Bryn Sadler pilots Mullentine Imperial to the win in Sunday’s $35,000 Cedar Street Advisors Grand Prix.
Week III of the Gulf Coast Winter Classic Circuit welcomed beautiful weather, a new influx of riders and barns from around the country as well as Pan American Games Course Designer Michel Vaillancort of Aiken, South Carolina, sponsor Cedar Street Advisors from Atlanta, Georgia, top hunter courses and another great week on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Vaillancort commented, “The grass turf is excellent and the horses are really happy on this natural footing. This grand prix field is very forgiving and it really is what sets it apart from the other shows,” he said. “That being said, the new footing in the Main Hunter Ring, warm up rings and in Jumper 1 is excellent,” said Vaillancort.
“I think that the addition of KCR footing was a huge improvement in the technical part of this venue,” Vaillancort commented. “Footing is such an important aspect of our sport and the riders are difficult to please, for obvious reasons. Good horses are hard to come by and the last thing you want to do is abuse them on bad footing,” he said. “This footing creates a fantastic ‘in between’ – it is forgiving but not deep and not too hard. It takes away the abrasiveness of the lime that we sometimes use in the sand which keeps it tight but it doesn’t really move. The fiber in the sand is very similar to a natural root system because it holds the position of the sand. It really makes a difference. I would endorse it,” he said. “This is as good as it comes,” he said.
Tucci, the Official Custom and Ready to Wear Boot of the Gulf Coast Winter Classic, presented the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby award to Emily Hertz of Eads, Tennessee on Friday. Hertz also won the Kastel Denmark Hunter Style of Riding Award for her efforts.
The $15,000 Horseflight Open Welcome was won by well-known equestrian Laura Linback of Long Grove, Illinois and Woodrun’s HH Dauphin and Sunday saw Bryn Sadler of Santa Fe, New Mexico win the $35,000 Cedar Street Advisors Grand Prix before packed crowds. Sadler was also awarded the Kastel Denmark Jumper Style of Riding Award in addition to a gift certificate to The Gulfport Shed Barbeque and Blues Joint.
Rebecca Baker of West Chester, Pennsylvania won the Kastel Denmark Hunter Style of Riding Award for her performance in the 3’3″ Amateur Owner Hunters 18-35. Baker has been a consistent winner at the Gulf Coast Winter Classics. “Rebecca demonstrates commendable sportsmanship, is always turned out well and turns in winning round after winning round,” commented Bob Bell, President of the Gulf Coast and Classic Companies.
On Deck!
Week IV is underway and Friday is Derby Day! The $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Tucci, will be the featured hunter event in the Main Hunter Ring. The $15,000 Horseflight Open Welcome takes place Friday afternoon.
Sunday the $35,000 Budweiser Grand Prix takes center stage at 2 pm Central time! Shownet.biz will be videoing all Grand Prix, so if you can’t be on the Gulf, be sure to tune in. The Gulf Coast Winter Classic’s Official Livestream partner is streamhorsetv.com. Click here to watch top show jumping events: http://www.streamhorsetv.com/events/.
This week, riders will be treated to international course designer Manuel Esparza of Mexico City, Mexico. Esparza was an Assistant Designer for the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing in 2008. “Manuel is a wonderful course designer and it is a pleasure to welcome him to the Gulf Coast,” commented Classic Company and Gulf Coast Classic Company Technical Coordinator, Allen Rheinheimer. Rheinheimer is the Technical Coordinator for this year’s World Cup Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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