UPPERVILLE, Va.--Daniel Bluman of Israel on Hummer Z won the $200,000 Upperville Jumper Classic in a six horse jump-off on Sunday, June 7.
Daniel Bluman on Hummer Z (Phoo by Erin Gilmore)Over the course set by Alan Wade, Bluman, second to last to go, finished clean in 34.95 to win over Chloe Reid on Crossover 4, clean in 36.74, and Sloane Coles on Ninja JW van de Moerhoeve, clean in 37.43.
Saturday evening, Lilly Ward, who rode Woodlands Corduroy in medium ponies, had kidded her Dad, McLain, saying, "I've won two classes and you've won only one."
Her boast stayed true as Ward on First Lady in the Classic had a rail down to finish fourth with four faults in 35.13.
Jacob Pope on Highway FBH was fifth with for faults in 43.71, and Vanessa Hood on Vins VD Tojopehoeve was sixth with four faults in 45,44,
"Hummer has been unbelievable for for me," said Bluman, world ranked 12th. "I've had him for three years. He was developed by Beezie Madden. He's been nothing but great for me."
"TODAY WAS his greatest win so far," said Bluman. "My execution wasn't perfect. I don't know how he jumped that fence."
Bluman was referring to his turn to the last two stride combination, which he met completely wrong, but Hummer turned himself inside out to get over the first fence and then somehow managed to also get out over the second without a fault.
JJ Torano on Dora du Valon winning an FEI class (Photo by Erin Gilmore)Earlier in the day, JJ Torano finished first, third and fourth on Vitus K, D&H Q Paravatti N and Casa-Nova Z in the $10,000, 1.45m Junior/Amateur Classic.
Torano was champion on Vitus K in that division to add to his two FEI class wins earlier in the week.
"What was it like for you when you were my age?" Torano later asked Ward.
"When I was your age,U was still riding ponies badly," said Ward. "It's a natural progression, as each generation has more information to help them, each generation gets better at a younger age."
Both Torano and Ward come from horse families, both with fathers who were or are successful grand prix riders, and both agreed that could be both a help and a hindrance.
"I watch you and you, and you have more jumping talent than I had," said Ward, adding that he practiced hard and long to get to where he is now.
"The seeking and chasing was fulfilling," said Ward.
"I'm looking to be the next McLain Ward," said Torano.
"No matter where you get to, it's a good pursuit," said Ward.
"Hopefully, you'll stay around so we can be on a team together some day," said Torano.
"I'll stay around for that," said Ward. "Right now, I'm looking forward to the Aachen World Championships. High Star Hero has really stepped up (to be my ride)."
Meanwhile, In St. Gallen, Charlotte Jacobs on Playboy JT Z and Katie Dinan on Out of the Blue SCF finished ninth and10th in the 500,00 Euro Grand Prix of Switzerland.
In the two round class in which the top 12 qualified for the second round, four went on with clean rounds and eight, including Jacobs and Dinan, went forward with four faults.
Both Jacobs and Dinan added another our faults to finish ninth and 10th respectively in the class won by Marcus Ehning of Germany on Coolio 42.
Also on Sunday, in Traverse City, Mich., Olivia Sweetnam, 17-year-old daughter of Irish Olympian Shane Sweetnam, won her first FEI class, winning the $116,500 CSI3* Grand Prix on Epic.
