Dobbs Defends Nicolock Time Challenge Title On Opening Day Of Hampton Classic

By Brett Mauser | 1 Comment

Dobbs, riding Marengo as she did in winning last year’s time challenge, wasn’t to be denied in her second go-around. Her time of 55.58 seconds in the grand prix ring was nearly four full seconds faster than her closest competitor, Kirk Webby, in a record-setting field for the event at the 34th Hampton Classic Horse Show. Photo by Daniel Gonzalez

Bridgehampton - Just minutes into the $20,000 Nicolock Time Challenge, Joe Fargis, the two-time Olympic gold medalist at 1984 Games in Los Angeles and regular at the Hampton Classic Horse Show going back 30 years, had completed his ride. Aboard Diams III, he finished six seconds behind the early leader, Hillary Dobbs, not including the four second deduction to tapping a rail off its pedestal on the last gate. The former Southampton resident marveled at Dobbs' time.

Former Olympic gold medalist Joe Fargis, who spent better than a decade residing on Majors Path in Southampton, soars over the Fendi gate with his mare Diams III. Photos by Brett Mauser

"You hate to say it's unbeatable but it appears right now to be unbeatable," he said.

Fargis, who knows a special performance when he sees one, was right. Dobbs, riding Marengo as she did in winning last year's time challenge, wasn't to be denied in her second go-around either. Her time of 55.58 seconds in the grand prix ring was nearly four full seconds faster than her closest competitor, Kirk Webby, in a record-setting field for the event at the 34th Hampton Classic Horse Show. It was a spectacular beginning to a week's worth of show jumping, equitation, exultation and a whole lot more.

"If I ride Marengo correctly, we always have a shot [at winning]," said Dobbs, a senior at Harvard University. "I took some risks out there, but I know this horse. We think similarly - we both like to go fast."

Sagaponack's Patrick Rice and Almost Illegal fly safely over a fence during the Local Hunter Pro showdown.

Two weeks ago, Dobbs rode Marengo to wins in the $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix as well as the Open Welcome Stake. She has competed in Europe for the U.S. Federation Equestrian Team. A Dutch warmblood gelding owned by The Dobbs Group, Marengo is bred at the 300-acre horse farm in Sussex, NJ, on which her family, including CNN media mogul Lou Dobbs and wife Debi, reside. She also rode Udento VDL and Marlo in the time challenge although neither finished in the ribbons.

Riding Don Montiel, Southampton's Carrie Holmes peers to her left to plan her course for the next jump.

Webby, riding Cosmopolite S, placed second in a time of 59.44 seconds. Ramiro Quintana of Wellington, FL, rode Q's Charm to a third place finish (59.92). Rounding out the top five were Shane Sweetnam on Una Donja (60.06) and Cassandra Herman atop Gallop de Beaumont (61.61). Argentinian Federico Sztyrle, a Bridgehampton resident, took 11th with Esplanade 7 (63.85) while Fargis and Diams III were cruising but the late mishap kept them out of the top 12, with which came cash prizes. It was just the beginning for Fargis, who called the day "a warm-up" and said he plans on competing Tuesday through Saturday. Of Dobbs, he said "she can go as far as she decides to go." The next round of Olympic equestrian is set to take place in 2012 in London.

In the other major categories, Molly Sullivan and Get Smart earned the Mulvihill Local Junior Hunter Championship. For the adults, it was Stephanie Riggio on Breitling taking top honors.

Local Riders Get Their Time To Shine
Riders from the northeast region showcased their ability during a day featuring wall-to-wall action in multiple rings.

The Toppings were at it once again in 2009, with Gretchen Topping winning Section A of the Local Hunter Pro championship on Royal Palm and Jagger Topping taking Section B on Sun Phoenix. To top the day off, the 2009 Old Field Trophy - Long Island Sportsmanship Award was presented to Alvin Topping, owner of Swan Creek Farm in Bridgehampton.

Destry Spielberg, daughter of Steven Spielberg, competes in the children's equitation class in Hunter Ring 3.

Atop Chanel, Southampton's Laura Beth Secari won a leg of the Local Hunter Pro class in Section B. For the non-pros, Sue Ellen Marder O'Connor of Southampton won with Fine 'n' Dandy as her mount. For the non-pros, Southampton's Sue Ellen Marder O'Connor won with Fine 'n' Dandy as her mount. In Section B of the Adult Equitation Flat, it was Westhampton's Susan Homan aboard Shades of Rio who earned top honors, and Kylie Tekulsky won Section A of the Hoskins Adult Medal on Times Square.

Jordan Paige Calabro of Water Mill rode Renoir to the Local Amateur-Owner Hunter Undersaddle win. A year ago, Renoir was ridden by Gabrielle Bausano to the Grand Local Hunter Championship, as was the case in 2003 as well.

Young Riders
A parade of young riders thrilled the crowd in the grand prix ring with their equitation in the Leadline competition, judged largely on proper seat, leg and hand position. Maddie Gerstiel-Ringelstein of Water Mill won the 5- to 7-year-old division on Mister GQ. East Hampton's India Galesi-Grant took first place in her division atop Enchanted.

Also from East Hampton, Clementine Talmage rode Chick Flick to first place in Section A of the Short Stirrup Walk, Trot and Canter for 10- to 12-year-olds; the two placed in the Walk and Trot and third Over Fences. Last year in the nine-and-under division, Talmage and Chick Flick won the Walk and Trot. Bridgehampton's Sasha McCauley followed up last year's Walk and Trot victory on Blue River's Twinkle Toes in the nine-and-under group by winning Section B of the 10-12 division aboard Congaree River; they were second in the Walk, Trot and Canter. Perhaps following in their footsteps is Southampton's Olivia Ginsberg, who masterfully rode Cinnamon en route to first prize in the Short Stirrup Equitation nine-and-under Section D.

(Left) Romy Lauer grins from ear to ear after earning a ribbon for her horse, Belong To Me. (Center) Water Mill's Maddie Gerstiel-Ringelstein can't hold back the excitement after winning the Leadline class for children ages 5-7. (Right) East Hampton's India Galesi-Grant is all smiles aboard Enchanted after she won top prize in her group of the Leadline class for children ages 5-7.

For exhibiting great seat, hands and control of her mount Lazalle, Westhampton's Kristen Stachnik took first place in the Junior Cassidy Maclay class. She's also the owner of Cadbury, who Elizabeth Adrian rode to winning Section D of the Child Equitation Low Fences class.

Prior to the time challenge, 17-year-old Olivia Ashley Reed of Sag Harbor and Freeport sang the National Anthem after winning the third annual WLIU 88.3 FM National Anthem Singing Contest.