Andy Kocher and his own Le Conte clear an oxer on their way to the win in yesterday’s $25,000 Domino’s Pizza Grand Prix. Flashpoint Photography.
Friday’s $5,000 Open Jumper Welcome winner, Andy Kocher of Lake St. Louis, Missouri, and his own Le Conte came back for their second big win of the week in yesterday’s $25,000 Domino’s Pizza Grand Prix, besting a starting field of thirteen horse and rider teams.
The driving rain Saturday night definitely dampened the turn out for the final Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic season grand prix yesterday, but of those thirteen horses that toughened it out, six went on to the jump off phase of the competition.
“Even though the sun came out yesterday, we decided to start the class a bit later and move it to the sand ring,” said Gulf Coast Classic President, Bob Bell. “It definitely was something the riders wanted and it was in everyone’s best interest to do so,” he said.
Paul Jewel of Lambertville, New Jersey designed the course. “The height was definitely there,” said Kocher, “but he [Jewel] worked with us. The striding in the lines was right on, the turns were good and the whole course was very do-able,” he said. “He worked with us and not against us; he made the course challenging but safe; he did the right thing,” he added.
Kocher was the first to go on his own Le Conte in the first round and went clean with a time of 94.439 seconds, well within the 97 seconds time allowed. As the first to go in the jump off phase, the pair would also go clean and set the time to beat in 36.363 seconds. With five horse and rider teams yet to go, the class was still up for grabs.
Penny Brennan of Ocala, Florida and her own Sun Tzu were the next pair to enter the jump off after a clean first round time of 94.409 seconds. The pair had a rail down and posted a time of 35.07 seconds which would land them in fourth place overall.
Brooke Kemper from Culpeper, Virginia and her own Classified went clean in their first round with a time of 92.833 seconds and looked like they may win the class at the jump off with their clear round. However, their time of 36.714 seconds was just fractions of a second too slow and would land them in second place overall.
Christian Rogge of Spring, Texas and his own Lissa TSP turned in a clean first round effort in 90.075 seconds; however, four jump faults and a time of 40.687 seconds in the jump off phase would land them in fifth place overall.
Tommy-John Russell of Columbus, North Carolina and Lily Hahn’s Karenina turned in a clean first round effort in 93.098 seconds, but eight jump faults and a jump off time of 44.664 would see them finish in sixth place overall.
The last to go in the jump off phase was Michael Tokaruk of Germantown, Tennessee in the irons of Gunnar Paul Roeer’s Quinaro Alpha G. The pair went clean in their first round with a time of 90.948 seconds, and while their jump off round was fault-free, their time of 41.582 would see them finish in third place overall.
Brennan and her own Japan won seventh place after a first round time of 86.998 seconds and eight jump faults, and Danielle Grice of Northfield, Minnesota and Loretta Patterson’s Rapid Rewards placed eighth after a first round effort in 96.627 seconds and eight jump faults.
“The name Le Conte is French and I am pretty sure it means ‘the story’,” said Kocher. So here’s the story on Le Conte. Kocher bought the 13 year old Hollsteiner by Lancer 2 just this past October from Kristen VanderVeen. “I bought him at the Brownland show and he is by far the best horse I have ever had,” said Kocher. “He’s already won five grand prix for me since then,” he added.
What’s the story on Andy Kocher? Well, he calls Lake St. Louis, Missouri his home, but truth be told, he travels with ten to eleven horses in his rig which includes space for a Smart car. “I just drive it down the ramp and I’m totally self-sufficient wherever I go,” said Kocher. Kocher usually stays in hotels while on the road, but on those rare occasions when ‘Lady Luck’ is not on his side, “The trailer is roomy enough for me to crash in, if need be,” he said. “I live on the road; I trade horses and live off the prize money,” Kocher said. “I guess you could say I’m ‘living the dream’,” he laughed.
“I used to be a more ‘normal’ kind of trainer and took my students and horses on the road to shows, but I’ve made this change and it is really working for me,” he said.
Kocher showed at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic over the last three weeks with eleven horses and after buying, selling and trading some, he will be leaving with nine. “I have my new string with me,” he said.
“I went to my first Gulf Coast show when I was fifteen,” said Kocher. “I’m thirty now!” Kocher said. “I had a great time showing here this winter. The staff was great and really easy to work with,” he commented.
What’s Next?
The Gulf Coast Classic Circuit Awards will be announced tomorrow, so stand by for results. This has been a fantastic winter for the Gulf Coast Classic show team and they would like to thank all riders, owners, families, grooms, spectators, community, and the horses for being a part of this classic event!
Atlanta Spring Classic on Deck!
The Classic Company is on the move and heading to Conyers, Georgia, home of the Georgia International Horse Park and the Atlanta Spring Classic that kicks off on Wednesday!
The Gulf Coast Classic Company and the Classic Company is a USHJA’s Members Choice Award winner, recognized for producing top quality show jumping events in the United States. Together, they offer the best exhibitor-friendly, top quality hunter jumper events each winter. Please visit them on the web at www.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