BRIDGEHAMPTON, N.Y.--World #3 Shane Sweetnam of Ireland on Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z won the $62,500, 1.50m CSI5*Winning Round on Saturday, Aug. 29 at the Hampton Classic.
Shane Sweetnam on Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z (Photo by KindMedia)Sweetnam finished clean in 42.88 seconds to win over Nayel Nassar of Egypt on Crislin Van Den Bosrand Z, clean in 43.89, with Tanimara Macari of Mexico on Quenala T, the only other clean, third in 44.,93.
Under the Winning Round format, the top 10 made the jump-off, carrying forward their faults from round one.
McLain Ward on First Lady was fourth with four faults in 42.73, Daniel Bluman of Israel on Hummer Z fifth with four faults in 43.43, and Erynn Ballard of Canada on Her Game Ball BG sixth with four faults in 43.87
“Coriaan naturally is a very fast horse,” Sweetnam said. “I’d seen Nayel go, and I knew I had to be at least that quick with a couple of fast riders coming after me; Jordan Coyle and Daniel Bluman (clean in round one) still had to go as well. I knew I had to take every chance I could."
"I GOT A good rhythm at the start of the course, and I took every chance we had, and he really responded and stayed with me," said Sweetnam. "It worked out well for us today. It was a bit of an awkward jump-off where the horses had to be sharp, looking for the next jump, so luckily for me, my horse was in that zone."
“Tomorrow, I’m jumping Pia Maria H, who’s been developing in Europe all summer,” he said. “She’s very talented, definitely talented enough to win the Grand Prix. Experienced enough to win it is another question, but we are not going to know unless we do it. I’m very hopeful.”
Nassar maintains his lead in the $20,000 Rider Challenge for the 5* division with 320 points.
Ward has moved into second with 240 points, and Molly Ashe Cawley is third with 194 points.
Prior to the CSI5*, Alexa Elle Lignelli of New York, N.Y., on XO Onermie won the $15,000, 1.35m Amateur Jumper Classic, clean in the jump-off in 35.243 seconds.
JJ Torano of Mohrsville, Pa., on Coachella Z won the $15,000 1.35m Junior Jumper Classic, clean in 34.048 seconds.
