Wilhelm Genn & Happy Z Double Down, Banking Two $25k Prix at Gulf Coast Winter Classics Fifth Week

Wilhelm Genn & Happy Z ©Flashpoint Photography

GULFPORT, MS – MAR. 14, 2010 – Lebanon, OH based Wilhelm Genn has done it again, winning both the $25,000 Nordic Lights Grand Prix and the $25,000 Budweiser Grand Prix during the fifth week of the 2010 Gulf Coast Winter Classics.

International great Dave Ballard took up the reins of course designing for the double prix week. For Thursday’s $25,000 Nordic Lights event, the co-creator of the 2008 Olympic layouts built a 15 effort test full of curves that had some riders struggling to keep the horses balanced. Add to this the deceptive appearance several obstacles presented and competitors faced quite the challenge to clear the course in less than 96 seconds. “Sometimes when you have a lower oxer and then a higher vertical the horses jump a little flat and then don’t get enough height for the vertical,” Genn offered as explanation for one troublesome spot. From the 25 starters Genn and the Laura Ryan-Barnaclo owned Chantal were third in the order and first to make a clear run, finishing in 88.191. Five spots later owner-rider Kari Frey of Fulshear, TX aboard Solinus guaranteed a jump off round with their clear time of 87.750.  Not long after New Jersey’s Amanda Flint with her mount Tiffany E VDL joined the list to return with a faultless ride in 86.677. And then there was Happy Z, Genn’s fearless 12-year-old Dutch bred mare. “With Happy, I looked where I went with Chantal, I went really tight with him, and I didn’t think I could stay on the inside track so I decided to just keep her straight for 1 to 2 extra strides, balance her and then turn her real quickly to get a run back to the oxer,” Genn explained his strategy for that last vital line. The duo’s time was 90.263.

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Tags: Classic Company, equestrian competitions, equestrian disciplines, Grand Prix, Gulf Coast Winter Classics, hunter/jumper, Show Jumping

Genn Family Dominates Jumper Rings at Gulf Coast Winter Classics Week IV

Theo Genn & Paradox. All photos ©Flashpoint Photography.

GULFPORT, MS – MAR. 8, 2010 – Lebanon, OH based Wilhelm Genn commented earlier in the season that a perfect event would have three big triumphs, one for each of his sons and one of his own. Week four of the Gulf Coast Winter Series found Genn’s fondest wish coming true.

In Thursday afternoon’s $5000 Lucky Sevens Open Jumper Welcome Stake it was Theo Genn riding the Thomas Bruinsma owned Paradox, a 10-year-old Zweibruecker German Warmblood gelding, who bested both the field of 23 competitors and the technical layout of course designer Allen Rheinheimer. “I feel like I got lucky. He’s [Paradox] still young and just moving into this level so there were several who could have beaten us. He’s still developing speed,” a very modest Theo said after a victory gallop.

Rheinheimer had an 82 second allowance in which riders were expected to weave their way successfully from one end of the vast grass field to the other while clearing 12 obstacles [15 jumping efforts] that included a double vertical combo and a triple combo of oxer into two verticals out. “It was a snaky ride, but pretty straight forward,” Theo said of their clean 79.284 first round. Eight more horses would join Paradox in the jump off, among them Theo’s dad Wilhelm with the up and coming mount Loredo, owned by Micaela Kennedy. The abbreviated 8 fence/46 second layout had a beat the clock theme as its design was one for a quick pace and quick thinking. While speed was not an issue for most, being delicate over the plank vertical was. In total, only 3 riders had a second clear run. “You had to be careful and fast. Paradox was great!” a happy Theo said of their winning clear time of 39.332.

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Tags: Classic Company, equestrian competitions, equestrian disciplines, Grand Prix, Gulf Coast Winter Classics, hunter/jumper, Show Jumping