Articles: Horse News
The Hampton Classic's Fendi Cup Now Belongs to Hillary Dobbs and Marengo
Contact:
Marty Bauman, (508) 698-6810,
info@classic-communications.com
Bridgehampton, NY-September 4, 2010- Marengo, owned by the Dobbs Group, gave
Hillary Dobbs of Sussex, NJ, a blue ribbon, the perfect accessory for her
win in the $30,000 FENDI Open Jumper Challenge at the Hampton Classic Horse
Show on Saturday afternoon. Two-time Olympic gold medalist and last year's
winner of this class, McLain Ward was second riding Pjotter Van De
Zonnehoeve, owned by Louisburg Farm, and Jeffery Welles and Zycarla Z, owned
by Abigail Wexner, were third.
"He is so special, he knows when it's the jump-off and he went in breathing
fire," said Dobbs.
"I have such a great relationship with that horse. He is as competitive as
I am and he wants to win. I can't say enough good things about him."
Seven horse and rider combinations out of 32 starters made it into the
jump-off. Welles and Merlin, owned by Noel Love Gross, started things off
with a clear round in a time of 39.402 seconds. Ward was next on Pjotter
Van De Zonnehoeve and pushed Welles out of the lead, going clear over the
Guilherme Jorge designed course in a time 38.388. Aaron Vale and Paparazzi
10 had a rail down, knocking them out of contention. Sloane Coles and
Carburn Royal Exchange were clear but slow in a time of 40.915.
Then came Dobbs and Marengo. "I didn't see McLain go, but I knew he was
fast", said Dobbs. "My horse was so quick across the ground and so
naturally careful, that I was able to take a shot at the last few jumps."
The pair zipped around fault free in a time of 37.903 seconds to take the
top of the leader board with two left to jump. Danielle Goldstein and Adamo
Van't Steenputje, were clear, but their time of 42.612 was not fast enough.
As the last to go, Welles had one more chance to win with his second mount
Zycarla Z, but the pair was a little more than a second off the mark,
crossing the timers in 39.236.
Dobbs had a little advantage over the other riders. She was given advice
from her grandmother prior to the class.
"Just before the class started my grandmother told me 'It's really windy out
don't get close to the rails', so I said thanks Grandma, I'll be sure to
keep that in mind!"
Hillary Dobbs also collected the National Open Jumper Championship award for
her placings throughout the week in the Open Jumper classes at the Hampton
Classic Horse Show.
The Hampton Classic Horse Show is one of the most prestigious horse shows in
the nation and features competitors at every level from young children in
leadline to Olympic veterans. The Classic continues through Sunday when it
culminates with the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix and FEI World Cup Qualifier.
For those who can't make it to the show grounds, WVVH-TV, the official Long
Island television station of the Hampton Classic, is broadcasting up to five
hours of competition and highlights each day during the Classic. These
broadcasts can also be seen online at www.wvvh.tv.
Hampton Classic Horse Show, Inc. is a 501.c.3 charitable corporation. It
benefits Southampton Hospital and has contributed more than $1.5 million to
the hospital since it began.
For more information on the Hampton Classic Horse Show, please visit the
Hampton Classic website at www.hamptonclassic.com or call (631) 537-3177.
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