Tag Archives: Brooke Kemper

Brooke Kemper and Sara Taylor Capture Featured Class Wins at Culpeper Finals

Brooke Kemper and CLASSIFIED. ESI Photography.

The HITS Culpeper Summer Series at HITS Commonwealth Park has come and gone for 2018. It was a beautiful week to close out the season in the Heart of Virginia’s Horse Country with great weather, blue ribbons and the Horseware Ireland Grand Circuit Champion awards claimed at the Culpeper Finals.

The featured classes in the Grand Prix Ring kicked off with the $5,000 Open Welcome where Tracy Magness would start her week with a win aboard INTENZ VAN HD. Magness and “Candy” crossed the timers in 35.043, over a full second faster than the second place recipient.

Magness’ victory put an exclamation mark on her season at HITS Culpeper, marking her eighth blue ribbon in a featured Open Jumper class, and securing the Horseware Ireland Grand Circuit Championship in the Open 1.40m Jumpers. Jumping to second place would be Jennifer Brennan aboard MAC, finishing in a four-fault time of 34.024. Third place would be awarded to Cian McDermott, taking the reins aboard NEWCASTLE in a four-fault time of 35.565. Danny Mahon would take home the fourth place award aboard CHOPPER 5, followed by Randy Johnson in fifth aboard his own CAMPARO.

A field of 21 would take to the course Friday afternoon in the $10,000 Johnson Horse Transportation Prix. Top honors would be awarded to Marylisa Leffler aboard LUMINOUS, soaring to the finish in 31.147. Second place would be awarded to Magness and INTENZ VAN HD in a time of 31.276, followed by Johnson and JADE VAN DE START with a time of 32.872 to claim the yellow ribbon. Jason Berry would capture the fourth place ribbon aboard QUANTOS in a time of 33.598. Rounding out the top five in the Prix would be Tamara Morse and RAVENNA ADELHEID Z in a time of 34.135.

Top honors in the $2,000 Marshall & Sterling Children’s and Adult Jumper Classic was Wendy Libert and PAPILLION PEANUT.

Bari Michelle Friedman and CAPITOL II would take home top honors in the $2,500 Pyranha Junior/Amateur-Owner/Amateur 1.20m Jumper Classic.

Taking home top honors in the $5,000 Summit Joint Performance Junior/Amateur-Owner/Amateur 1.30m Jumper Classic was Ginny Gale and EVENSONG. Gale and EVENSONG also captured the Horseware Ireland Grand Circuit Championship in the Jr/A-O/Am 1.30m.

Tamara Morse and RAVENNA ADELHEID Z would soar to a blue ribbon finish in the $7,500 Junior/Amateur-Owner/Amateur 1.40m Jumper Classic. This dynamic duo would also take home the Horseware Ireland Reserve Grand Championship in the Jr/A-O/Am 1.30m Jumpers and Champion in the Jr/A-O/Am 1.40m Jumpers.

The excitement of the featured jumper classes at the HITS Culpeper Finals would continue on Sunday with the $20,000 HITS Open Prix. Taking home top honors, by over a full four seconds, would be Brooke Kemper and CLASSIFIED. Soaring through the timers in a fault-free time of 34.442 would secure the win in the final Open Prix of the HITS Culpeper Summer Series. Riding home with the second place ribbon would be Ashley Foster and DALIANTE M in a time of 39.612. Marylisa Leffler and LUMINOUS would take home the third place ribbon for their jump-off rider, finishing with a four-fault time of 38.340. Taking home the fourth place ribbon would be Magness and INTENZ VAN HD, followed by Laura Gaither and GARDA in fifth.

In the Hunter Rings, riders competed for blue ribbons and points toward the Hunter Prix Finals at the 2019 HITS Championships, in Saugerties, New York. The Devoucoux serves as the qualifying class for the Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Finals and similarly the Platinum Performance serves as the qualifying class for the Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Finals.

First up in the Main Hunter Ring on Saturday afternoon were those competing in the Devoucoux Hunter Prix. Taking home the blue ribbon and lion’s share of the $1,500 purse was Sara Taylor aboard CARLOTTA. Taylor rode to scores of 88 and 86 for a total of 174 between her two rounds. Riding to second place was Megan Bennett aboard MARGO with scores of 82 and 83 for a two round total of 165. Taking home the third place ribbon was Katie McAfee for her ride aboard CAPPUCCINO with scores of 68 and 70 for a two round total of 138.

