Joie Gatlin wins the HITS EMO Grand Prix at Indio

Joie Gatlin and her mount, Suncal’s King, cantered out of the ring to a cacophony of excited and affectionate applause after a top-notch performance in a male dominated jump-off class of nine.

It was a tough feat for anyone to match ranks with the degree of competition participating in the Southern California desert today. Facing the likes of such renowned horse and rider combinations as Robinson and Richard Spooner, Champagne and John Pearce, Lady-D and Jeff Campf, and the legendary Hap Hansen aboard ABC Lanzelot, to name a few, Joie Gatlin and her 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding outperformed them all as they cantered into the ring with authority and grace.

Veteran Grand Prix duo Campf and Lady-D kicked off the first round as the maiden pair and posted a seemingly effortless perfect run. With a high standard set at the beginning of the class, the skills of all 28 riders were truly put to the test. But surprisingly, Pearce, who was second to ride, opted Champagne out of finishing the course after putting 4 rails into the dirt. Robinson and Spooner followed with a refusal and 22 time faults.

Campf and Lady-D set a solid example again in the jump-off with a spotless round in 47.23 seconds. But Tedechine Sept and Eddie Macken answered back with a flawless 46.53-second performance. After Spooner and Pearce put rails to the ground, and Hansen added 1 time fault, the door remained wide-open inviting Gatlin to take the lead.

Results (29.01.06)
Grand Prix Hits Emo

1º Suncal´s King- Joie Gatlin – 0-0/45.92
2º Tedechine Sept- Eddie Macken – 0-0/46.53
3º Lady-D- Jeff Campf – 0-0/47.23
4º ABC Lanzelot- Hap Hansen – 0-1/50.21
5º Ezrah- Richard Spooner – 0-4/42.25
6º Urioso- John Pearce – 0-4/42.52
7º Archie Bunker- John Pearce – 0-4/42.92
8º Cellist 2- Ali Nilforushan – 0-4/45.18
9º Air Time- Richard Spooner – 0-8/43.85
10º Black Ice- Jill Henselwood – 4 – 79.58