Gemma Paternoster pilots Osiris over the Antares oxer to the win in the $25,000 Bohicket Marina Grand Prix. Flashpoint Photography.
Osiris is considered to be the King of the Egyptian gods and the horse Osiris lived up to the name when he ruled the grand prix and won last night’s $25,000 Bohicket Marina Grand Prix to wrap up the Charleston Summer Classic.
British show jumping superstar, Gemma Paternoster, now of Wellington, Florida, sat in the first to go spot with Osiris, owned by Julia Harrison-Lee, ahead of the Texas rider contingency. The pair turned in a clean round in a time of 84.198 seconds, well within the time allowed of 94 seconds.
Frank Owens of San Antonio, Texas was next to go in the irons of DS Holdngs, LLC’s MTM Twenties Girl and also turned in a clean first round effort in a time of 88.758 seconds setting the stage for a Texas showdown in the jump-off.
Flower Mound, Texas’ Jordan Gilchrist was next to go in the irons of Shawn Hodgen’s Okaletto. Although the pair had no jump faults, their time of 95.345 seconds incurred two time faults and the pair would finish in ninth place overall.
The next clear round would come three trips later when Paternoster returned to the ring, this time aboard the mare Zonneglans, who turned in a clean first round effort in time of 84.534 seconds.
Texas was on the heels of Paternoster, when San Antonio’s Whitney Owens entered the ring on DS Holdings LLC’s S & L Shoe Guru. The pair turned in a clean ride in a time of 84.664 seconds and Whitney would join her brother Frank again the UK’s Paternoster.
Gilchrist was next to go, this time in the irons of Jenny Booth’s Lucie De Brecey. The pair was victorious in the $5,000 Open Welcome on Wednesday and looked to ensure that they would join fellow Texans and Paternoster in the jump off when they posted a clean round in a time of 83.816 seconds.
Paternoster returned to the Grand Prix arena with her third ride of the day, Figarro D, owned by Julia Harrison-Lee. A clean round in a time of 84.664 seconds guaranteed their entry to the final show down.
Nashville, Tennessee’s Haley Lubow rode Krisley Hill Equine, Inc.’s Calligraphy to a clean first round effort in 88.678 seconds, joining the UK and Texas riders in the jump off.
Christian Rogge of Spring, Texas in the irons of his own Lissa TSP was next to go clean and did so in a time of 86.419 seconds which was the final ride to go clean in the first round.
The jump off time was set at 45 seconds. Paternoster was first to go in the irons of Harrison-Lee’s Osiris and turned in a clean first round effort in 40.119 seconds, setting the time to beat. “I wanted my first ride to be fast enough to put pressure on the others and force mistakes,” commented Paternoster. That approach worked. “He [Osiris] has such a massive stride, amazing scope and can make such tight, fast turns,” said Paternoster. “I just left him in his rhythm and didn’t interfere,” she continued. “I just let him be awesome… and he was,” she smiled.
Frank Owens and MTM Twenties Girl were next to go but eight jump faults in a time of 41.327 seconds would see them finish in seventh place overall. Zonneglans and Paternoster were next to go and suffered a rail at the final fence, incurring four jump faults in a time of 41.166 seconds. “I was trying to beat my time [Osiris] with her and she really flew,” said Paternoster. “But I think dropping that rail helped me ride my last horse better [Figarro D],” she added. Zonneglans would finish in fourth place overall.
Whitney Owens and DS Holdings, LLC’s S & L Shoe Guru were next to go and incurred four jump faults in a time of 40.699 seconds, which would see the pair finish in third place overall.
Gilchrist and Lucie De Brecey were next to go but eight jump faults and two time faults with a time of 46.226 seconds would see them finish in eighth place overall.
Paternoster and her final ride, Figarro D, owned by Julia Harrison-Lee, were up next and turned in a clean effort in a time of 40.584 seconds. For now the pair sat in second place but there were still two rides from Texas to go.
Lubow and Krisley Hill Equine Inc.’s Calligraphy received four jump faults and one time fault after posting a time of 45.555 seconds and would finish in sixth place overall.