Junior and Amateur riders took the stage next for the $1,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix. Taking home top honors would be Carley Gray aboard her own UNIQUE CAR. Chelsea Director and her own URBAN would follow to be awarded the second place ribbon.

The Constitution Classic also featured the Culpeper Equitation Classic where Junior and Amateur riders have the option to compete at either the 3′ or 3’6″ fence height.

Taking home top honors was Madison Smyth whose trip was described by the judge as “smooth as silk.” As first to go in the class, she put the pressure on the following riders. In second place was Jacqui Needle, followed by Lauren Miller to take home third place.

For more information, visit HitsShows.com.

Roanoke Valley Horse Show Finds Success in Move to Virginia Horse Center

Brooke Kemper and Classified. Photos by: Andrew Ellis.

Lexington, Va. – June 28, 2016 – An impressive crowd of over 1,000 spectators turned out Saturday night to see Virginian Brooke Kemper and her own Classified, a 12-year-old Holsteiner Thoroughbred gelding, take home the win in the $25,000 Grand Prix of Roanoke. The evening class was the highlight of the show that this year found a new home at the Virginia Horse Center.

Kemper bested a field of 11 in the Grand Prix, emerging victorious after a four-horse jump off. Maryann Charles and FVF Sailor Man, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Fox View Farm, were last to go in the jump off and brought home second place. The third place spot went to Tyler Smith and his own Soho D’ermisserie, a 10-year-old Selle Francais gelding.

Kemper was happy with her ride and praised the Mark Donovan designed course.  “The first course really rode a lot like it walked,” Kemper said. “It was pretty straightforward so that was nice. The time allowed was generous so we got to take our time and stick to the plan and that worked out well. I came back second in the jump off and had a fast horse behind me so I had to try to be as quick as I could and still leave all the jumps up.”

Saturday night also saw Saddlebred championships in the Coliseum. Smith Lilly took home first place in the Five-Gaited stake class aboard Blackout, owned by Ceil and Kenny Wheeler. On Friday night it was Catherine Wheeler who took home the top prize in the Five-Gaited Junior Exhibitor Championship with He’s Born to Royalty. Aimee Harrell and her own Shokoe Slip were the champions in the Show Pleasure Driving.

The Roanoke Valley Horse Show is a nonprofit organization and event, and the funds raised from the annual horse show are donated to health and human service organizations in the region. Though the horse show moved outside of the area, the event will continue to benefit the Roanoke Valley and to uphold the show’s longstanding traditions of southern hospitality.

Jason Berry and Attila with owners Betty and Ernest Oare
Jason Berry and Attila with owners Betty and Ernest Oare

In the $5,000 Chatham Hall USHJA National Hunter Derby it was Jason Berry and Attila, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Ernest and Betty Oare, who brought home the top prize. Berry was thrilled with his ride and was full of praise for Attila. “I came back third or fourth,” Berry said. “I knew I had to be as handy as I could be. We made every inside turn and galloped everywhere we could. He was phenomenal. He had a 90 plus four bonus points. He rides great, he’s game for anything, he’ll turn, he’ll jump big – he’s a great horse.”

Second place went to Jill Wilson and Oddsare, a 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Twin Oaks Farm LLC. Rounding out the top three was Chaz Harpman aboard MTM Bazinga an 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Nina Butler.

The show’s new location was by all accounts a success, and some rainy weather during the week was well handled by the facility. “The Virginia Horse Center could accommodate the bad weather we had all week,” said Kemper. “They were able to move everything indoors because of the rain, and when we did move back outside, the footing was great and it was safe.”

Berry echoed these sentiments, saying, “I loved the old show grounds just because it was in Roanoke. But we had terrible thunderstorms one day, so it was definitely nice to be at the Virginia Horse Center where they had indoor rings we could move everything to and still get all our classes in. At any other horse show we would have had to cancel. And even after torrential downpours, the footing in the outdoor rings was excellent.”

