Horses - Paige Johnson's Just Dreamin' Dreams Up a Win At 26th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show - September 2001 - equiworld.net

Paige Johnson's Just Dreamin' Dreams Up a Win At 26th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show

BRIDGEHAMPTON, NY (September 1, 2001) - Young rider Paige Johnson had a dream of a trip on Just Dreamin' to take first place in the $15,000 WGHR Farm's Jumper Classic (High) in the grand prix ring at the 26th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show.

Paige, who will turn 16 this month, rode both Just Dreamin', a 9-year-old chestnut mare, and Reddy-Teddy, a gray German warmblood, in the Jumper Classic. She retired "Teddy" from the class after he pulled a rail. The hard ground was affecting his jump, she said.

Paige, who is from Washington, DC, said the Jumper Classic course held no surprises for her. "I've been doing this for a long time," she said. "It was nothing that I haven't experienced before, but you had to ride every part of it. You can't relax. You have to try every minute."

Paige will compete again Sunday, Sept. 2, in the $25,000 Calvin Klein Show Jumping Derby, hoping to win it back to back. In 2000, she won the Derby aboard the diminutive Dominique, a 15-hand, 1-inch tall mare who once belonged to U.S. Equestrian Team veteran Beezie Madden. On Sunday, shewill try again with Dominique.

Limited to just two mounts in the Derby, Paige also will ride Beach Bum, a chestnut Dutch Warmblood. "He has a big look," Paige said of the 16 hand, 1 inch, horse. "And a big jump."

Paige's parents, Sheila and Robert Johnson, are big supporters of equestrian sports, working to help the grand prix riders of the future by joining the U.S. Equestrian Team and other organizations in sponsoring competition for talented young riders at horse shows across the country. Their television network, BET, sponsored the BET/USET show Jumping Talent Search for riders under 21 on Tuesday at the Hampton Classic Horse Show.

The 26th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show continues through Sunday, September 2, in Bridgehampton with the Young Jumper Championships and other special events planned
Saturday, Sept. 1: Cablevision's Kids Day; $25,000 Sally Hansen Grand Prix; Pony Jumpers
Sunday, Sept. 2: $150,000 Prudential Financial Grand Prix presented by David Yurman; $50,000 AmeriChoice Eastern Finals of the Young Jumper Championships; $25,000 Calvin Klein Show Jumping Derby; $100,000 New Things Grand Prix Bonus Challenge

Admission to the Hampton Classic is $5 per person, $15 per carload, and children under six are admitted free daily. On Friday and Saturday (August 31-September 1), children under 12 are admitted free. Reserved grandstand seats for Grand Prix Sunday, September 2, are an additional $15 per person.
Parking is free during the event.

The Hampton Classic Horse Show benefits the Southampton Hospital, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and the United States Equestrian Team. Offering up the best in show jumping, there is no other competition that brings together the hunter-jumper circuit with thousands of spectators, extravagant social events, celebrities, shopping and fine dining in the Hamptons.

For more information on the Hampton Classic, be sure to visit the show's web site at www.hamptonclassic.com or call (631) 537-3177. Email requests for information may be submitted to info@hamptonclassic.com