Kocher Records First ever Longines Win at Del Mar

By Catie Staszak

It was a day of many “firsts” for Andy Kocher. Last to go in an eight-horse jump-off, Kocher (USA) and Navalo de Poheton claimed their first World Cup qualifier victory in the $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Del Mar. As a result, Kocher has now pushed into lead position of the standings in the east coast sub league of the North American League.      

Kocher and the 16-year-old Selle Francais gelding bested Eric Navet (FRA) and Catypso for the top prize. Chris Pratt (CAN) and Concorde finished in third.

“I looked up at the board and thought I was going to be second, and I would have been very happy to be second,” Kocher said. “Believe me, I would have been thrilled! But it was me this time! I was first! So, it was fun today.”

In a class where a tight time allowed proved problematic for riders in the first round, Kocher got inventive with his often-strong mount. He took three inside turns, two that no other rider attempted, in order to add strides down some of the lines and still make the time.

“There was a really good rider named Terry Rudd, and she had a horse named PS Gazpacho, and my dad always talks about it.” Kocher said. “Last week, he said, ‘I think you should ride Navalo de Poheton like she used to ride that horse. Go any possible inside turn around the course that you can, so you can keep the horse on a slow, short stride and kind of keep him in check.’

Today, I made two kind of ridiculous inside turns and kind of shocked him, and it worked.

So, I took that theory from my dad and a little history from Terry Rudd.”      

Kocher, an east coast rider, has competed on both coasts through the first five North American League events and plans to make several other cross-country journeys in the coming weeks.

“We’re going to Calgary (CAN), Lexington (USA), Toronto (CAN), Las Vegas (USA), and then I think we’ll come back for one of the weeks of Thermal (USA). I might hit that show in Mexico [at Guadalajara]. We’re going to do a little more out here [on the west coast].”

The North American League continues with two events on Saturday 28 October 2017 in Calgary on the west coast and Washington, D.C. on the east coast. 

Results

1. Navalo de Poheton, Andy Kocher (USA) 0/0 37.45

2. Catypso, Eric Navet (FRA) 0/0 37.56

3. Concorde, Chris Pratt (CAN) 0/037.75

4. Serise du Bidou, Alison Robitaille (USA) 0/0 40.00

5. Chatinus, Richard Spooner (USA) 0/4 40.49

6. Legis Touch the Sun, Jenni McAllister (USA) 0/4 41.39

7. Luebbo, Jamie Barge (USA) 0/8 41.30

8. Dontez, Sara Sheiring (USA) 0/12 42.00

Full results can be viewed here

Facts and Figures

A total of 29 horse and rider combinations contested the first round, and 10 nations were represented.

The 83-second time allowed set by course designer Alan Wade proved challenging in the first half of the class. The time allowed was not met until the fifth rider on course.

The winning margin in the class was 9/100 of a second. Kocher’s winning time was 37.45 seconds, while Navet clocked in at 37.56 seconds.

While eight riders advanced to the jump-off, only four produced a second clear round over the shortened track.

This is Kocher’s first time leading the east coast sub league standings of the Longines FEI World Cup™ North American League.

Andrew Kocher (USA) – 1st

“I’ve lost, I don’t know how many classes going too fast, so I thought, ‘I’m going to take it easy [over fences] one, two, three, and four [in the jump-off]. I mean, I didn’t go slow, but I didn’t let him out. The brakes were really hot coming back on the double [down the last line], and he starting going left, right, and adding strides. I just wanted to get over [the first element], and once I made it, out I thought I’d be home.”

“We had a really good time here [at Del Mar]. The jumps were nice, the footing was nice, and it was a really good course. Thanks to Longines and West Palms Events for having the show. I’m happy now, because I had a good day, but the whole show was nice.”

Eric Navet (USA) — 2nd

“When we have Andy behind, we’re never sure we can win. He’s such a fast rider, and he’s very confident. I knew I had a big chance to be beaten, and that’s what happened. He beat me by just a little bit. That was so close. That means that my horse is getting faster and improving in that area. He’s not very fast by nature. I’m very proud to have a time that close to Andy.”

Chris Pratt (CAN) — 3rd

“I was really happy. My horse jumped great today, and it was a good course. I spent a lot of time in Europe with the horse over the summer and good some good experience. He’s getting quite comfortable jumping at this height and at this level now. In a class like today, sometimes you win, and sometimes you’re third. It was so close in the jump-off, and I was happy with how the result came out.”

Standings: Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League — West Coast

1. Jamie Barge (US) 35

2. Mandy Porter (USA) 29

3. Jenn Serek (CAN) 29

4. Jenni McAllister (USA) 27

5. Richard Spooner (USA) 27

6. Sayre Happy (USA) 26

7. Eric Navet (FRA) 20

8. Christopher Surbey (CAN) 17

9. Chris Pratt (CAN) 15

10. Laura Jan Tidball (CAN) 15

Standings: Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League — East Coast

1. Andrew Kocher (USA) 31

2. Alison Robitaille (USA) 29

3. Conor Swail (IRL) 20

3. Devin Ryan (USA) 20

3. Isabelle Lapierre (CAN) 20

6. Keean White (CAN) 20

7. Jack Towell (USA) 19

8. McLain Ward (USA) 17

9. Heather Caristo-Williams (USA) 15

10. Juan Manuel Gallego (COL) 13