Shepherd Pilots Skymiles to $25,000 Nutrena Grand Prix win in Pensacola

In a tricky jump-off during the second week of the Gulf Coast Winter Classic Pensacola shows, Holly Shepherd rode Skymiles to victory in the $25,000 Nutrena Grand Prix.

January 19, 2014–The Pensacola community flocked to the Escambia Equestrian Center last night to watch world class show jumping action in the $25,000 Nutrena Grand Prix last night during the second week of the Gulf Coast Winter Classic Pensacola shows.

A seasoned group of grand prix riders as well as newcomers to the scene made up the order of go. Allen Rheinheimer of Zionsville, Indiana designed the course. “It was a pretty tricky course, but the riders prevailed and we had a good jump off,” he said. “It was great to see everyone here. Pensacola is such a great show to get tuned up for the season.”

Holly Shepherd pilots Skymiles over an oxer in the covered arena in Pensacola to the Nutrena Grand Prix win

Thomas John Russell of Columbus, North Carolina aboard his own Karenina was first to go and turned in a clean first round in 80.177 seconds. Holly Shepherd of Grand Bay, Alabama was next to go riding Foxridge Farm’s Play to Win, but with four jump faults and three time faults, their time of 92.154 seconds would find them in the eleventh place overall.

Wilhelm Genn of Lebanon, Ohio was next to show aboard his own Cookie Monster, the first of his two rides for the evening. The pair turned in a clean effort with a time of 81.25 seconds, guaranteeing a jump off.

Wilhelm’s son, Theo Genn of Lebanon, Ohio was next to go in the irons of Bridlebourne Stables LLC’s Winchester. The pair turned in a clear round in 80.945 seconds and would join the jump off lineup.

Danielle Grice of Northfield, Minnesota riding Rapid Rewards, owned by Loretta Patterson, was next to go and turned in a four fault round a time of 83.884 seconds. The pair would finish in tenth overall.

Christian Rogge of Spring, Texas riding his own Lissa TSP, was next to go and turned in a clean round in 79.557 seconds.

Fifteen year old Devon Monroe from Chevy Chase, Maryland the youngest rider of the field, was next to go in the irons of Paulexi LLC’s Quastor Van De Helle Z. The pair turned in a clean round in 81.621 seconds.

Shepherd returned to the covered arena, this time aboard Loretta Patterson’s Silverstone. The pair earned four jump faults and six time faults with their time of 91.793 seconds and would finish in twelfth place overall.

Timothy Maddrix of Birmingham, Alabama was next to go in the irons of Claudia Styslinger’s KT Cher. He and KT Cher won the $10,000 Open Jumper Class last week. The pair looked to go for a repeat when they turned in a clear effort in a time of 77.585 seconds, gaining entry into the jump off round.

Wilhelm Genn on his second ride of the night, Happy Z, picked up four jump faults and a time of 79.760 seconds and would finish in ninth place overall. His son Theo was next to go riding Eduardo Leon’s Asirea Fortuna and turned in a clean round in 78.643 seconds. Shepherd returned as the final first round competitor aboard Skymiles, owned by Loretta Patterson and the pair would go clean in a time of 79.653 seconds.

The jump-off time was set at 47 seconds and some tricky turns challenged the field of horse and rider teams. “We picked the jumps up a bit and made the third jump pretty tough with the inside turn which caught some of them up,” said Rheinheimer, “and the tight 6a b combination caught the rest,” he added. First to go was Thomas John Russell and Karenina and the two picked up four jump faults, two time faults and a time of 48.242 seconds. The pair would finish in seventh place overall.

Wilhelm Genn and his own Cookie Monster were next to go, turning in a clean round and set the time to beat at 44.377 seconds. Theo Genn riding Bridlebourne Stables, LLC’s Winchester were next to go, but after some trouble at the third, fourth and sixth jump, opted to withdraw; the pair would finish in eighth overall.

Rogge and his own Lissa TSP were next up and although turning in a clean round, earned three time faults in a time of 49.202 seconds landing them in third place overall.

Monroe and Paulexi, LLC’s Quastor Van De Helle Z turned in the fastest jump off round at that point with a time of 43.291 seconds, but with four jump faults would finish in sixth place overall. Maddrix entered the ring with KT Cher and although the pair turned in the fastest jump off round in 40.593 seconds, four jump faults at the third jump would see them finish in fourth place overall. Theo Genn and Eduardo Leon’s Asirea Fortuna were next to go. The pair suffered four jump faults at the third fence and turned in a time of 41.698 seconds placing them in fifth place overall.

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