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King of Dash for the Cash Kocher Wins $10,000 Horseflight Open Welcome

Andy Kocher and Ora Del Te Di La San Giorgio.

The Week VI $10,000 Horseflight Open Welcome took place Friday and set the stage for big time show jumping action as the Gulf Coast Winter Classic headed into its final weekend for 2016 in Gulfport.

Twenty horse and rider teams tackled the course set on the world class grass grand prix field, considered the best in the United States by Olympic course designers.

The first round was set at 78 seconds and the second round at 47 seconds which saw only nine rides go double clean. Andy Kocher of Ocala, Florida and his own Leconte were the first to go in the class and turned in a clean first round in a time of 66.569 seconds. Their second clear round in a time of 38.991 seconds set the new time to beat.

Lauren Hester of Lexington, Kentucky and Hester Equestrian, LLC’s Wender followed Kocher with a clear first round in a time of 66.020 seconds.  Challenging Kocher’s time, their second round was also clean and their time of 35.617 seconds set the new time to beat and pushed Kocher and Leconte into second position.

Kocher returned to the grand prix field, this time in the irons of Eagle Valley Partners’ C’Havinia, and posted a clear first round in a time of 69.364 seconds. Their clear second round in a time of 35.993 would have seen them finish in third place overall.

Christopher Schroeder of Wellington, Florida and Scott Head’s Carjo Z followed with double clear rounds in times of 69.503 seconds and 40.737 seconds which would not beat Hester’s time, and the pair would find themselves finishing in ninth place overall.

Kocher and Eagle Valley Partners’ Coconut followed Schroeder with double clear rounds in times of 69.55 and 36.677 seconds, respectively. They would finish in fourth place overall.

Hester returned to the arena with her second ride of three in the irons of Hester Equestrian, LLC’s Lorstakov. The pair posted double clear rounds in times of 68.668 seconds and 37.705 seconds, which would see them finish in sixth place overall.

Penny Brennan of Buhl, Alabama, winner of last week’s $10,000 Horseflight Open Welcome, was up next in the irons of Meco Equestrian, LLC’s Cord 11. Although the pair turned in a clear first round in a time of 70.551, four jump faults at the first fence in their second round in a time of 43.852 seconds would see them finish in eleventh place overall.

Schroeder returned to the grand prix field, this time in the irons of GA Performance Horses, LLC’s Diamant De Revel for the next clear first round in a time of 69.574 seconds. Their second round in a time of 38.116 seconds would see them finish in seventh place overall.

Kocher and his own Red Lady followed Schroeder with a clear first round in a time of 67.031 seconds. However, four jump faults and a time of 35.226 seconds in their second round would see them finish in tenth place overall.

Hester and Hester Equestrian LLC’s Clueless P followed Kocher and turned in a clear first round in a time of 67.639 seconds. Their clear second round in a time of 36.972 seconds would see them finish with a fifth place overall.

Kocher and his own Ora Del Te Di La San Giorgio were the last to go in the class and turned in a clear first round in a time of 72.644 seconds. They needed to beat Hester and Wender’s second round time of 35.617 seconds for the win, and by fractions of a second, they did! The pair posted a clear second round in a time of 35.483 seconds, taking the win and giving the second place to Hester and Wender.

All press and sponsorship inquiries should be directed to Lisa Engel at lisa@classiccompany.com.

ClassicCompany.com
GulfCoastClassicCompany.com
Phone/Fax: (843) 768-5503
Post Office Box 1311, Johns Island, SC 29457

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