Gemma Paternoster rode her own Zonneglans to the win in the opening $7,500 Horseflight Open Welcome Week I.
The Atlanta Fall Classics celebrated its 20th anniversary at the Georgia International Horse Park, home to the 1996 Olympics, and wrapped up two weeks of AA shows last week to close out the 2015 Classic Company calendar of world-class show jumping events.
“I can’t believe it’s already been twenty years,” commented Bob Bell, President of Classic Company. “We appreciate the support of the trainers and riders who have shown with us over the past twenty years,” he continued. “We have enjoyed watching the riders and horses develop with us and feel very fortunate to call our customers our friends,” he added. “Our success is a testament to their support,” he said. “We will continue to improve our shows over the next twenty years and look forward to future generations competing at the Classic Company shows and becoming part of our family,” he added.
The Classic Company’s 20th Anniversary Reception took place at Cherokee Run Golf Course, located down the street from the Georgia International Horse Park. Bob Bell, city managers and officials from the Georgia International Horse Park, as well as trainers and riders, attended the gathering.
Top course designers, Manuel Esparza and Michel Vaillancort, were on hand Weeks I and II, respectively, created challenging courses in the Olympic Arena Week I and II. The arena acted as the backdrop to firsts and lasts for grand prix rider Gemma Paternoster, formerly from England now residing in Wellington, Florida. The Atlanta Fall Classic debuted her return to the grand prix arena after having recovered from an accident in August whereby she broke her shin bone. She returned to the competition ring complete with titanium and pins and won the Atlanta Fall Classic’s opening $7,500 Horseflight Open Welcome in the irons of her own Zonneglans and rode her beloved Osiris in his last competition before retiring him and sending him back to England. “He was supposed to retire in August, but after I got hurt, I knew that once I learned to walk again, he would be integral to my ‘saddle rehabilitation’,” commented Paternoster.
Week II saw David Jennings and KM Farms’ KM Corfina and his student, Haley Gassel, riding her own Quite Dark 2, as the only two of the field returning for the jump off in a technically challenging course designed by Vaillancort. Jennings won the class with KM Corfina making it their second win of the two grand prix the pair had competed in. Gassel came in second on her own Quite Dark 2. Jennings commented that “it was really rewarding to ride against one of my students.” In addition to the prize money, Jennings was also awarded a $1,000 Gift Card from Brian Hillen of Apollo Jets, the Official Charter Jet Aviation Company of the Classic Company, toward Apollo Jets’ Chartered Air Travel.
Gassel won the Week I Classic Grand Prix, presented by EMO, and it was only her second grand prix win in the irons of her own Quite Dark 2. “I consider myself the underdog riding against these grand prix riders,” she commented. Gassel also won the Kastel Denmark Style of Riding Award Week II.
Kaitlyn Campbell won the $7,500 Nalley Toyota Stonecrest Open Welcome Week II. She hadn’t ridden at the Atlanta Fall Classics since her days of short stirrup and she raved that since that time, the facility has undergone many improvements. “The stalls are so nice and the improvements are great,” she said. “This is a great show for our younger horses. The classes are big enough but we can just keep going until we get it right,” she added.
Despite the less than desirable weather week I, the new footing in the arenas held up well. “I thought the footing was good,” said Jennings. “No one was slipping and the horses seemed to go really well,” he said.
Barry Lane Jumper Classics – Trifecta of Child Adult Jumper Classics
The popular $25,000 Barry Lane Jumper Classics took place during the opening weekend and kicked off with the $5,000 Classic which awarded Fit to Print Farm’s Camera Ready, ridden by Sydney Crenshaw of Canton, Georgia, first place honors. Saturday the $10,000 Classic was won by Mary Elise Nolan and her own Take a Chance. Annie Miller and her won HH Dudinka won Sunday’s $10,000 Classic and also went on to be awarded the Kastel Denmark Style of Riding Award.
The $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derbies were offered Weeks I and II and saw seasoned veteran hunter rider Julie Curtin and Charlotte Warren’s Enticement in the winner’s circle Week I and Rebekah Warren and her own Tasty awarded the blue ribbon Week II.
Week II welcomed the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Friday night under the lights in the Olympic Arena and a packed ringside watched Daniel Geitner ride Allison Mills’ Sky Pilot to the win. The VIP tent offered spectacular ringside seating and catered meal complete with carving stations as well as complimentary wine sponsored by Kastel Denmark.
