Jordan Coyne and her own Lazaro fly over an oxer in last night’s $45,000 Cedar Street Advisors Grand Prix to close out the 2014 Classic Company show season. Flashpoint Photography.
Jordan Coyne of New Port Ritchey, Florida rode her own Lazaro to the win in last night’s $45,000 Cedar Street Advisors Grand Prix, presented by EMO, under the lights in the Olympic Arena at the Georgia International Horse Park.
Twenty-one horse and rider teams took to the Olympic Arena last night to compete in the final grand prix of the 2014 Classic Company show season. The $45,000 Cedar Street Advisors Grand Prix, presented by EMO, was designed by French-Canadian Michel Vaillancourt, former Chef d’Equipe of the Canadian Olympic team and 2015 Pan American Games Course Designer.
Vaillancourt set the time allowed at 81 seconds and clearly put the riders to the test as there were no clear rounds until the final four trips. Aaron Vale of Williston, Florida in the irons of Sarah Turner’s Acolina R was the first to go clean in a time of 78.591 seconds and the crowds went wild!
Jordan Coyne and her own Lazaro followed Vale in the jump order. “This was a very tough course tonight,” she said. “The triple was really a scopey test and the whole course asked a lot of tough questions,” she added. Nonetheless, Coyne went clean in a time of 79.161 seconds and set the stage for a jump-off showdown.
Lisa Goldman of Hawthorne Woods, Illinois was up next in the irons of Mary Goldman’s Centurion B, winner of the Week II Welcome class. Goldman has been on a roll at the Atlanta Fall Classics winning the Week I Welcome Class, the $45,000 EMO Grand Prix in addition to the Week II Welcome. However, a heartbreak rail at the final fence would result in four faults and a time of 76.064 seconds leaving them the fastest of the four-faulters and third place finisher.
The jump off time was set at 50 seconds and Vale was the first to go. Vale is a grand prix veteran and one of the most winning jumper riders in the country. He and Acolina R turned in a clean jump off round in a time of 37.821 seconds to the roar of the crowd.
Coyne and Lazaro were the final horse and rider team to tackle the course and the crowd was on the edge of their seats. As Coyne crossed the timers, fault free, the crowd erupted in cheers. The pair turned in a clean time of 35.190 seconds, taking the win and moving Vale to the second place ribbon. “Quite honestly, I thought I would finish in second. Aaron is so fast,” she said. “I didn’t know I won until I went through those timers and heard the crowd cheering. It was really cool,” she said with a smile.
Fourth place was awarded to Penny Brennan of Ocala, Florida and her own Sun Tzu who turned in a four fault, first round in a time of 77.874 seconds. Cassevel, owned by Maddie Skimming and ridden by Derek Peterson of Archer, Florida, finished in fifth with four faults and a time of 78.477 seconds. Daniel Geitner of Aiken, South Carolina, aboard the Kenwood Syndicate’s Kenwood, finished in sixth place with four faults in a time of 78.528 seconds.
Vale returned to the winner’s circle, this time aboard Troy Glaus’ Quidam’s Good Luck, for seventh place honors after the pair turned in a four fault round in a time of 78.913 seconds. Vale also picked up the eighth place ribbon with 2VR Showjumpers’ Zippo II in a time of 79.063 seconds and four jump faults.
Bonnie Smith’s Tuya, ridden by Megan Wexler of Reddick, Florida, took ninth place after turning in a first round effort in 82.417 seconds and six jump faults.
Riley Newsome of Mendham, New Jersey, aboard James Maillet’s Sunny Face G, received tenth place honors with a time of 82.754 seconds, four jump faults and two time faults. Goldman picked up eleventh and twelfth places with her own Morocco and Zacantos Z, respectively.
Kastel Style of Denmark Jumper Style Award
The Classic Company staff chose Jordan Coyne of New Port Ritchey, Florida as this week’s recipient of the Kastel Denmark Style of Riding Award for the jumpers Week II of the Atlanta Fall Classic. Kastel Denmark, the Official Jacket of the Atlanta Fall Classics, will provide Coyne with an embroidered soft shell Kastel Denmark jacket. Jordan was chosen by Classic Company staff as having consistently shown the best American style of riding and as someone who possesses the respectful, dignified, courteous and workmanlike manner of a true sportsman in the jumper divisions. Congratulations, Jordan!
Flashpoint Photography News
As a note to all, this will be the last weekend Flashpoint Photography will be photographing the Classic Company shows. Be sure to place your orders now.
9 Weeks + 1 Circuit = a Perfect Gulf Coast 10!
The Pensacola and Gulf Coast Winter Classic prize lists are online and Pensacola is on deck! What are you doing this winter? The Classic Company is going to the beach! Join them on the Gulf of Mexico for the best in show jumping action! This circuit has received rave reviews and equestrians travel from around the country to get their “leg up” on the competition. After three beautiful weeks on the Gulf in Pensacola, Florida, only an hour and a half drive away is the Gulf Coast Winter Classics, in Gulfport, Mississippi, consistent winners of the USHJA Members Choice Award and home to the best footing, best show management and top prize money around this winter!
Come show on the Gulf Coast with the Classic Company this winter and discover your new favorite show!
The 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 Classic Company and its exhibitor-friendly, top quality hunter jumper events, please visit them at 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