Holly Shepherd and Loretta Patterson’s Triompf make it look easy on their way to the winner’s circle Saturday night. Flashpoint Photography.
Grand prix action is back in Charleston! After a lengthy absence, Classic Company President Bob Bell decided to reintroduce grand prix action to the boutique-style Charleston Summer Classic and dedicated the first grand prix in memory of Juan Hernandez.
Holly Shepherd of Grand Bay, Alabama and Loretta Patterson’s Triompf celebrated the return of the grand prix Saturday night with a win in the $25,000 Juan Hernandez Grand Prix and bested 15 other horse and rider teams over a course designed by Allen Rheinheimer.
Christopher Schroeder from Andersonville, Tennessee was the first to go aboard GK Performance Horses, LLC’s Enrique Van Het Vennehof and while he beat the time allowed of 90 seconds, four faults at 4B would land him in eighth place overall. Holly Shepherd of Great Bay, Alabama was next to go on Loretta Patterson’s Skymiles. The pair won the open welcome Thursday and was looking for another win when they went clean in a time of 85.148 seconds.
Romeo, owned by the Romeo Group and ridden by Victor Segovia of Wellington, Florida, was next to go and also turned in a clear round in a time of 83.681 seconds, insuring a jump-off to the delight of the crowd.
Whitney Owens of San Antonio, Texas followed in the irons of DS Holdings, LLC’s S & L Shoe Guru and joined the jump-off after posting a clean round in a time of 87.864 seconds.
Amanda Wise of New Fairfield, Connecticut and Positive-ism Inc.’s Collin were next to go. The pair dropped a rail at fence 4B and their time of 88.517 would keep them out of the ribbons.
Christopher Schroeder of Andersonville, Tennessee followed Wise with his own Catungee and looked to go clean, but had a heartbreak rail at the last fence. Their time of 86.047 would leave them in ninth place overall.
Danielle Grice of Northfield, Minnesota was next to go aboard Loretta Patterson’s Rapid Rewards. A rail at fence 6B and a time of 84.716 left the pair in seventh overall.
Frank Owens of San Antonio, Texas riding DS Holdings, LLC’s Capricello 2 had a rail at fence 3B and with a time of 85.443 seconds would finish in eleventh place overall.
Josh Dolan of Bluffton, South Carolina was next up on his own SLF Annie Lennox. This was his mount’s first grand prix and the pair turned in an impressive clean round in a time of 86.889 seconds earning them a spot in the jump-off.
Angel Karolyi of Aiken, South Carolina was next to go with Hollow Creek Farm’s Amigo. The pair accumulated twelve jump faults with a time of 85.109 seconds which would keep them out of the ribbons.
Schroeder returned to the ring with his next mount, Una Bella, owned by GK Performance Horses, LLC. The pair dropped a rail at fence seven and posted a time of 86.581 seconds which would finish them in twelfth overall.
Shepherd returned to the field, this time aboard Loretta Patterson’s Triompf, and went clean with a time of 87.806 seconds, joining the jump-off.
Lissa TSP, owned and ridden by Christian Rogge of Spring, Texas, was next to go and after accumulating eight jump faults in a time of 83.457 seconds, would not place. The next clean round to go was Grice in the irons on her own Boysterous. The pair posted the fastest first-round time in 82.724 seconds and joined the jump off line-up.
Last to go was Schroeder this time in the irons of GK Performance Horses LLC’s Diamant De Ravel. The pair earned four jump faults in a time of 86.057 seconds which would place them in tenth overall.
The jump-off had a time allowed of 41 seconds and Shepherd was first to go with her first mount, Skymiles, owned by Loretta Patterson. The pair was clean and set the time to beat at 38.789. Segovia and Romeo, owned by the Romeo group, was next to go and although they went clean, couldn’t beat Shepherd’s time and posted a 40.573 second round which would finish the in fourth overall. Whitney Owens was next up with S & L Shoe Guru, going clean and beating Shepherd’s time with her own 36.755 seconds. Dolan and his own SLF Annie Lennox were next to go but their time of 42.650 seconds earned them two time faults which placed them in fifth overall.
