Emily Hamel and Kingston. Photos by: Veronica Green-Gott.
The remaining two FEI divisions at VHC Eventing, presented by Capital Square, wrapped up with inaugural International wins for the leaders of both long-format divisions, the CCI2*-L and the CCI1*-L. Emily Hamel and her new partner, Kingston, won the CCI2*-L division on a score of 31.5. In the CCI1*-L, James Power took home the blue ribbon aboard Brambleridge Ponder the Truth with a score of 37.
Hamel may be a seasoned five-star event rider with the iconic gray gelding, 18-year-old Corvette, but this weekend ended in a crowning achievement for any rider– her first FEI win. While she may not have come home with a blue ribbon prior to this weekend, Hamel has come close many times throughout her career, with two podium finishes and eleven top ten finishes thus far.
“I was really proud of him,” Hamel said of Kingston, owned by Black Flag Option. “This is his first FEI and I’ve only had him since November, so it’s a new partnership. He’s relatively new to eventing and he just tried so hard. Coming into the weekend, I just wanted to have a good run, so winning was icing on the cake.”
The 2015 Dutch Warmblood gelding seems poised to continue in the hoofprints of Hamel’s previous five-star horses. Despite never having seen terrain like that at the Virginia Horse Center, which is frequently referred to as a “mini Bromont,” Kingston rose to the challenge with ease.
“He was great,” Hamel said. “I didn’t know what to expect, because he’s never seen that many hills, but he just loved it. He had such a good time running up and down, and he’s so quick and clever. It was a really fun ride.”
Emily Hamel and Kingston. Photo by Veronica Green-Gott.
Heading into the final phase, Hamel had been trying not to get her hopes too high. Second place winner Tim Bourke and Sing to Me Cooley, owned by Hedgerow Farm, were less than a half of a point behind Hamel. If Hamel wanted to hold onto her lead, her only option was a double clear round. Luckily, Kingston’s show jumping background gave her the minute edge she needed. The pair crossed the finish flags six seconds ahead of the optimum time.
Kate Servais and her own Life Story moved up from fourth place to take home third with a score of 40.2.
It was a big weekend for Hamel. Celebrating her birthday the Wednesday before the event, her first FEI win was possibly the best present she could have asked for. “It feels really cool [to win],” Hamel said. “I’ve done a million FEIs at this point, but I haven’t won an FEI. So it’s extra special.”
Hamel returned to the Virginia Horse Center this weekend after a long period away. “I love it here,” she said. “I haven’t been here in years. I think the last time I was here was when I was working for Phillip [Dutton], so that was a while ago. It’s such a beautiful facility. They’ve done a lot of great upgrades, like the arenas are great to ride in, and the cross country– I think they got some new fences– and it was just a really good experience, overall. Everybody here working and volunteering has been really helpful.”
In the CCI1*-L, James Power found himself heading into the show jumping phase poised to win after yesterday’s leader, Alyssa Phillips and her own Centerfold, did not pass the horse inspection on Sunday morning. With an 11-point lead heading into the ring, Power and Brambleridge Ponder the Truth, owned by the rider, used up some of their overall buffer after knocking a pole at fence nine to finish on a final score of 37. Annabelle Friend and the creatively named Tater’CZalad, owned by the rider, took home second place with a score of 44. Liana Anason and her own Biscuit Snatcher earned a score of 46, sliding into third place.
Like Hamel, it’s the pair’s inaugural FEI win, made even more special by “Patrick’s” comeback from a serious injury in the fall. “I’ve never won an FEI before, and he’s coming off a season ending injury from last year,” Power said. “Being able to come into this season and winning this FEI means so much to me. My mom always helps me out so much, with grooming and just being here supporting me. So I’m overall really happy with how it went.”
James Power and Brambleridge Ponder The Truth.
In the past, Power said he’s struggled to get Patrick to relax at events, but didn’t spare a second thought for the challenging terrain at the Virginia Horse Center. Patrick may be only 15.3 hands, but the Connemara/Thoroughbred is a cross country machine.
“My rides this weekend were pretty good,” Power said. “I got him really relaxed for dressage, he was really good for that. But the cross country is always really good– he’s a beast out there all the time. Show jumping is not my strongest phase. I would say he’s pretty solid at it, but I get really nervous in there. So, I got the one rail, but I’m not disappointed at all with how this weekend went.”
Power, who found time to support his fellow competitors by volunteering at the Horse Center over the weekend, also won the CCI1*-L Young Rider Award, sponsored by Hyperion Stud. Friend came in second place, with Anson taking third. The Award is given to the young rider with the lowest score in each division. Power has been involved in the Young Rider program, which aims to promote community and educational opportunities among up-and-coming riders, for some time. He competed at the Young Rider Championships at the Maryland International in 2024.
James Power, Annabelle Friend and Liana Anson earning the Young Rider Awards, sponsored by Hyperion Stud.
According to Power, the Young Rider program has helped him find a community. “My friend Mia, that’s how I met her,” Power said. “We didn’t know each other before, and we’ve become really good friends, hanging out outside of horses and stuff. Also Claire Allen, and a bunch of other people that I never knew before. I would say the number one thing that I’ve gotten from Young Riders is making a lot of friends and making connections with people.”
Kate Servais and Life Story.
Kate Servais, head groom for five-star event rider Sharon White, won the Hyperion Stud Young Rider Award in the CCI2*-L with Life Story. She purchased the 14-year-old Holsteiner/Thoroughbred from Olympian Caroline Pamukcu.
“I am so proud of him,” Servais said. “He tried so hard all weekend, and I just absolutely adore him so much. He’s so perfect. He tries so hard all the time, and he’s just the sweetest creature ever.”
Historically, Servais said that finding relaxation at competitions has been difficult for the pair, but this weekend they had a breakthrough in the show jumping phase. “We’ve really struggled,” she said. “I’ve struggled with the tenseness and relaxation in the ring. He’s so in tune with me. He’s such a telepathic horse. He can tell any emotion I’m feeling sooner than I can. So going in there and just jumping around so soft and supple and happy– I was so pleased with him.”
Over the last several months, Servais says that “Basil” has transformed her riding for the better. “He’s just changed my riding– learning to relax, learning to calm down, not take everything so seriously and be so intense all the time,” Servais said. “Having more of a sensitive horse has taught me to be quieter and more reactive in the right way, in a calm, quiet way.”
VHC Eventing, presented by Capital Square, will return to the Virginia Horse Center on October 30th through November 2nd for another weekend of competition, this time in the crisp fall air against a backdrop of autumn leaves in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Entries open on September 16th and close on October 14th.
Without the support of sponsors like Capital Square, Hyperion Stud, Triple Crown Feed, Old Dominion Equine, and Blue Ridge Equine, events like VHC Eventing wouldn’t be possible.
