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Saluting the Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic Champions

Friday and Saturday night the Gulf Coast’s Toughest Rodeo took place under the covered pavilion to the delight of the sold out audience. Flashpoint Photography.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Winter Classic ended its 16th year with a bang for its final weekend and was host to the Gulf Coast’s Toughest Rodeo which featured bull riding and barrel racing championship competitions as an exclamation point to the six week circuit! Friday and Saturday nights after a full day of hunter and jumper competitions, the trick riding, barrel racers and bull riders would compete and perform in front of a sold out audience under the covered pavilion.

Over the course of six weeks, 5,000 plus horses made the Gulf Coast Winter Classic their stomping grounds.

And those 5,000 horses brought with them trainers, riders, grooms, owners, sponsors, supporters, families and friends from all over the globe.  “I have been coming to this show for fifteen years and this was by far the best Gulf Coast Winter Classic I have ever attended,” said Professional Rider Andy Kocher of St. Louis Lake, Missouri.  Kocher won the final week’s $5,000 Open Jumper Welcome as well as Sunday’s $25,000 Domino’s Pizza Grand Prix.

Riders came from all over the country to experience the southern hospitality and top show management which are the hallmark traits of the Gulf Coast Classic Company.  Texas in particular moved into the Mississippi Gulf Coast February through mid-March.  “Texans LOVE Gulfport,” said Amateur rider Palmer Valentine who rides with Trapp O’Neal at TKO Sporthorses in Magnolia, Texas.

Trapp O'Neal and Kathy Epperson's Kingsride
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Trapp O’Neal and Kathy Epperson’s Kingsride

Why does Texas love the Gulf Coast?  “For me and a lot of us, that grass field is a phenomenal field to ride in and the entire show is really friendly from the office to the in-gate,” said Trapp O’Neal.  “We spend a majority of our days at the rings day after day and it’s so nice to have a friendly staff out there working with us and our clients,” he added.

The Gulf Coast Winter Classic offered ten grand prix this year, five hunter derbies including the $15,000 International Hunter Derby and more than one million in cash and prizes.  While the Texans are always at the show, this year there were more Texans than the previous year.  “Speaking as a Texan trainer, there were more people from Texas in Gulfport this year and I think the prize money was a big factor. Some people left Ocala early to show in Gulfport too.  There was a lot of good prize money to jump for week after week,” said O’Neal.

“There are plenty of shows out there in Florida.  But the way I see it, the Gulf Coast Winter Classic is unique, competitive, they have outstanding course designers, a real division on the grass for all levels of horses and you just can’t get that anywhere – you can only find it here.

“I have a lot of young horses with me and have a lot of customers on young horses. The fact that the young jumper division takes place on that beautiful grass turf which is the focal point of the show grounds with the nicest jumps and the best course designers allows my horses to develop a level of confidence on that grass that they wouldn’t get elsewhere; it’s so good for them.  That for me is the biggest draw.  The fact that this show is good for my horses and makes for such a positive experience in their development which boosts their confidence and inevitably contributes to the positive foundation of their show careers is fantastic.”

Only 10 minutes to the Gulf of Mexico, downtown historic Gulfport and Long Beach, and only a twenty minute drive to neighboring Biloxi and the world famous casinos and shows, the Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic offers something for everyone!  “My clients love the environment, the great seafood, the fact that they are on the water with a really cool town to enjoy. They love renting their beachfront condos and having everything just minutes from them from the casinos to the historic towns to the outlets to the show grounds,” commented O’Neal.

Don’t forget the festive atmosphere.  The Mississippi Gulf Coast Winter Classic runs during the world-renowned Mardi Gras season and that festive feeling permeates the show grounds.  “My clients loved the short drive to New Orleans for Mardi Gras – they just had a blast!  This is my third consecutive year here and we will definitely be back next year too.  A lot of my customers are already renting their condos for next year’s circuit,” O’Neal added.

The Genn family of Lebanon, Ohio makes their horse show experience a family affair.  Ryan flies in from SCAD [Savanah College of Art and Design] each weekend while his brother Theo and father Wilhelm train, ride and show all week on the show grounds.  Wilhelm and his own Happy Z had a magnificent Gulf Coast Classic Winter Circuit and while she will be starting her second career as a brood mare, Happy will certainly be seen at the shows this spring.  “We are going to continue to show her at the shows where she likes the footing and where she is happy. She has been going so well and just loves her job, so we’ll keep doing it and ease her into the breeding,” commented Wilhelm.