Shepherd was next to go, this time aboard Triompf, and the pair turned in a clear effort and set the new time to beat at 35.106 seconds. But there was still one ride left. Grice was next to go on her own Boysterous and looked to take the lead, but a refusal and time faults would find her in sixth overall, putting Triompf and Shepherd in the winner’s circle.
“The course was pretty straight forward and fair,” said Shepherd. “I think it gave everyone a fair shot at the prize money. It was a great course for young horses,” she added.
“I haven’t been here in years,” she continued. “I told Bob [Bell] that I would come back when he started his grand prix again. He did and I brought 22 horses for two weeks,” she smiled. “It’s so great to be back. This is where I won my very first grand prix and where I met my husband. This is a very special place.”
On Deck!
The $25,000 Grand Prix is scheduled for 5 pm Friday night. This will be the final grand prix offered at the Charleston Summer Classic, so don’t miss it! This is the only vacation and horse show destination and the only venue where you can jump the fences and the waves! Monday looks to be the day where exhibitors rent boats, go fishing, swim with dolphins and lay on the beach – does it get any better than this?
More of What You Want!
Due to popular demand, Classic Company has added a 1.20m Training Jumper to the schedule for both weeks along with a Walk-Trot Division. There really is SOMETHING for EVERYONE at the Charleston Summer Classic!
Social Calendar!
There’s a party most every day next week too, so don’t miss any of them!
Don’t Hoof It!
With all the action at Mullet Hall Equestrian Center, you may consider renting a golf cart from the Official Golf Cart Company, Garrett Golf Carts, or call them at 843-881-8894. Weekly rentals for two-seaters are only $225 and only $275 for the four-seaters.
Got Rooms?
Get a jump on it and book today! This location is beautiful and a vacation destination. So make sure to book your rooms and condos now! Classic Company’s Official Lodging Partner is the pet-friendly Land’s Inn at 2545 Savannah Highway in Charleston. The Land’s Inn is approximately 18 miles from the show grounds and looks forward to welcoming you, your families and your four legged friends. You can call them at 843-763-8885 or visit them on the web at creeksidelandsinn.com. Make sure to mention you will be attending the Charleston Summer Classic shows.
If condo is the way you like to go and the phrase “seven miles from the show grounds” sounds good to you, the Classic Company recommends several and they are listed in the prize list. Most are located on Seabrook Island and Kiawah Island and all offer close proximity to the show and the beach. Classic’s newest lodging partner is Coastal Getaways of South Carolina and can be reached via web or at 843-789-4438. Make sure to book now for the show and vacation experience you will never forget!
Make sure to book now for the show and vacation experience you will never forget.
If you haven’t reserved your stalls or sent in your entries yet, please contact Classic Company immediately at 843.768.5503 or send them an email at info@classiccompany.com.
For those looking save the cost of postage, paper and personal time, make sure to go to Equestrian Connect, Classic Company’s Official Service Provider, to submit your entries today!
Equestrian Connect is Classic Company’s Official Service Provider and allows exhibitors to store their data one time, on the web, and then use that data to automatically fill out hunter/jumper entry forms across the country. The service offers a free 45 day trial period for new members. At the conclusion of the trial period, Equestrian Connect offers an annual subscription, or a “pay as you go” service. The service allows exhibitors to save both time and money. This is the one-minute online entry service that will help you get your entries in on time and you to the show!
Anyone who has shown with the Classic Company knows what sets them apart from the rest: Classic Shows are FUN! Complimentary exhibitor parties, luncheons, Saturday pizzas and the friendliest show management team anywhere work hard to make your showing experience the best. Classic Company never charges an add or scratch fee for those last minute changes and there is no office fee added for credit card payments.
So, whether you are a seasoned veteran or novice looking for a positive show experience, look to the Classic Company shows and join them in Atlanta this summer. 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 classicsponsorship@gmail.com. All program advertising should be directed to Nate Poliquin, Program Sales Representative at classicshowads@yahoo.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