What a week! Equestrians from all over the country traveled to Pensacola and were welcomed by sunny skies, a world class facility at the Escambia County Equestrian Center Show Grounds and the best show management in the country.
The Gulf Coast Classic Company’s Pensacola shows started on January 9th and will run for three weeks. Offering weekly $25,000 Grand Prix, USEF AA Hunter Sections, weekly USHJA National Hunter Derbies, a USEF International Hunter Derby Week II, as well as a wealth of Jumper Classics for the Junior/AOs and the Children and Adult Jumpers, this is a show series that offers top competition and a vacation destination for the friends and families of the riders.
Yesterday’s feature event was the USHJA National Hunter Derby. In first place was Zivago, owned by Denise Clolery and ridden by Mary Lisa Leffler of Rolling Acres Farm from Brookeville, Maryland. Bringing home the reserve honors was Belvedere owned and ridden by Ellen Herrington. In third place was Ufonia P, owned by Paulexi, LLC and ridden by Ashley Foster. In fourth place was Sin City, owned and ridden by Annie Friedman. In fifth place was Caracas, owned and ridden by Mary Claire Ray, in sixth place was The Golden Compass, owned by Heatherfield Hunters and ridden by Alyson Gurney. In seventh place was Carino, owned by T and V Partnership and ridden by Christian Rogge. In eighth place was McGwire, owned and ridden by Allison Bergmeyer, in ninth place was Fortissimo, owned and ridden by Allyson Quirk. In tenth place was Hat Trick, owned and ridden by Briggs Surratt and in eleventh place was Rebels, owned and ridden by Taylor Dileo.