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Articles: Press Release
Hillary Dobbs Wins $20,000 Nicolock Speed Challenge to Open 33rd Annual Hampton
Classic Horse Show
Contact:
Contact: Marty Bauman, 631-537-2502 ext. 3055,
info@classic-communications.com
Bridgehampton, NY--August 24, 2008--Hillary Dobbs of Sussex, NJ, took first and
third places in the $20,000 Nicolock Time Challenge, the feature jumping competition
on Manhattan Mortgage Company's Opening Day at the 33rd Hampton Classic Horse Show.
One of the nation's premier show jumping competitions, the Hampton Classic continues
through Sunday, August 31. The Classic hosts hunter/jumper competition for riders
ranging from the youngest competitors in Leadline and Short Stirrup classes all
the way up to Olympic veterans in the $200,000 FTI Grand Prix. Entered in the show
are two Olympic riders who flew in directly from the Olympic show jumping competition
in Hong Kong: individual gold medalist Eric Lamaze of Canada and McLain Ward, a
member of the gold medal-winning U.S. team.
Dobbs, 20, a junior at Harvard University, won the $20,000 Nicolock Time Challenge
aboard Marengo with a time of 61.59 seconds. Last year the pair placed second in
the same class. In this year's competition, Dobbs was third with Corlett (63.71)
and twelfth with Marlo. All three of her mounts are owned by The Dobbs Group.
The second-place finisher was Victoria Birdsall of Topsfield, Mass., aboard Jerremy
(63.71), owned by Natalie Johnson.
Dobbs was jubilant about her horses' performances. "Marengo is an especially fast
horse, and today she was fresh and confident," she said. "If I ride her correctly,
we always have a shot [at winning]." She described Corlett as another "quick ride"
who is "very honest and reliable." That pair won the Speed Bank Derby this summer
at Falsterbo, an exceptionally challenging jumping course in Sweden that was part
of a European show jumping tour in which Dobbs competed for the U.S. Equestrian
Federation. She called the Hampton Classic "our [country's] version of the elite
shows in Europe."
In addition to the $20,000 Nicolock Time Challenge, Manhattan Mortgage Company's
Opening Day at the Hampton Classic included the second annual WLIU 88.3 FM National
Anthem Singing Contest, which was emceed by the radio station's popular host, Bonnie
Grice. Eleven-year-old Lexxi Saal, a middle school student from Deer Park, won
the contest, which was broadcast live on WLIU and on WVVH-TV. The sixth-grader
bested a field of six finalists-all but she adults-who competed in a live "sing-off"
for the right to perform the national anthem in the Grand Prix ring prior to the
$20,000 Nicolock Time Challenge.
Manhattan Mortgage Company's Opening Day activities also included equestrian demonstrations
by Sonny Garguilo of Elmos and Robin Foster of Sagaponack. Known as "the man who
talks to horses," Garguilo, a Natural Horsemanship trainer, specializes in non-aggressive
training methods and promoting harmony between horse and rider. In October he will
ride his wild mustang, America, in a seven-day fundraiser named "America Rides for
Autism." Foster drove her horse to illustrate the challenging equestrian sport
of combined driving, which is modeled after three-day eventing.
This year's Old Field Trophy - Long Island Sportsmanship Award was presented to
Agneta Currey. Old Field Farm created the award last year to honor a Long Island
horse person who has demonstrated excellence in sportsmanship. Currey is a member
of the Hampton Classic Board of Directors executive committee and chair of the floral
and grounds committee.
Robert Chaloner, President and CEO of Southampton Hospital, welcomed spectators
to the Hampton Classic Horse Show. The hospital has been a community partner with
the show since its inception more than 30 years ago and has been the recipient of
more than $1 million in contributions from the show during that time.
With more than $500,000 in prize money, 50,000 spectators and 1,500 horses, the
Hampton Classic is not only a sporting event of major proportions, but also one
of the most noteworthy social events of the Hamptons' summer season. The Classic's
featured event, the $200,000 FTI Grand Prix and FEI World Cup(TM) Qualifier, will
be held on Sunday afternoon, August 31.
Upcoming highlights in the Hampton Classic's Grand Prix Ring are the bluhammock
music 1.45 meter Open Jumper class on Thursday; the $50,000 Hampton Classic Grand
Prix Qualifier on Friday; Cablevision Kid's Day on Saturday featuring the $30,000
Sotheby's International Realty Challenge and the final phase of the $10,000 Wölffer
Estate Equitation Championship.
Sunday is highlighted by the $25,000 Calvin Klein Show Jumping Derby, a member of
event of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series, and the $10,000 Hermès
Hunter Classic. Both these classes take place in the morning prior to the $200,000
FTI Grand Prix and FEI World Cup(TM) Qualifier.
This year the horse show has initiated the VOX Rider Challenge, sponsored by VOX
Magazine, with $30,000 in prize money being awarded to the top four riders in the
horse show's Open Jumper division. Riders have the chance to compete all week in
the open jumper classes, with the top finish in each class, regardless of mount,
being counted towards their final point totals. The winners will be presented
with their prize money on Sunday afternoon following be the $200,000 FTI Grand Prix.
Those unable to attend the Hampton Classic have opportunity to see it on television.
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. The $200,000
FTI Grand Prix will also air on Animal Planet on Saturday, October 4 at 3:00 pm
(ET/PT).
The Classic is also receiving extensive coverage on WLIU 88.3 FM, a long-time sponsor
and the official radio station of the Hampton Classic. WLIU is broadcasting updates
daily throughout the Classic to go along with live programs from the Classic on
Sunday, August 24 and Saturday-Sunday, August 30-31.
The 2009 Hampton Classic will be held one week earlier than usual. Rather than
culminating on Labor Day week-end, the 34th annual Hampton Classic will open on
Sunday, August 23 and conclude on Sunday, August 30. The Classic will return to
its traditional dates in 2010.
For more information on the Hampton Classic Horse Show, please visit the Hampton
Classic website at www.hamptonclassic.com or call (631) 537-3177. Hampton Classic
Horse Show, Inc. is a 501.c.3 charitable corporation.
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