The exhibitor and spectator turnout exceeded expectations for this first year at the Virginia Horse Center. Kemper was enthusiastic about the new location of the show and the opportunity to interact with riders from other breeds and disciplines. “I’ve been to the Roanoke Valley Horse Show many times,” Kemper said. “I’m glad to see that they found a new home at the Virginia Horse Center – it was great. It’s a lot of fun to go; we don’t get to do many shows with other disciplines, so it’s a lot of fun to see the other breeds there and see them participating and get a little more interaction in the horse world.”

The Roanoke Valley Horse Show is an all-breed horse show offering Arabian, Hackney, hunter, jumper, racking, roadster, Saddlebred and western divisions. To learn more about the Roanoke Valley Horse Show, visit www.roanokevalleyhorseshow.com.

For more information about the Virginia Horse Center, visit www.horsecenter.org.

Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Kemper and Riptide Win the $7,770 Hester Equestrian Jumper Classic Week I

Brooke Kemper and Riptide.

Riptide, owned by Christina Van Patten and ridden by Brooke Kemper of Culpeper, Virginia, won the $7,770 Hester Equestrian, LLC Jumper Classic yesterday afternoon under sunny skies at the Gulf Coast Winter Classic.

The 1.25 m Jumper Classic is open to all horses not competing in the grand prix which is a perfect opportunity for horses and riders to gain valuable mileage on a world class grass grand prix field. Course designer Nancy Wallis of Lambertville, New Jersey set the first round time allowed at 79 seconds.

Fifteen horse and rider teams took to the course. Jordan Gilchrist, of Flower Mound, Texas, in the irons of Isabelle Potts’ Bariton 40 was the first to turn in double clear rounds in times of 75.215 and 39.367 seconds, respectively, which held the lead until Brooke Kemper and Riptide turned in double clear rounds in 72.487 and 33.119 seconds, taking the lead.

Lauren Hester was the next double clear in the irons of Hester Equestrian, LLC’s Daister L. With times of 70.850 and 36.313 seconds, the pair would finish in fourth place overall.

Thomas Welsh of New York, New York and his own Newtown Jumping Jack, looked to move Kemper from the lead position, but after posting double clear rounds in times of 74.250 seconds and 34.765 seconds, would find themselves finishing in third place overall.

Amanda Forte of Glenmoore, Pennsylvania followed Welsh in the irons of C’or Equestrian’s MHS Automatic, but despite their double clear rounds in times of 73.213 and 33.910 seconds, their time was not fast enough to beat Kemper and they would finish in second place overall.

Sitting in the enviable last to go position, Sarah Scheiring of Stockton, New Jersey and Lauren Gristwood’s Eros SCF posted double clear rounds in times of 78.046 seconds and 36.352 seconds, respectively, which would see them finish in fifth place overall, leaving Kemper and Riptide in the first place position.

“[Riptide]’s careful, fast and competitive,” commented Kemper. “I know every time I walk in the ring on Riptide, she’ll try to win,” she added. “She’s a 10 year old Dutch bred that I ride for Christina Van Patten and she is here to be sold,” she said. “I’m sure she will make someone a great mount. She is a great Jr/Amateur horse and has a sweet disposition,” she said. Those interested should contact Brooke Kemper at the Gulf Coast Winter Classic.

“I think the $7,770 Hester Equestrian Jumper Classic is a great opportunity for younger horses coming up and it’s a nice step between the open classes and the Welcome class. It’s a nice inviting class for them to jump,” commented Kemper. “The grand prix field is in great shape and all of our horses are jumping well on it,” she added.

“We’ve had a great week here,” said Kemper. “Everyone who has shown has done well and the weather has been great. We’re excited for the rest of the Circuit,” she said. Kemper has 11 horses here at the Gulf Coast Winter Circuit this year.

The Gulf Coast Classic Company is a USHJA’s Members Choice Award winner, recognized for producing top quality show jumping events in the United States. For more information on Gulf Coast Classic Company and its exhibitor-friendly, top quality hunter jumper events, please visit them at www.gulfcoastclassiccompany.com.

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

Brooke Kemper Claims Victory in $25,000 Rockbridge Grand Prix at Virginia Horse Center

Brooke Kemper and Classified. Photos by Teresa Ramsay Photography.

