Horsesdaily News: Aimee Aron Wins SHALANNO Style of Riding Award at the 29th Annual Hampton Classic

Aimee Aron Wins SHALANNO Style of Riding Award at the 29th Annual Hampton Classic

Bridgehampton, NY – September 15, 2004 — Junior rider Aimee Aron of Keswick, VA, became the first winner of the SHALANNO Style of Riding Award Perpetual Trophy at the 29th Hampton Classic Horse Show.

The SHALANNO Style of Riding Award Perpetual Trophy is presented to the Junior Jumper rider who best exemplifies the American style of equitation as modeled by Olympic medalists Joe Fargis, Conrad Homfeld, George Morris and Rodrigo Pessoa. The award recipient must have the respectful, dignified, courteous and workmanlike manner of a true sportsman.

Aron was selected by the jumper judges at the Hampton Classic as well as by horse show personnel (jumper ring in-gate, steward, and announcer) who were in a position to observe the necessary sportsmanship qualities of the horse show’s Junior Jumper riders and who have the knowledge of equitation riding necessary to make this judgment.

“The Hampton Classic is proud to institute this new award and can think of no better choice as the award’s first winner than Aimee Aron,” said Hampton Classic Executive Director Tony Hitchcock. “Despite her young age, she has earned the respect of all who know her and we think it’s great that her name will be the first to go on this trophy.”

Aron, 15, had several major victories at the Hampton Classic Horse Show. She won the $10,000 Jaguar Open Jumper Competition, the $30,000 GGET Six-Year-Old Young Jumper Championship Finals and then she put a crowning touch on her outstanding week with a win in the $25,000 Calvin Klein Jeans Show Jumping Derby on ‘Grand Prix Sunday’.

Each year the Hampton Classic Horse Show attracts more than 50,000 spectators and celebrities to watch the country’s best horses and riders compete, marking the perfect end to the perfect summer in the Hamptons. One of the nation's premier show jumping competitions, the Hampton Classic boasts jam-packed social events in addition to its world-class equestrian competitions. Boutiques, on-site restaurants and a wide variety of displays and activities accentuate the Hampton Classic 'experience'.

On hand to watch Kerins’s stirring win in this year’s Prudential Financial Grand Prix were Sigourney Weaver, Lorraine Bracco, Cliff Robertson, Alec Baldwin, Bianca Jagger, Matt Lauer, James Lipton, Kelly Ripa, Court TV’s Dan Abrams, Calvin Klein, David Yurman and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Earlier in the week, Hollywood giants Steven Spielberg and Glen Close were on hand to see their daughters compete.

The Hampton Classic’s $150,000 Prudential Financial Grand Prix will be broadcast on Fox Sports New York at 4:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday, September 25. The telecast will repeat on MSG Network in October on a date and time to be announced.

For more information on the 2004 Hampton Classic Horse Show, visit the official website at www.hamptonclassic.com.