The Atlanta Classics’ Official Veterinarian, Elite Equine Sport Horse Medicine & Lameness, sponsored the 1.20 m Junior Amateur Jumper Classics Weeks I and II and awarded Catori, owned and ridden by Nancy Mcfadden, the blue ribbon Week I and Amicelli, owned and ridden by Mattie Hatcher, was in the winner’s circle Week II.
Week I also crowned the National Classic Equitation Finals and Week II featured the EMO Equitation Finals and Zone 4 Finals as well as the Circuit Awards, presented by Practical Horseman.
Congratulations to all Circuit Champions!
Pre-Green Hunter Circuit Champion: Valhalla, owned by the Wheeler family and ridden by Hunt Tosh
Green Working Hunter Champion: Special, owned by Missy Nolan and ridden by Tim Maddrix
Green Conformation Hunter Champion: Scripted, owned by Pony Lane Farm and ridden by Elizabeth Boyd
Performance Hunter Circuit Champion: Shutterbug, owned by Alina Dumitrescu and ridden by Tim Maddrix
A-O Hunter 18-35 Circuit Champion: All the Best, owned and ridden by Christina Fisher
A-O Hunter 36+ Circuit Champion: Three Olives, owned and ridden by Anna Wells-Sharp
A-O Hunter 3’3″ Circuit Champion: Ruby, owned and ridden by Holly Labry
Small Junior Hunter Circuit Champion: Confidential, owned and ridden by Bergen Sanderford
Large Junior Hunter Circuit Champion: Mystical, owned and ridden by Bergen Sanderford
Junior Hunter 3’3″ Circuit Champion: Special, owned by Missy Nolan and ridden by Mary Elise Nolan
Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Circuit Champion: Enchanted Evening, owned and ridden by Lizabeth Fisher
Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49 Circuit Champion: Dark Star, owned by Black Ankle, LLC and ridden by Ansley Johnson
Adult Amateur Hunter 50+ Circuit Champion: Hutton, owned by Don Stewart and ridden by Laura Tison
Children’s Hunter 14 and Under Circuit Champion: Equanimity, owned by Black Ankle, LLC and ridden by Laura Neely
Children’s Hunter 15-17 Circuit Champion: Waccamaw, owned by Braemer Road, LLC and ridden by Mary Margaret Dodd
Small Pony Hunter Circuit Champion: Baby Blue, owned by Bibby Hill and ridden by Libbie Gordon
Medium Pony Hunter Circuit Champion: Mind Your Step, owned by Ashland Farms and ridden by Campbell Key
Large Pony Hunter Circuit Champion: Woodlands Misty Rain, owned and ridden by Isabelle Aldridge
Small/Medium Green Pony Hunter Circuit Champion: Royal Moment, owned and ridden by Maddie Stiles
Large Green Pony Hunter Circuit Champion: Orchard Hills Ghiradelli, owned by Alexandra Mager and ridden by Lindsey Ayres
Children’s Pony Hunter Circuit Champion: Incredibly Happy, owned by Ellie Aronson and ridden by Kat Fuqua
Short Stirrup Hunter Circuit Champion: Lions Share, owned and ridden by Judy Porter
Children’s 2’6″ Hunter Circuit Champion: Good Deal, owned and ridden by Dina Van Dyken
Adult 2′ 6″ Hunter Champion: Clark Kent, owned and ridden by Tricia Conahan
Children’s Jumper Circuit Champion: Captivate, owned by Charity Durgin and ridden by Isabel Harbour
Adult Jumper Circuit Champion: Camera Ready, owned by Fit to Print Farm and ridden by Sydney Crenshaw
Junior A/O Low Jumper Circuit Champion: Benedetto, owned and ridden by Mary Katherine Hargreaves
Junior A/O High Jumper Circuit Champion: Kasaar, owned and ridden by Erin McGuire
Zone 4 Performance Working Hunter 3’6″ Champion: Chaperone, owned by Izzy Humphries
Reserve Champion: Pet Rock, owned by Leslie Terry
Zone 4 Performance Working Hunter 3’3″ Champion: Numinous, owned by Lizabeth Fisher
Reserve Champion: Autumn Glory, owned by Maggie Lewis
Zone 4 Green Working Hunter Champion: Intrigue, owned by Charlotte Warren
Reserve Champion: Jus D’O, owned by Select Sport Horses
Zone 4 Amateur Owner Hunter 3’6″ Champion: Premium Blend, owned by Stone Lane Farm
Reserve Champion: Truffle, owned by Chelsea Koornick
Zone 4 Amateur Owner Hunter 3′ 3″ Champion: Ruby, owned by Holly Labry
