Penny Brennan and Japan.
Penny Brennan of Ocala, Florida and her own Japan won Week II’s $15,000 Horseflight Open Welcome and were back again to win the Gulf Coast Winter Classic Circuit’s final week’s $5,000 Horseflight Open Welcome in the recently Kruse Cushion Ride resurfaced Jumper I arena.
Thirty horse and rider teams took to the course designed by Allen Rheinheimer of Zionsville, Indiana. Rheinheimer is the Technical Coordinator for the World Cup scheduled for Las Vegas, Nevada next month.
Holly Shepherd of Grand Bay, Alabama and Audrey Muscari’s Cartograna were first to go in the class and turned in a clean first round in a time of 68.088 seconds, well within the 77 seconds time allowed. Their second round was also clear and their time of 38.298 seconds set the new time to beat but 29 horse and rider had yet to tackle the course.
The unstoppable Andy Kocher of Lake St. Louis, Missouri followed Shepherd in the irons of Eagle Valley Partners, LLC’s C’Havinia. The pair turned in double clear rounds in times of 69.241 and 37.517 seconds, respectively, which took the lead.
Jordan Gilchrist of Flower Mound, Texas followed Kocher with Anna Beth Athey’s Serena and turned in clear back to back rounds in times of 68.669 and 32.527 seconds, respectively. The class was shaping up with Kocher in the lead, Gilchrist in second and Shepherd in third place.
Then Amanda Forte of Glenmoore, Pennsylvania and Cerulean Stables, LLC’s Rincoola Black Adder entered the ring and took the lead after posting double clear rounds in times of 67.472 and 36.327 seconds, respectively.
Colleen Acosta of Roanoke, Texas and Anastasia Stewart’s Diamond were the next to post double clear rounds with times of 68.039 and 37.364 seconds, and looked to finish in the ribbons.
Brennan and her own Japan were next to go and blazed through the course fault free in times of 64.285 and 31.917 seconds, taking the lead and setting the new time to beat.
Tiffany Cambria of Middleburg, Virginia and Amanda Hood’s Vavoom posted double clear rounds in times of 66.825 and 36.743 seconds, respectively, and would finish in the ribbons.
Forte was back, this time with Cerulean Stables, LLC’s Hhs Louis, and posted clear rounds in times of 71.726 and 37.255 seconds, respectively.
Acosta returned, this time in the irons of Arion Legends, LLC’s Cantu 5, and turned in double clear rounds of 67.208 and 40.455 seconds, respectively. With only nine remaining, it looked unlikely that anyone would beat Brennan and Japan’s second round time.
Jason Berry of Verona, Virginia and Oak Ledge Farm’s Egano Van Kadel were the next to turn in double clear rounds in times of 69.564 and 38.265 seconds, respectively, which would see them in the ribbons, but not in the winner’s circle.
Kocher and his own Alter Ego were next to turn in double clear rounds in times of 71.010 and 35.466 seconds, which would not be fast enough to beat Brennan and Japan.
Brennan and her own Sun Tzu were the next to turn in a clean first round in a time of 67.882 seconds. However, four faults in their second round in a time of 37.519 seconds would see her second ride out of the ribbons.
Final results shaped up with Brennan winning the class with her own Japan, followed by Andy Kocher and his own Alter Ego. Amanda Forte and Cerulean Stables LLC’s Rincoola Black Adder finished in third followed by Tiffany Cambria and Amanda Hood’s Vavoom. Forte returned for fifth place with Cerulean Stables’ HHs Louis. Jordan Gilchrist and Anna Beth Athey’s Balizo Z finished in sixth place and Colleen Acosta and Anastasia Stewart’s Diamond received seventh place honors. Kocher picked up eighth with Eagle Valley Partner’s C’Havinia and ninth went to Jason Berry of Verona, Virginia and Oak Ledge Farm’s Egano Van Kadal. Tenth place went to Holly Shepherd and Audrew Muscari’s Cartograna. Eleventh and twelfth places were awarded to Acosta and Arion Legends LLC’s Cantu 5 and Taylor Flury of Minooka, Illinois and Celine Gorcean Clancy’s Sovereign.
The Gulf Coast Classic Company is a USHJA’s Members Choice Award winner, recognized for producing top quality show jumping events in the United States. For more information on Gulf Coast Classic Company and its exhibitor-friendly, top quality hunter jumper events, please visit them at www.gulfcoastclassiccompany.com.
All sponsorship, marketing and press inquiries should be directed to Lisa Engel, Sponsorship, Marketing and Public Relations Director, at lisa@classiccompany.com.
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See you at the ring,
Bob Bell
The Classic Company, Ltd.
www.ClassicCompany.com
Phone/FAX: (843) 768-5503
Post Office Box 1311 Johns Island SC 29457