Lexington, VA – April 27, 2015 – When Brooke Kemper first started showing at the Virginia Horse Center, it was aboard ponies in a ring on top of a hill. The Horse Center did not yet house its large Anderson Coliseum, and Kemper was not yet clearing the five-foot fences that she so easily sails over today. Both Kemper and the Virginia Horse Center have come a long way since the childhood days that Kemper fondly recalls spending there.

On Saturday night inside the Anderson Coliseum, Kemper claimed the $25,000 Rockbridge Grand Prix victory aboard her mount, Classified. The grand prix was one of the feature events of the AA-rated Lexington Spring Premiere held April 22-26, 2015.

“I’ve been coming here my whole life. It’s kind of like my hometown; this is where I grew up showing,” Kemper, a McGaheysville, Virginia native, said.

Kemper and the 11-year-old Classified were one of six combinations to finish without fault over the first round course to advance to the jump-off round in front of the crowd on Saturday night.

Just before Kemper entered the ring to jump off, eventual second place finishers and defending champions Maryann Charles and FVF Sailor Man turned in a quick, clear round to move to the top of the leader board.

“I was able to watch Maryann go just before; I walked in to jump off and everybody was cheering for her. I thought ‘wow, I don’t think I can go that fast, but I’ll try,'” Kemper said. “I got lucky, and everything kind of came up going forward, and I never had to pull on the reins. My horse was really good and jumped great, and I was able to go faster.”

As Kemper crossed the finish line timers, her hometown crowd went wild. Her time of 31.911 seconds put her ahead of Charles’ time of 33.228 seconds and secured her the win.

“It’s so cool to get the win here at home,” Kemper aid. “Leslie Brown, who manages the show, I have known since I was a child. It’s just special to do well here.”

Caitlin Venezia and Hello Kitty
Caitlin Venezia and Hello Kitty

Also doing well during the Lexington Spring Premiere were Caitlin Venezia and Hello Kitty, owned by Jennifer Combs. While Kemper rode away with the week’s top jumper accolades, Venezia took the top hunter honors in Friday night’s featured hunter event, the $5,000 Randolph College USHJA National Hunter Derby.

With free admission, more than 250 spectators packed picnics or enjoyed the dinner options available at the Horse Center and filled the grandstands of the Wiley Arena to watch as Venezia and 35 other top riders vied for the National Hunter Derby victory.

Finishing in second behind Venezia, who came to the Horse Center from Marston Mills, Massachusetts, were Kaitlin Campbell and Touchback, owned by Ashley Hartman.

The top hunter/jumper competition continues this week with the Lexington Spring Encore, running Wednesday through Sunday. Spectators are encouraged to come watch throughout the week and for the Lexington Spring Encore’s two highlight events: the $25,000 George L. Ohrstrom, Jr. Grand Prix and the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby.

The $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby gets underway at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 1. The International Hunter Derby will take place in the Hilltop Ring, offering spectacular views and plenty of room for spectators.

The $25,000 George L. Ohrstrom, Jr. Grand Prix begins at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 2 in the Anderson Coliseum, and this week local young riders are invited to walk the course themselves with course designer Bernardo Costa Cabral. Cabral is an internationally recognized and acclaimed course designer, and young riders will have the rare opportunity to get his unique insight on the course he designed, prior to watching the horses compete over it.

Following the conclusion of the grand prix, there will be a ribbon toss and poster signing with the grand prix riders. Admission is free for all events held at the Lexington Spring Encore.

Find out more about the Virginia Horse Center at www.horsecenter.org.

The Virginia Horse Center is situated on a 573-acre site with eight barns to accommodate 750 horses in permanent stabling. Indoor stabling can be increased to 1,200 horses with the use of temporary stalls. The Virginia Horse Center hosts 19 show rings, including two large arenas and a five-mile Olympic cross-country course. Four of the Virginia Horse Center barns are winterized with close access to the 4,000 seat indoor coliseum. The Virginia Horse Center is recognized for the excellent footing of its show rings and the durable construction of the concrete stalls. The Virginia Horse Center also offers camping facilities and on-site food and beverage services. Find the Horse Center online at www.horsecenter.org.