Reserve Champion: Cartier R, owned by Danielle Ford
Zone 4 Junior Hunter Small 15 and Under Champion: Rose Gold, owned by Abigail Dubose
Reserve Champion: Sympatico, owned by Charlotte Anguiano
Zone 4 Junior Hunter Large 15 and under Champion: Lilly Wood, owned by Donald Stewart
Reserve Champion: Breaking News, owned by Isabel Harbour
Zone 4 Junior Hunter Small 16-17 Champion: Perspective, owned by Bergen Sanderford
Reserve Champion: Can’t Touch This, owned by Sydney Hannon
Zone 4 Junior Hunter Large 16-17 Champion: Valentine, owned by Wendy Arndt
Reserve Champion: Mystical, owned by Bergen Sanderford
Zone 4 Junior Hunter 3’3″ Champion: Sinful, owned by Grace Bridges
Reserve Champion: Autumn Glory, owned by Maggie Lewis
Zone 4 Pony Hunter Small Champion: Baby Blue, owned by Bibby Hill
Reserve Champion: Flower Girl, owned by Bibby Hill
Zone 4 Medium Pony Hunter Champion: Dance With Me, owned by Bibby Hill
Reserve Champion: Lady Madonna, owned by Liana Gavidia
Zone 4 Large Pony Hunter Champion: Valentino, owned by Ashley Vail-Aycox
Reserve Champion: Caleche, owned by Laura Barrett-Gurtiss
Zone 4 Small/Medium Green Pony Hunter Champion: Royal Moment, owned by Maddie Stiles
Zone 4 Children’s Hunter Pony Champion: Birtley’s Crowned Jewel, owned by Maddie Tosh
Reserve Champion: My Freetyme, owned by Leila Waits
Zone 4 Children’s Hunter Horse 14 and Under Champion: Excurs, owned by Hannah Echols
Reserve Champion: Norway De La Fosse, owned by Edie Ringger
Zone 4 Children’s Hunter Horse 15-17 Champion: Black Patent Stilleto, owned by Camryn Lindsey
Reserve Champion: Kahlua, owned by Isabelle Aldridge
Zone 4 Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Champion: Amara, owned by James Fisher
Reserve Champion: Jackson, owned by Emily Weeks
Zone 4 Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49 Champion: Overseas, owned by Mindy Wurzburg, LLC
Reserve Champion: Remix, owned by Kelly Sims
Zone 4 Adult Amateur Hunter 50+ Champion: Riesling, owned by Cheryl Rubenstein, LLC
Reserve Champion: Maxwell Smart, owned by Tricia Conahan
Zone 4 Pre-Green Hunter Champion: Enamor, owned by Showcase, Ltd
Reserve Champion: Capisce, owned by Cheryl Rubenstein, LLC
Zone 4 Low Junior Amateur/Owner Jumper Champion: Chasm Z, owned by Madison Akins
Reserve Champion: United, owned by Castle Point Farm, LLC
Zone 4 Children’s Jumper 1.10 m Champion: Via Dolarosa, owned by Abigail Beaty
Reserve Champions: Zibon 2 owned by Grace Asbury and Coutoure Z owned by Caitlin Howie
Zone 4 Adult Jumper 1.10 m Champion: Camera Ready, owned by Fit to Print Farm
Reserve Champions: Commander in Chief, owned by Christa Prater and Cora, owned by Christina Couper
Zone 4 High Child Adult Jumper 1.15 m Champion: Jacobs Ladder, owned by Sydney Johnson
Reserve Champion: Captivate, owned by Charity Durgin
“Awarding excellence is what the Classic Company is all about,” commented Bell. “We are so pleased to have been selected to host the Zone 4 Finals and during our 20th anniversary show made it even more special for all of us,” he added.
The Atlanta Fall Classics concludes the 2015 Classic Company show season. “We had a fantastic year and want to let all of the folks who showed with us that we attribute our success to all of you!” commented Bell. “We look forward to seeing everyone in Pensacola where we will be celebrating our fifth anniversary on the Florida Gulf Coast and offering the $5.00 Pre-Green Division,” he said. “We look forward to providing the best shows for you next year and hope you will join us at the Gulf this year-Pensacola and Gulfport,” he continued. “Come show with us and find out for yourself why the grass is greener on the Florida and Mississippi Gulf Coasts!” he said.
The 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 Classic Company and its exhibitor-friendly, top quality hunter jumper events, please visit them at 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