The 49th annual Hampton Classic Horse Show concluded Sunday with the Longines Hampton Classic CSI5* Grand Prix, where Rene Dittmer of Germany raced to victory with one of only two double-clear rounds. He and Corsica X stopped the clock fastest to close their summer on a high, earning the winner’s share of the $400,000 purse.

He topped a field of 40 riders, including many who represented their countries at the Paris Olympic Games. Those riders—Daniel Bluman (Israel), Mario Deslauriers (Canada), Thaisa Erwin (Australia), Kent Farrington (United States), Darragh Kenny (Ireland), Nayel Nassar (Egypt), Shane Sweetnam (Ireland) and McLain Ward (United States)—were honored during the opening ceremonies of Sunday’s five-star grand prix.

Eight of those 40 riders negotiated Nick Granat’s technical 17-effort, 1.60-meter first-round course clear to qualify for the jump-off. Final results came down to the wire, with faults scattered around the tiebreaker course, but Dittmer and the 11-year-old Holsteiner mare (Connor 48—Tiamo, Coronfino II) owned by Glen Haven Farm and Sportpferde Dittmer GMBH left nothing on the table as they blazed through the timers in 37.55 seconds.

“It’s just unbelievable to come here and win again,” said Dittmer, who won the $39,000 Flecha Azul 5* Speed Stake in 2023. “It really means a lot to me to win in front of this amazing crowd. My horse was unbelievable this week; she jumped five clear rounds and didn’t have a rail down all week. I’m really grateful that Mark Miness [of Glen Haven Farm] trusts me with this horse. I’m super happy and still can’t quite believe that this win happened in such a prestigious event.

“I tried to go fast without being too crazy,” Dittmer added. “I knew Jordan [Coyle] and McLain [Ward] were coming after me, so I had to do what I could to make them chase the time. It worked out because if McLain had gone clear, he would’ve been faster and won. Today went in my favor, and it really is just unbelievable.” 

Groom Lily Standbridge, who cares for Corsica X, received $500 from Aden Brook for her hard work keeping the horse ready to compete.

Americans Mimi Gochman and Alex Matz joined Dittmer on the podium, finishing in second and third place, respectively. Gochman celebrated her 20^thbirthday with the only other double-clear round in the classes, stopping the clock in 38.58 seconds aboard DG Sport Horse LLC’s 9-year-old gelding Inclen BH. Matz posted the fastest 4-fault round in 39.09 seconds with Ikigai, 5 Star Partners’ 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion. 

Watch Dittmer’s winning jump-off round, courtesy of ClipMyHorse.tv:

Ward, who finished sixth in the class with a new ride, High Star Hero, claimed top honors in the $30,000 Longines Rider Challenge for the second time following several podium finishes in the week’s open jumper division. Coming in second was fellow American Molly Ashe Cawley with 238 points. Shulman Desiderio finished third with 212 points. 

“A very special thanks to Michael and Wendy Smith for the opportunity to ride this horse [High Star Hero], and for Thaisa [Erwin] for producing him to this level,” Ward said. “Getting to know him at the Hampton Classic [after only getting him last Wednesday] is a bit of a sharp learning curve.

“I would’ve liked to have pulled up a little bit from home; maybe we came in a bit too fast there,” he went on. “I’m glad Nick Granat had the opportunity to be here and design the course. I thought it rode well, and the rollback to the final line created something of a bogey fence. It’s a shame the horse didn’t go clear, but there is a bit of luck involved in our sport. He is a great horse, and I think we’re going to have a great future.”

See complete results here.