International show jumping returned to the HITS Del Mar Horsepark in Del Mar, California, during the HITS Del Mar Summer Classic I on August 19-23, 2026. Marking the penultimate week of hunter/jumper competition for the season at the world-class venue, the event features a CSI2* division and also boasts a World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) designation, drawing top riders across both the hunter and jumper disciplines. In the featured class of the day on Thursday, August 20, it was Kaitlin Campbell (ISR) that rode to the top of the $31,020 CSI2* Alliant Private Client Cup aboard Cosm Hesed.
Nine nations were represented in the starting field of 37 horse-and-rider combinations, including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ireland, Israel, Switzerland, Venezuela, and the United States. To test the athletes, Tucker Williams (USA) and Peter Grant (CAN) designed an intricate first-round track, which made the most of the iconic Grand Prix Grass Field.
Kaitlin Campbell (ISR) was the pathfinder in the first round, and she immediately showed how it is done with a clear effort. Ten other duos managed to leave all the poles in the cups within the 72-second time allowed before Campbell duplicated the feat on her second mount, bringing the total to 12 to advance to the deciding jump-off.
Across the short course, Campbell once again set the standard with an efficient, fault-free performance in 37.51 seconds aboard Cloud, the 10-year-old Dutch Sport Horse (Carleyle x Quiz) owned by SWS Training & Sales. The lead then changed hands a few times as Olympians such as Karl Cook (USA) with Heroes Kervec, Signe Ostby’s nine-year-old Selle Français gelding (Contendro*GFE x Conrad), and Cassio Rivetti (BRA) with AGS Casallida, the 10-year-old Holsteiner mare (Casall ASK x Calido I) he owns with Hidalgo LLC, took their turns for the top prize, stopping the clock in 36.10 and 35.99 seconds, respectively. Their time in the driver’s seat was short lived, however, as Camilo Rueda (COL) piloted Indus van het Keysereyck, the 18-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Carabas vd Wateringhoeve x Nabab de Reve) he owns with Santiago Rueda Ucros, to an even faster time of 35.58 seconds. Then, Amanda Gomez (USA) shaved a few more fractions of a second off the time to beat, stopping the clock in an incredible 35.28 seconds aboard Guibet P, Ferme Tandem’s 12-year-old Czech Warmblood gelding, achieving what finally seemed to be an insurmountable result.
Last to go, Campbell knew what she had to do with her second ride in Cosm Hesed. When the scoreboard showed 35.10 seconds, the victory was hers. Gomez finished in the runner-up spot, Rueda was third, Rivetti was fourth, Cook was fifth, and Campbell finished sixth with her first horse.
“It’s always a fortunate position to be last in a jump-off,” noted Campbell. “I knew I just had to go as fast as possible and hope that my horse left the jumps up. I have a lot of experience with Cosm Hesed, so I know him very well and I really trusted him today. I just galloped as much as possible and knew that whatever distance I hit, he always jumps. He always tries to jump clear, he loves jump-offs, and he loves going fast. This was really his jam today.”
“Everything you want in a speed horse, I had today,” she continued of the 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Christian 25 x Lord Z Z) owned by Mirasol Equestrian LLC that she has been partnered with for almost two years and was previously campaigned through the five-star level by fellow U.S. rider Kristen Vanderveen. “He’s very flexible over the jumps. I feel like I can always bend his body so as to not knock something down. He has a really big stride on his own. Usually on the first round of a course, I have to keep him a little bit contained. The minute you tell him he can go, he’s just gone.”
Originally hailing from the East Coast, Campbell has become a familiar face at HITS Del Mar. Along the way, she has had success at all of the HITS venues, making herself comfortable in the winner’s circle at each.
“I think I’ve done just about every HITS show ever; Culpeper, Vermont, Hudson Valley, Ocala, Chicago, Del Mar — Ive been to them all,” she shared. “I love each one, but this is maybe my favorite. The grass is fantastic; it stays great after so many horses. Plus, here in Del Mar, we’re five minutes from the beach and we are also an hour from my home, which is great.”
International show jumping continues on Friday, August 21, with the $31,020 John Deere CSI2* Winning Round, before culminating in the $90,000 CSI2* Grand Prix of Del Mar, presented by Maria Mendelsohn and Douglas Elliman, on Saturday, August 22. National competition, including WCHR action, continues through Sunday, August 23, featuring Friday’s $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Great American Insurance Group. For complete results, please visit www.showmanagementsystem.com.