Rogge sat in the enviable last to go position with his own Lissa TSP, but four faults at the fourth fence in a time of 42.360 seconds would see the pair finish in fifth place overall, leaving the UK rider in the first, second and fourth place finishings with Osiris, Figarro D and Zonneglans, respectively, all owned by Julia Harrison-Lee.
“I had such a great time here,” said Paternoster. “Being able to hone in on two classes a week and really concentrate for those classes and be very successful was such a treat. I could have gone to another show, but I wanted to look after myself better, try to incorporate beautiful places like Charleston in my show schedule and I love the beach,” she said. “It’s hard to achieve balance in this industry, but this show helped me do it for the past two weeks,” she said. “I want to come back next year and bring a string of horses,” she added.
“I loved how the barns are right next to the rings, and the trails are right here too. I did a lot of riding on the trails which was great for my horses,” Paternoster continued. “The footing here is really nice. It doesn’t shift, you don’t slip; it’s really safe and very nice on the horses’ feet,” she said. “This was really a great show for both me and my horses,” she said.
Bob Bell, President of Classic Company, said, “Some people call it a horse show but I call it one big, fun party with my friends who have horses. We started this show 22 years ago by inviting a few of my friends to come and compete. Twenty-two years later, the tradition continues and it looks as if I have a lot more friends!” he said.
Today wraps up the Charleston Summer Classic so stay tuned for the Grand Champion report which is on deck!
The Charleston Summer Classic
Conde Nast calls Charleston the top destination location, which anyone who has shown at the Charleston Summer Classic knows. For twenty-two years, the Charleston Summer Classic has been offering riders, their families and friends the opportunity to jump the waves and the jumps. Mullet Hall Equestrian Center, located on Johns Island, South Carolina, is twenty minutes from downtown historic Charleston with its abundance of historic southern mansions, fabulous seafood, dining, art galleries, horse and buggy tours and world class shopping.
Make sure to book your condos now for next year. The dates are July 7-11 and the 14 through the 18th! Book now before the rate increase in 2015!
On Deck!
Everyone is enjoying the summer but fall will be here before you know it! And as the summer transitions to autumn, all eyes will be on the prestigious Atlanta Fall Classic set to kick off on November 5th through the 16th at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, Georgia. The Classic Company calls the Olympic venue home for two weeks each year and welcomes new and familiar faces to the iconic show grounds.
Finals events, such as the Pre-Green Hunter Finals and the National Classic Equitation Finals, will highlight the two weeks of show jumping in addition to the crowning of the Classic Circuit Champions.
Riders are traveling from across the country to participate in these events. If you haven’t checked your status, now is the time to do so!
Week I opens up with the $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome class and the $65,000 EMO Grand Prix as well as the $15,000 Barry Lane Jumper Classic and the $1,500 Take 2 Thoroughbred Hunter and Jumper Division. The $10,000 Child Adult Jumper Classic, the $5,000 Open Jumper Welcome Class, the $45,000 EMO Grand Prix and the International Hunter Derby take place Week II as well as the National Classic Equitation Finals, the Pre-Green Finals and the crowning of the Circuit Champions.
It’s not too late to enjoy the last Classic Show of the year. There is always something for everyone at Classic Company shows and the Atlanta Fall Classic shows are no exception. So make sure to bring everyone to the Georgia International Horse Park in November and enjoy Classic Company’s world class customer service, beautifully decorated rings, big prize money, great events and fun for all! Email Jonathan at jonathan@classiccompany.com or call the office at 843.768.5503.
The prize list will be on-line by August 1 and starting that date, you can sign up for the Atlanta Fall Classic on-line and for free using HorseShowsOnline.com. The Classic Company just rolled out the new on-line entry system in time for Charleston and many exhibitors have already experienced the ease of entries on-line with no hustle and no rush to the post office and NO ADDED FEES – just entries made easy!
HorseShowsOnline.com allows you to not only sign up for the shows, but you can also see orders of go, how many, ring schedules and complete results. Credit card information is completely secure and encrypted. This may be the easiest way to sign up for a show. And for a limited time, the service is completely free. Yes, free.
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