Shannon Hicks and C’Havinia are greeted in the winner’s circle by sponsor Pensacola Sports [Mr. and Mrs. Ray Palmer and Mr. and Mrs. Jean Clark] and Pam Maldwin, Director of the Escambia County Equestrian Center [photo credit Bob Bell]
Jumper action closed out Week III of the Gulf Coast Pensacola Winter Classic Circuit with the $25,000 Pensacola Sports Grand Prix presented by Nutrena Saturday night as well as the Arenus Jr./Amateur Jumper Classics and Elite Equine Sport Horse Medicine & Lameness Child/Adult Jumper Classics on Sunday.
Saturday night welcomed Shannon Hicks of Lake St. Louis, Missouri riding Helen Gilbert’s C’Havinia to the winner’s circle after their double clear rounds in the Grand Prix finale that saw eleven horse and rider teams go for the blue.
Hicks and C’Havinia were the first to turn in a clear first round effort in a time of 76.965 seconds, well within the time allowed of 85 seconds. It looked as if there would be no jump off round until Christian Rogge of Spring, Texas and GK Performance Horses’ Kahlua turned in a clear first round effort in a time of 79.913 seconds.
The jump off round was set with a time allowed of 42 seconds and Hicks and C’Havinia were first up. As first to go, they had four faults with a time of 29.955 seconds, leaving the win open for Rogge and Kahlua. However, as last to go, they too had four jump faults and with their time of 39.051 seconds would finish in second place, leaving Hicks and C’Havinia the winners!
Hicks returned for third place with the fastest four fault first round in the irons of Helen Gilbert’s Al Pachini. They posted a first round time of 75.194 seconds.
Fourth place went to last week’s Sidelines’ Grand Prix winner, Mary Lisa Leffler of Brookeville, Maryland and Rolling Acres’ Bling Bling for their four fault first round in a time of 75.906 seconds.
Juan Lavieri and his own Don Pedro placed fifth with their four fault first round in a time of 72.629 seconds. Rogge returned for a sixth place ribbon in the irons of his own Mojo TSP after posting a four fault first round in a time of 79.577 seconds. Hicks picked up a seventh with Helen Gilbert’s Emir for their four fault first round in a time of 79.583 seconds and Sarah Dees of Chatom, Alabama placed eighth place with her own Rico S. Hailey Rogge of Lafayette, Louisiana and her own Zine Dine finished in ninth place overall.
The Arenus Jr./Amateur Owner Jumper Classic took place on Sunday and awarded Jennie Nolen of San Antonio, Texas and Daryl Nolen’s Quasi Modo II the blue ribbon for their double clear rounds. Rico S, owned and ridden by Sara Dees of Chatom, Alabama, took the second place ribbon and Ashley Foster of Brookeville, Maryland piloted Rolling Acres’ Carlsberg to a third place finish. Fourth was awarded to Heather Zuber of Zionsville, Indiana and her own Firebird and she also picked up a fifth place ribbon with her own Phoenix. Ashley Shaw of Ellisville, Missouri and her own Capua were awarded sixth place.
The $1,500 Elite Equine Sport Horse Medicine & Lameness Child/Adult Jumper Classic saw Austin Cumming of Madison, Georgia and Steven Turilli’s Raphael IV in the winner’s circle, besting a field of twelve horse and rider teams.
Second place was awarded to Abigail Holloway of Eatonville, Georgia and Sarah Milliren’s Zanardil and third place went to Hannah Showell of Ocean City, Maryland and HNS LLC’s Nashville. Caroline Michele Dugas of Vestavia, Alabama and Helene Jones’ Skyfall placed fourth and Nelson Long of Signal Mountain, Tennessee and his own Merlerault were awarded fifth place.
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