The final week of international competition at HITS Hudson Valley in Saugerties, New York, kicked off on Wednesday, September 2, with an impressive starting list of athletes. Representing the culmination of a summer-long series of top-tier sport, the Championship Week boasts not only a CSI3* division, but also yet another coveted World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) designation. The week also sees the highest prize money stakes of the season in the jumper, hunter, and equitation rings, as highlight events include the $300,000 ClipMyHorse.TV Hunter Classic Final, the Arion Sellier Equitation Classic, four $25,000 hunter derbies, and a plethora of show jumping classics. Besting a field of 34 pairings despite being the youngest in the field, JJ Torano (USA) accepted the opening international win in the $31,020 CSI3* Jumper Classic with Dora du Valon.
FEI level 4 course designer Bernardo Cabral (POR) set the stage where Torano would ultimately reign, tasking the entries with a winding power-and-speed course in the Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Stadium. With riders’ times being determined by their performance over the second half of the track, there was no advantage of returning for a jump-off, and the athletes had to make their round count from the get go. Though a clear effort was well within reach, the leading time changed hands several times until it settled with Torano as the tenth in the starting order. Despite the talented field of riders behind him, Torano clinched his fourth win with the 13-year-old Selle Français mare (Kannan x Quidam de Revel) owned by Jet Show Stable as he proved unbeatable in 29.120 seconds.
“She’s super quick and competitive; she doesn’t want to touch the jumps,” enthused Torano. “I’d say she’s definitely my speed horse. I jumped her in the two-star as my main horse last week in the Hamptons, but for the most part, I jump her in these speed classes, and we’ll do a couple jump-off classes here and there.”
At the age of 16, most young riders are still making their way up the equitation and junior jumper ranks, but for show jumping legacy JJ Torano, turning 16 means being able to finally compete in FEI competition.
“It took me a couple of classes to get adapted because it is definitely different,” he detailed. “It’s more pressure for sure; in the national classes you still compete against the top riders, but the level of competition is different. You can really tell the difference between a 1.45m Junior/Amateur class and a 1.45m FEI class.
“There’s a noticeable difference in the courses too,” he continued. “The jumps are maybe a hole or two bigger, and the oxers are wider. It’s definitely a step up, but the horses have risen to the challenge well, and I’m feeling comfortable now, so it’s been a great move.”
Championing an early podium placing for Ireland, Christian Coyle came the closest to catching the winning combination. Piloting his own Chicago CM, a 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding (San Patrignano Cassini x Carpaccio), Coyle marked just a second off the pace, stopping the clock in 30.730 seconds for the red ribbon. Jonathan McCrea bookended the victory gallop with another ribbon for the USA, taking third place with Campari, the 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding by L.B. Crumble x Balou du Rouet owned by Windsor Show Stables.
Elite show jumping competition at the iconic Hudson Valley venue will resume on Thursday, September 3, as contenders test their skill in the $65,000 CSI3* Welcome Stake. The division eventually comes to an exciting conclusion on Saturday, September 6, with the $125,000 Core Specialty Insurance CSI3* Grand Prix. For full results, please visit www.showmanagementsystem.com.
