Bridgehampton, United States – August 23, 2026 – Twenty-seven entries contested the first of Nick Granat’s courses on Sunday at the 2026 Hampton Classic, kicking off a weeklong schedule of competition with the $30,000 Jumper Challenge, benefitting the Kevin Babington Foundation (KBF). Following the initial 15-effort track and a return over the Winning Round tiebreaker, Ireland’s David Blake (IRL) emerged victorious with Gucci des Embruns after two penalty-free performances.
Celebrating 51 years of world-class equestrian competition in Bridgehampton, NY, the Hampton Classic features FEI CSI 5* and CSI 2* show jumping and USEF Premier hunter competitions with more than $1 million in prize money, August 23-30.
As a designated benefit class for the KBF, a portion of each horse’s Jumper Challenge entry fee was given directly to the Foundation; the donation totaled $4,500. The KBF was created in 2019 to provide funding and support for equestrian show jumping athletes who sustain spinal injuries. In addition to providing financial assistance, the Foundation strives to educate riders, trainers and show organizers about the most current safety measures designed to reduce the risk of serious injuries that can occur while riding.
Just one day after his third-place finish in the $65,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix CSI 2*, Blake led the victory lap for the Hampton Classic’s $30,000 Jumper Challenge. He and Pine Hollow Farm’s 10-year-old Selle Français gelding were one of only three horse-and-rider combinations to go double clear, blazing to the top of the leaderboard in 45.754 seconds. They were nearly two seconds faster than their fellow competitors.
Americans Peter Lutz (USA) and Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) rounded out the podium in second and third, respectively. Lutz finished on a double-clear score of 47.568 seconds aboard Katriona, Lovsta Stuteri’s 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare.
Ashe Cawley stopped the clock on a fault-free time of 48.196 seconds aboard La Rosso Lady, Louisburg Farm’s 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare.
“I’m delighted it was an Irish win,” Blake said. “It was brilliant. I was a little surprised [with our speed], actually. He’s a naturally quick horse; his foot speed is very good, and I thought my track was very good. I couldn’t be happier with him. We just came from Old Salem, but we sent this horse to the Hampton Classic especially for this class. We also plan to do the 2* Grand Prix next Sunday.”
FEI competition begins on Thursday, August 27, with the $5,000 Citarella Open Jumper CSI2* and $32,000 CSI5* BrainJuice Two-Phase and continues throughout the weekend with seven 2*/5* classes featuring courses designed by Nick Granat (USA) and Anderson Lima (BRA). FEI competition also includes Friday’s $32,000 Wölffer Estate 2* Grand Prix Qualifier, $116,100 Douglas Elliman 5* Grand Prix Qualifier, Saturday’s $62,500 5* Winning Round, and culminates with the $70,000 Hampton Classic 2* Grand Prix and $400,000 Longines Hampton Classic 5* Grand Prix on Sunday, August 30. The $30,000 Longines Rider Challenges will also be presented on Grand Prix Sunday as two separate bonuses: $10,000 for the FEI 2* division and $20,000 for the FEI 5* division.
Other competition highlights include the $10,000 Stomp Capital 1.40m Open Jumper (Tuesday), $40,000 1.45m National Grand Prix (Wednesday), $10,000 Hunt & Go Stake presented by The Baran (Thursday), $10,000 Harrods Junior/Amateur Welcome Stake (Friday), $10,000 Hermès Equitation Championship (Saturday), $30,000 Agneta & Brownlee Currey 1.45m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic and $10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic (Sunday).
Each year, approximately 50,000 people – including many A-list celebrities – come to watch the nation’s best equestrian athletes compete at the Hampton Classic Horse Show. Rated USEF ‘Premier-6’ for hunters and jumpers with designated FEI 2* and 5* jumping classes, the Hampton Classic features more than 200 competitions in six spectacular show rings, the Agneta Currey Boutique Garden with more than 70 vendors, and a wide selection of dining options, all on its world-class 60-acre showgrounds.
Final Results – $30,000 Jumper Challenge – 1.40m
1) David Blake (IRL) & Gucci des Embruns – 0 / 0 – 45.754
2) Peter Lutz (USA) & Katriona – 0 / 0 – 47.568
3) Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) & La Rosso Lady – 0 / 0 – 48.196
Source: Press Release by Marty Bauman / Classic Communications for the Hampton Classic Horse Show
Photos: © THCHS / KindMedia
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