Emily Riden for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Kemper and Classified Win the $35,000 CWD Grand Prix

Brooke Kemper pilots Classified over the CWD oxer on their way to the win in yesterday’s $35,000 CWD Grand Prix.

Brooke Kemper of Culpeper, Virginia and her own Classified won yesterday’s $35,000 CWD Grand Prix, presented by Nutrena, on the world class turf grand prix field before delighted crowds at the Harrison County Equestrian Center and Fairgrounds in Gulfport, Mississippi.

Designing the course was world renowned Leopoldo Palacios of Caracas, Venezuela. Palacios is one of the most highly respected course designers in the world of showjumping as well as a course director of FEI, a co-founder of the Aachen School of Equestrian Arts and produces master plans for equestrian venues. He has been involved with show jumping and the equestrian sport as a whole to the Olympic level and has held the position of Second Vice President of the FEI.

“The grass turf field here is fantastic,” commented Palacios. “It’s big and really nice. I had a super time designing for everyone,” he said.

“These types of rings are great for the jumpers,” said Palacios. “The horses jumped really well so I designed according to the specs and I knew these horses and riders could handle it,” he added.

Six returned for the jump off and Andy Kocher of Lake St. Louis, Missouri was first to go with Michael Rosenberg’s Crown Joker. Although the pair went clean in their first round in a time of 83.439 seconds, eight jump faults in a time of 57.311 seconds would see them finish in sixth place overall.

Kyle Timm of Apex, North Carolina and Apex Equestrian Center’s Calida 55 followed Kocher in the jump off. Timm and Calida 55 finished clean in a time of 45.344 seconds and set the new time to beat.

Kocher returned, this time in the irons of Emanuel Andrade’s Tiny Tim. Four jump faults in a time of 47.655 would see them finish in fifth place overall.

Holly Shepherd of Grand Bay, Alabama and Loretta Patterson’s Triompf followed and turned in a clean round in 48.187 seconds which would see them finish in fourth place overall.

Timm returned to the arena, this time aboard Apex Equestrian Center’s Platinum. Timm finished clean in a time of 46.790 seconds, which put him in first and second place with one left to go.

Brooke Kemper of Culpeper, Virginia was last to go in the irons of her own Classified. While Classified and Kemper won the opening week’s $5,000 Horseflight Open Welcome, according to Kemper, prior to that Classified had not shown since November.

The crowds of spectators had all eyes on Kemper and Classified as she entered the competition arena. Kemper put the gas on and turned in a lightning fast, clean round complete with hairpin turns in a time of 44.213 seconds and took the lead. Timm finished with second and third places on Calida 55 and Platinum, respectively.

Penny Brennan of Ocala, Florida and her own Sun Tzu finished in seventh place, Natalie Geller of Canton, Georgia and Charming Z finished in eighth, Jordan Gilchrist of Flower Mound, Texas and Anna Beth Athey’s Balizo finished in ninth, and Holly Shepherd and Dejan Krunic’s Belle Clara DKS finished in tenth place.

“I felt like I was really fast,” commented Kemper “I turned back really fast, and I was fast across the ground,” she said.

Course designer Leopoldo Palacios commented, “She made those turns really tight. The other guy [Timm] who finished second and third was a very good rider. I believe she knew that she had to take those turns to get the win. This was a very nice competition,” he said.

Kemper commented, “I thought Leopoldo designed a really nice course. Obviously I am going to say that I liked it because I won,” she laughed. “No one came out of the ring saying that was a bad course,” she continued. “It was very fair; all of the horses jumped around; no horse struggled,” she said.

“It’s a real advantage for me to be able to show on the grass turf field in the Welcomes each week,” said Kemper. “I know how it rides and feels which really helps me improve each week in the grand prix,” she added.

“I wanted to add that I really enjoy coming to these Classic shows. It is so nice to see the community come out to watch and see crowds in the stands and we really get into it when we have that sort of audience,” she said. “And, the livestream is great,” she continued. “My customers who aren’t here can watch from home.”

Kemper has owned Classified, a.k.a. ‘Chandler’ since he was four. “He is a bit of a pet,” said Kemper. “He loves to eat anything and everything all of the time,” she laughed.

The Classic and Gulf Coast Classic Companies are USHJA’s Members Choice Award winners, 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