Brooke Kemper and Classified Win the $5,000 Horseflight Open Welcome
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Posted by Classic Communications
Brooke Kemper of Culpeper, Virginia and her own Classified won yesterday's $5,000 Horseflight Open Welcome under beautiful sunny skies at the Harrison County Equestrian Center and Fairgrounds in Gulfport, Mississippi. "The footing was perfect," said Kemper, "The turf is so nice, we just want to have a picnic out here," she laughed. Kemper and her mount Classified turned in double clear rounds in times of 79.430 seconds and 33.45 seconds, respectively. "I haven't competed him since November," commented Kemper. "This was a really nice course for him and he went well," she said. "I'm still getting him conditioned for the entire circuit here," she added.
The only other horse and rider team to turn in double clean rounds was fellow Virginia native, Jason Berry of Verona. Berry won second place honors in the irons of Frances Porter's Ignite after turning in double clear rounds in times of 80.960 seconds and 35.690 seconds, respectively.
Penny Brennan of Ocala, Florida and her own Sun Tzu also went clean in the first round in a time of 78.127 seconds, but four faults in their second round in a time of 31.360 seconds would see them finish in third. Amanda Forte of Glenmore, Pennsylvania and Cerulean Stables, LLC's Hhs Louis went clean in their first round in a time of 84.374 seconds but a rail in their second round in a time of 33.515 seconds saw the pair finish in fourth.
Calligraphy, owned by Krisley Hill Equine Investments and ridden by Haley Lubow of Nashville, Tennessee turned in a clean first round, but their time of 86.881 seconds resulted in two time faults which saw the pair finish in fifth overall. Brennan added a sixth place ribbon in the class after she and her own Japan turned in a four fault first round in a time of 75.546 seconds.
Forte returned for the seventh place ribbon in the irons of Cerulean Stables LLC's Rincola Black Adder after they turned in a four fault first round in a time of 81.306 seconds. Eighth place was awarded to Loretta Patterson's Copycat, ridden by Holly Shepherd of Grand Bay, Alabama; the pair turned in a first round effort in a time of 85.536 seconds and five faults. "The turf is looking better than ever," commented course designer Paul Jewel of Lambertville, New Jersey, "and the weather is just excellent," he added.
Horseflight is sponsor of all Gulf Coast Winter Classic Open Welcome Classes for 2015 and the Official Equine Air Transportation for the Classic and Gulf Coast Winter Classics. As a leader in international horse transport with locations in Greifswald, Germany, Califon, New Jersey, Ocala, Florida and Houston, Texas, with branches in Chicago, Illinois and Los Angeles, California, Horseflight coordinates imports or exports anywhere in the world! With weekly flights to and from Europe, as well as the continental United States, Horseflight prides itself on transporting the competitive horse world, one flight at a time! Contact Horseflight for more information.
Kemper also won a gift certificate to The Gulfport Shed and Barbeque Blues Joint. "I was just telling my barn we were going to head there tonight," she said. "This is great!"
The Gulf Coast Winter Classic Circuit is underway and is bigger and better than ever, proving that the grass IS GREENER on the Mississippi Gulf Coast! Tonight the Gulf Coast Winter Classic and sponsor Kruse Cushion Ride welcome all riders with a complimentary Margarita Party in the VIP tent from 5pm to 8pm.
Tomorrow the Foley RV Center Grand Prix, presented by EMO takes to the world class grand prix field at 2pm and afterwards, all are welcome to head to the Gulfport Shed Barbeque and Blues Joint . They are hosting a special Welcome Party for everyone from the show. A live band, free jambalaya, Bud Light and discounted barbeque will kick off at 4pm. The Bud Light and Jambalaya are free while supplies last, so make sure to stop in and get Fed at the Shed. The Shed is just down the road from the horse show and has been featured in Diners, Dives and Drive-Ins and voted #1 Barbeque in the Country.
The best news? The Gulf Coast Winter Classic Circuit offers the best showing experience for a fraction of the cost of the other shows. Better footing, world renown course designers, a fun coastal town with world class shopping and dining, an airport just a few miles away-what are you waiting for? Join the Gulf Coast Classic Company on the Gulf of Mexico this winter and discover your new favorite show!
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. For more information on Classic Company and its exhibitor-friendly, top quality hunter jumper events, please visit them at www.classiccompany.com.
