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Junior Riders Take Center Stage in Opening Round of $10,000 Wölffer Estate Equitation Championship at Hampton Classic Horse Show

August 28, 2025

Bridgehampton, NY-August 28, 2008-The water jump separated the field in the opening round of the $10,000 Wölffer Estate Equitation Championship at the 33rd annual Hampton Classic Horse Show. The obstacle did exactly as it was intended to do, winnowing out the top 10 junior riders, who will return Saturday for the second and final round on a revised course on the Grand Prix field.

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. Show entries include two Olympic riders who flew in directly from the Olympic show jumping competition in Hong Kong: McLain Ward, a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. team, and individual gold medalist Eric Lamaze of Canada.

Jaccqueline Lubrano of Glenmoore, Penn., took a strong lead aboard Lennox among the field of 47 Junior competitors in the first round of the $10,000 Wölffer Estate Equitation Championship. Lubrano’s 93 points positioned her five points ahead of her nearest rival, Sophie Benjamin of Rancho Sante Fe, Calif., on Sir-Neel (88 points). Christina Lin of Lewisburg, Penn., riding Allegro, was a close third (87).

The riders will carry their points forward into Saturday’s second and final round, after which the Wölffer Estate Equitation Champion will be crowned. The finalists can count on a course every bit, if not more, challenging than the first-round course designed by Conrad Homfeld.

“This is not a typical equitation class,” said one of the class’s judges, Phil de Vita of Apopka, Fla. “It is meant to separate these junior riders as jumper riders. This class fine-tunes them for the jumper divisions. It gets them thinking about what they need to do as jumper riders.”

Given the challenges the course presented, de Vita and fellow class judge Randy Mullens of Collierville, Tenn., said they considered the riders’ first-round scores good. The top 10 scores ranged from 77 to 93 points.

Those who will move on to Saturday’s final phase are:
1. Jacqueline Lubrano
2. Sophie Benjamin
3. Christina Lin
4. Sara Green
5. Johanna Hyyppa
6. Michael Hughes
7. Chelsea Moss
8. Kimberly McCormack
9. Alexandra Arute
10. Jessica Springsteen

Competitors must ride the same horse in both rounds. They are judged on such factors as their use of the aids, position, analysis of the course, and eye for assessing jumping distances in negotiating the varied fences. The goal is to effectively control the horse and produce a competitive yet stylish jumper performance. Major emphasis is placed on clear rounds, as well as the rider’s ability to cope with natural obstacles and to complete the course within tight time restrictions.

Thursday’s competitors negotiated a series of 13 obstacles that included verticals, spreads and combinations. Although the course was demanding throughout, Mullens observed that “the second part of the course became more difficult because of the water jump.”

De Vita concurred. “The problem with the water is that [if the horse refused], it would dislodge the rider from his position. Then they had to make a tight turn to a short combination. Those two tests created a problem.”

While some riders handled the first-round challenges better than others, Mullens observed that all told, it was “a field deep in talent.”

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™ Qualifier, will be held on Sunday afternoon, August 31.

Upcoming highlights in the Hampton Classic’s Grand Prix Ring are 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 classes take place in the morning prior to the $200,000 FTI Grand Prix and FEI World Cup™ Qualifier.

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 Friday-Sunday, August 29-31. Friday’s live broadcast is anchored by WLIU’s midday host, Brian Cosgrove, while the weekend broadcasts are anchored by Bonnie Grice and Porter Bibb.

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.

Written by Marty Bauman · Filed Under Hampton Classic, Marty Bauman, USA 
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