Frances Land and Vieanne Victorious in the $35,000 EMO Grand Prix

Frances Land and Vieanne clear an oxer in the $35,000 EMO Grand Prix. Flashpoint Photography.

It was a sweet victory for Emory University sophomore Frances Land of Alpharetta, Georgia and her own Vieanne when they won yesterday’s $35,000 EMO Grand Prix.

It was quite a week for the Land family since father Jay Land won the $25,000 EMO Welcome on Friday and his daughter Frances was second.  And Sunday’s grand prix saw the father-daughter team again battling it out for the win.

Manuel Esparza of Mexico City, Mexico designed the course.  Esparza was an Assistant Designer for the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing in 2008.

“I think Manuel [Esparza] did a great job designing for this group of horses.  He’s really good at building on a wide open field and it’s such a giant field to ride on,” said Land.  “This was my first grand prix in Gulfport and it was a nice intro grand prix for me and Vieanne,” said Land.  “I think we had a really nice competition for the riders and it was interesting to see both a father-daughter team and a father-son team, plus an excellent professional rider, all ride against one another for the jump off,” said Esparza.

Of the thirteen horse and rider combinations in the class, only five went clean.  Frances Land was first to go in the jump off, setting the time to beat at 34.927 seconds.  “The jump off was so crazy!  It was so much fun!  I knew my Dad was going to be in it and Holly and I knew they were going to go fast and try to chase me.  So I needed to just lay down a really good trip and we did it. So, that was great!” exclaimed Land.  Esparza commented, “I designed the track very technical with just a few related distances which turned out to be very challenging.  I think everybody was very happy with the results; I am,” he added.

Paradox, owned by Thomas Bruinsma and ridden by Theo Genn of Lebanon, Ohio, were next to go in the order, but with four jump faults and a time of 39.137 seconds, Land held the lead while Genn and Paradox finished in fourth.  Jay Land of Alpharetta, Georgia aboard his own Nepal was next to go and looked to take the lead, but with a time of 35.537 seconds, would settle for third place overall.  Cookie Monster, owned and ridden by Wilhelm Genn of Lebanon, Ohio, was next to go and after eight jump faults and a time of 40.591 seconds, would finish in fifth place overall.  Holly Shepherd of Grand Bay, Alabama, in the irons aboard Loretta Peterson’s Frequent Flyer, was in the enviable last to go spot and turned in a clean round.  However, their time of 35.446 seconds was not quite fast enough to beat Frances Land and saw them finish in the reserve position.

“The crowd was just amazing. They were all cheering and the energy made it really fun. The field is so nice and Vieanne just jumped it so nicely,” commented Land.  “We show at Spruce Meadows and this is really a great prep for us.  We’re really comfortable on this turf field,” she added.

Esparza agreed and added, “The improvements, the barns and the entire facility at Harrison County Fairgrounds are amazing!  Despite some less than perfect weather earlier in the week, the grand prix field held up really well,” he said.  “We had a great crowd watching the grand prix and the stands were just packed.  I think we showed the audience a great competition,” he said.

Frances Land is a sophomore studying sociology at Emerson University in Atlanta, Georgia and has her sights set on law school.  She will be flying back to show this weekend for the third week of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic and plans on competing in the Welcome and Sunday’s $50,000 CWD Grand Prix.

FREE LIVE WEB STREAMING OF ALL WELCOME AND GRAND PRIX CLASSES!

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic is proud to offer everyone the opportunity to watch show jumping action LIVE! Click on this link and catch the action LIVE and FOR FREE!

The complete schedule for free, live, web casting is as follows:

Gulf Coast Magnolia Classic III
Friday, February 21 at 3:00 pm $25,000 Welcome
Sunday February 23 at 2:00 pm $50,000 CWD Grand Prix

Gulf Coast Mid-Winter Classic IV
Friday February 28 at 3:00 pm $25,000 Welcome
Sunday March 2 at 2:00 pm $50,000 Grand Prix

Gulf Coast Sunshine Classic V
Friday March 7 at 8:00 am USHJA International Hunter Derby
Friday March 7 at 3:00 pm $25,000 Welcome
Sunday March 9 at 2:00 pm $77,700 Governor’s Cup Grand Prix

Gulf Coast Finale VI
Sunday March 16 at 2:00 pm $25,000 Grand Prix

Make sure to follow the IDK Media Group on Twitter at twitter@idkmediagroup.

There is no better place to watch the action than the VIP tent.  Tables are only $325 a week and include complimentary wine, beer and hors d’oeuvres during the Welcome classes and Sunday’s luncheon catered by the Official Restaurant Partners of the Gulf Coast Winter Classic along with a complimentary bottle of champagne. Make sure to see Jonathan in the show office to secure your table today!

The Gulf Coast Classic Company and the Classic Company is a USHJA’s Members Choice Award winner, recognized for producing top quality show jumping events in the United States.  Together, they offer the best exhibitor-friendly, top quality hunter jumper events each winter.  Please visit them on the web at www.ClassicCompany.com or call them at 843.768.5503.

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

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