Top hunter, jumper, and equitation riders returned to the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois on June 4, 2025, for the kickoff of the three-week Lamplight Spring Spectacular series. As part of a summer-long circuit taking place at the iconic HITS venue, the week saw a phenomenal return of elite sport with event highlights including the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby where Melanie Wright reigned supreme, as well as the $35,000 John Deere Grand Prix dominated by Shannon Sullivan.
Course designer Catalina “Catsy” Cruz Harris (MEX) delivered thrilling courses throughout the week in the venue’s Grand Prix Ring, but the action came to a head on Saturday afternoon, June 7, as show jumping athletes put the finishing touches on their warm up for the $35,000 John Deere Grand Prix. Cruz set a high bar for the contenders in her opening round, which ultimately produced only two clear jumping efforts to advance to the jump-off. The short course came down to a duel between Shannon Sullivan and Maggie Jayne. Piloting Alex Jayne’s nine-year-old American Warmblood mare by Chill RZ, Easter Lily ODF, Jayne suffered a single rail on the course with a time of 40.397 seconds. While Sullivan also incurred a four-fault score on her own 18-year-old Polish Warmblood gelding, Downtown’s Main Event, her time of 35.980 seconds took the lead with the faster time. As the fastest four-falter in the opening round, Lisa Goldman-Smolen once again found herself with a top placing aboard her own eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion by Heartbreaker, Romeo B.
Highlighting the hunter competition, a large field of 33 pairings tackled Tom Urban’s classic round track in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, before the top 12 highest-scoring duos returned for the handy round. With three entries in the class and three stellar rounds, Melanie Wright piloted all of her entries forward into the handy round and dominated doubly as she took home both the first- and second-place positions. Her winning round came in the irons of Wymore Farm LLC’s 11-year-old Warmblood gelding by Cyrano VDV Z, Game Day, while SSAM Equine LLC’s 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding by De Niro, Denero, landed in second. Just off the leading scores, Tina Judge-Boyle rounded out the top three on Amy Martin’s 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Diarado, Afelix Dell’A.
The week featured a plethora of additional star-studded show jumping classes starting with Wednesday’s $2,500 Adequan Open Welcome Stake, where Alexis Bodo and Timeless took home the top prize. Sullivan earned her first win of the week with the impressive Downtown’s Main Event as the winner in the $20,000 Alliant Private Client Jumper Cup, taking place as Thursday’s premier event. Bodo was back in quick time in Friday’s $10,000 STX Open Speed class, stopping the timers in a blazing 59.460 seconds with Colton Playtime for the win. The final competition day of the week wasted no time getting into show-stopping action as Tiffany Hammack and Louisiana Chavannaise scored the win in the $15,000 Horseflight Jumper Classic.
The second week of competition in the Lamplight Spring Spectacular series will resume on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, with even more exciting sport. For more results, please click HERE.
