible to beat by laying down a score of 95 points in the first round, and they had a brilliant effort in the handy round as well with a score of 85. Local trainer Merry Harding of Northern Ridge Stables in Water Mill finished second with “Gotcha.”
Southampton resident Paige Mattingly, 18, finished in the ribbons in the derby with her mare, Karla, making the most of her experience riding in the big class against the heavy hitters who made the final round.
Earlier in the day, over in the Grand Prix ring, the spotlight was on the youngest competitors in the famous leadline class. Split into two sections — one for riders ages 2 to 4, and another for riders ages 5 to 7 — the leadline class is one of the marquee events at the Classic, with many riders who go on to become top level competitors getting their start there.
Not to be outdone by her mother, Ines Marteau — Brianne Goutal-Marteau’s daughter — was one of three section winners in the younger division with her pony “Love Me Too.” Eleanor Calame of Garden City with “Topped in Gold,” and Wesleigh Harrison of Rowayton, Connecticut, and “Lolli Pop” were the other section winners. In the older division, Harbor Mentzel of East Patchogue with “Oopsie Daisy,” Siena Pepa of Sag Harbor with “Night Light,” and Lucia DiBartolo of Sag Harbor and “Be Right Back” were the section winners.
The class is judged by Olympic gold medalist Joe Fargis. He watches each rider as they’re led around at the walk and trot, and then has them line up, going from pony to pony and asking each rider three questions to test their budding knowledge of equestrian terminology, quizzing them on the names of parts of the horse, their tack and more, before awarding a winner. Each rider earns a light blue Hampton Classic ribbon for participating.
In the afternoon, the first open jumper class of the week was hosted in the Grand Prix ring, with Irish rider Christian Coyle taking top honors in the $30,000 Hampton Classic 1.40 Meter Jumper Challenge. Coyle and his mount, “Ma Pomme De Tamerville,” were the fastest and rode clean in a field of eight that made the jump-off.
American rider Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen was second with her horse, “Forever SFN.”
Cailin Riley on Aug 30, 2023