BRIDGEHAMPTON, N.Y.--Jacqueline Ruyle on Cyramo Z won the $70,000 Hampton Classic 2* Grand Prix on Sunday, Aug. 30.
Jacqueline Ruyle on Cyramo Z (Photo by KindMedia)Almost half the class of 40 went clean to make the jump-off over the course set by Nick Granat.
Ruyle won in 40.77 over Daniel Bluman of Israel on Gemma W, almost a second slower in 41.60, and Spencer Smith on Fantasia VD Vrombautshoeve was third in 42,18.
World #6 Bluman and former Hampton Classic Grand Prix champion Gemma W quickly climbed to the top of the leaderboard when they laid down a faultless jump-off round in 41.60 seconds, but Ruyle, going late in the class, finally was the one to beat his time.
“I saw Charlotte Jacobs go very early on, and I know she has a very fast horse,” Ruyle said. “I thought, ‘Wow, that’s really unbeatable. I don’t know how you could do it.’ And then everyone just kept catching her time, and I kind of forgot about those rides. I told myself, ‘Okay, I’m going to stick to my plan. I know I have a fast horse, and I’m going to go out there and have some fun.’
“WHILE I was riding the course, I noticed I was very inside the others’ tracks,” she said. “I think that’s where I really had it. My horse is just so fast and has so much heart, and it’s so fun going into the ring with her. I’ve made a bucket list for all the 2* events I want to win with her, and we already checked Miami off the list. We checked Wellington off the list. Now, we can check the Hampton Classic off the list.”
Kent Farrington on Nikki Angel was fourth in 42.21 seconds, and Charlotte Jacobs on Rincoola Milsean was fifth in 42.40.
Ruyle’s Grand Prix win gave her a total of 290 points in the $10,000 Rider Challenge for the 2* division, which ultimately gave her the title and the $10,000 bonus, and Farrington finished second with 240 points, while Smith was third with 231 points.
To celebrate the Hampton Classic’s final day, many VIPs decorated their tables to match the beauty and uniqueness of the rings they overlooked while outdoing each other in the Hampton Cottages & Gardens Table Décor Awards.
The Compass table took blue-ribbon honors for the best-decorated table, with the teams at Quince and Wölffer Estate earning second and third for their work, respectively.
Special categories included Best Overall Theme, won by Frank & Eileen; Most Innovative, won by XO Lignelli; and Best Floral Design, won by Aquitaine Equine.
