Devon, Pa. – May 30, 2019 – Thursday night at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair once again belonged to the “King of Devon” McLain Ward of Brewster, New York, who surpassed 25 contenders to claim the $250,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon CSI4* for a record 11th time in his career. Ward, who is ranked fourth in the world on the Longines Rankings, rode the 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare, HH Azur, owned by Double H Farm, around the famed Dixon Oval in front of a packed crowd, consisting of diehard show jumping fans to Pennsylvania locals, hoping to witness some of the greatest names in the sport of show jumping go head-to-head for the most coveted trophy in the Devon collection: the Celeste McNeal Harper Perpetual Trophy.
Kristen Bumpus and Diadora Dominate $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
Thursday’s competition in the Dixon Oval brought the nation’s top hunter horses and riders to compete in the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, sponsored by the Wheeler Family. Kristen Bumpus, who fulfilled her lifelong dream of showing at the Devon Horse Show and County Fair, made her debut in the Dixon Oval a memorable one by defeating fellow competitors to take home the top prize aboard Diadora with a total score of 372. The pair impressed the panel of judges with their best efforts over two rounds of competition.