Allen Nabors of Ocala, Florida and Christi Israel brought five horses for their first visit to the Mississippi Gulf Coast this winter.  “We were here for about two and a half weeks.  We did mostly the grand prix; we brought mostly the young ones because this is a great place to develop those who have not been on the show circuit much.

“What separates this circuit is everyone here is really nice.  The grass footing is much better than any of the other grass footings we have ridden on.  It gives you a nice feel to gallop on and Bob [Bell] has some of the best course designers out there.  Our philosophy is to bring the horses up slowly and with a solid foundation and to find the shows that offer classes that complement our approach.  We’ve got some nice young horses and this circuit works well for them.”

How about the town?  “We’ve been to the Half Shell every single night.  And the casinos are fun as long as we don’t lose too much – but we won so we’re happy,” Nabors added.

Penny Brennan of Ocala, Florida had a good showing with her own Sun Tzu and they were a force to contend with during grand prix jump-off rounds.

New Jersey native Devin Ryan of Long Valley and his string of horses spent the winter at the Gulf Coast Winter Classic.

Tim Maddrix and Eloise won the $15,000 International Hunter Derby. Flashpoint Photography.
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Tim Maddrix and Eloise won the $15,000 International Hunter Derby. Flashpoint Photography.

Tim Maddrix, grand prix rider and International Hunter Derby winner from Baltimore, Maryland, said, “Showing in the International Hunter Derby in Gulfport is one of my favorite classes of the year.” He added, “To show on this beautiful grass field in the hunters with these amazing fences is just the best. The Classic Company does such a nice job.”

Congratulations Circuit Champions!

Approximately 5,000 horses competed over the six week Mississippi Gulf Coast Winter Classic for more than a million in cash and prizes as well as Circuit Champion bragging rights!

Congratulations to all of the riders, owners and horses who showed with us this winter.  We are proud to announce our 2014 Mississippi Gulf Coast Winter Classic Circuit Champions!

High Performance Hunter Circuit Champion: Grappa, owned and ridden by Devon Craig

Performance Hunter 3’6″ Circuit Champion:  Coconeli, owned by Montana Holmes and ridden by Jordan Gilchrist

Performance Hunter 3’3″ Circuit Champion:  Ring Ling, owned by Jean Tuttle and ridden by Timothy Madden

First Year Green Hunter Circuit Champion: Quedo Z, owned and ridden by Pamela Bartholomew

Second Year Green Hunter Circuit Champion:  Trump Card, owned and ridden by Pamela Ward

Conformation Hunter Circuit Champion:  Sueno Negro, owned and ridden by Allison Thompson

Amateur Owner Hunter 18-35 Circuit Champion:  All the Best, owned and ridden by Chloe White

Amateur Owner Hunter 36 & Over Circuit Championship:  Her Boy Wonder, owned and ridden by Avery Griffin

Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3″ 18-35 Circuit Champion:  Bellagio, owned by Sara Games and ridden by Madison Games

Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3″ 36 and Over Circuit Champion:  Hampton, owned and ridden by Ashley Herndon

Small Junior Hunter 15 and Under Circuit Champion:  Eloise, owned by Claudia Styslinger and ridden by Stella Styslinger

Small Junior Hunter 16 & 17 Circuit Champion:  Wahlberg, owned and ridden by Nicole White

Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Circuit Champion:  Happenstance, owned and ridden by Bergen Sanderford

Large Junior Hunter 16 & 17 Circuit Champion:  Zazou, owned by Nestledown Equine Services and ridden by Quinn Larimer

Junior Hunter 3’3″ Circuit Champion:  Farfelu, owned by Sandy Creek Stable, LLC and ridden by Isabel Coleman

Small Pony Hunter Circuit Champion:  Star Command, owned by Erica Van Dyken and ridden by Hallie Rush

Medium Pony Hunter Circuit Champion:  Northwinds Top Secret, owned and ridden by Anna Beth Athey

Large Pony Hunter Circuit Champion:  Woodlands Not Quite White, owned and ridden by Chloe White

Small Green Pony Hunter Circuit Champion:  Mr. Hollywood, owned and ridden by Maggie Huffman

Medium Green Pony Hunter Circuit Champion:  Champlain Rowboat, owned by The Hill Farm and ridden by Hannah Kent

Large Green Pony Hunter Circuit Champion:  Valor, owned and ridden by Anna Beth Athey

Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Circuit Champion:  Paramount-Non Show, owned by Journey’s End Farm and ridden by Amanda Forte

Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49 Circuit Champion:  What a Wonder, owned and ridden by Avery Griffin

Adult Amateur Hunter 50 & Over Circuit Champion:  Riesling, owned by Cheryl Rubinstein, LLC and ridden by Cheryl Rubinstein

Children’s Hunter 14 & Under Circuit Champion:  Don Ramiro, owned and ridden by Samantha Posey

Children’s Hunter 15 & Over Circuit Champion:  Cure the Blues, owned and ridden by Alyssa Talpos

Children’s Pony Hunter Circuit Champion:  Spoke Too Soon, owned and ridden by Anne Lally

Pre-Green Hunter Circuit Champion:  Quinn, owned and ridden by Catherine Cox

Children’s 2’6″ Hunter Circuit Champion:  Vintage, owned and ridden by Hallie Hatcher

Adult 2’6″ Hunter Circuit Champion:  Small World, owned and ridden by Sandra Bryant

Baby Green Hunter Circuit Champion:  Countryside Lane, owned by Carrie and Charlie Dahmer and ridden by Carrie Dahmer

Thoroughbred Hunter Circuit Champion:  Stillwater, owned and ridden by Dorothy Rey

Short/Long Stirrup Hunter Circuit Champion:  Midnight Madness, owned and ridden by Mary Easterwood

Child Equitation – Horse Circuit Champion:  Sandra Bryant and her own Small World

Junior Equitation – Horse Circuit Champion:  Sarah Clifton Yandell and Cholon, owned by the Yandell Family Farm, LLC

Pony Equitation Circuit Champion:  Mia Albelo and her own Pashmina

Adult Equitation Circuit Champion:  Elizabeth Pemmerl

Short/Long Stirrup Equitation Circuit Champion:  Mary Easterwood and her own Midnight Madness

2’6″ Equitation Circuit Champion:  Sandra Bryant and her own Small World

Pony Jumper Circuit Champion:  Sky Miles, owned and ridden by Hallie Rush

Child/Adult 1.0m Jumper Circuit Champion:  Bantry Bay, owned and ridden by Rebecca Margolis

Child/Adult 1.10m Jumper Circuit Champion: Odette, owned and ridden by Kimberly Lynch

Child/Adult 1.15m Jumper Circuit Champion:  Dirocco B, owned by Eagle Valley Partners and ridden by Devin Ryan

Jr./AO 1.20m Jumper Circuit Champion:  Kalinero Du Galet owned and ridden by Emma Boyce

Jr./AO 1.30m Jumper Circuit Champion:  Southern Belle, owned by Thomas LeBlanc and ridden by Katherine LeBlanc

Jr./AO 1.40m Jumper Circuit Champion:  Zeros, owned by Farfetched Farm and ridden by Kristen Blomstrom

Open Jumper Circuit Champion:  Tin Whistle, owned by Sandy Creek Stable, LLC and ridden by Sean Steffee

Grand Prix Circuit Champion:  Happy Z, owned and ridden by Wilhelm Genn

Sportsmanship Award:

Claudia Keith of Windy Oaks Farm in Tennessee won the Sportsmanship Award.  A longtime supporter of the Gulf Coast Classic Company, Keith and her barn showed at the Pensacola shows as well as at the Gulfport Circuit.  Janet McCarroll, Gulf Coast Classic Show Coordinator, said, “Claudia is a well-regarded trainer, with a strong work ethic and values.  We appreciate her support and the daily contributions she makes to our sport.”

Bob Bell, President of the Gulf Coast Classic Company, said, “Not only would we like to thank all of our riders, trainers and sponsors, we would also like to thank our Gulf Coast community for supporting us, cheering our riders on each week and being a part of our shows.  We love our Gulf Coast Shows and these events are known throughout the country.  Thank you for helping us make the Gulf Coast Winter Classic one of the best circuits and most well-loved in the country!”

What’s Next?

The Gulf Coast Winter Classic Circuit bids farewell to 2014 and already looks toward planning for the 2015 Circuit.  Big plans are in the works and sponsorships of this world-class event are already underway.  Don’t miss a bit of it!  Make sure you are signed up for our email list and on our mail list.  For those interested in sponsoring the Gulf Coast Winter Classic, please contact Lisa Engel at lisa@classiccompany.com.

Atlanta Spring Classic on Deck!

The Classic Company is on the move and is already underway in Conyers, Georgia, home of the Georgia International Horse Park and the Atlanta Spring Classic that will run through March 31.

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.

Stay up to date:  Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter!

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

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