DressageDaily: The Gold Coast Grand Finale was a Grand Easter Weekend

Monday, April 17, 2006

The Gold Coast Grand Finale was a Grand Easter Weekend

DressageDaily and PhelpsPhotos returned to South Florida for the Gold Coast Grand Finale, where the final taping of Robert Dover’s Search for America’s Next Equestrian Star took place Saturday, April 15th. But it was also a full show, with quality rides and competition, with the FEI Young Horse Classes added, with the debut of Lisa’ Wilcox’s return to the American show ring on Cindy Snowden’s Dolomit, in the six-year-old class. Look for Wilcox to be bringing out more incredible young horse talent at Raleigh.

The Gold Coast family feeling was prevalent throughout the weekend, as members participated as volunteers on every level. Everyone was invited to the Player’s Club in a wrap party for Robert Dover’s Search for America’s Next Equestrian Star, hosted by associate producer Karin Offield for a night of dancing and celebration.

The top four finalists in the “Star Search”, Philesha Chandler of Kansas, Rebecca Vick of North Carolina, Jamil Kassum of Arizona and Jessica Jo Tate of Wisconsin, were reunited with family and friends, and their cell phones (which were not allowed during the three weeks they were on location) who came to Florida to root them on, along with a crowd of spectators as they performed in their own class in front of a panelist of judges.

The main arena at the Wellington show grounds was filled will television cameras from every angle, including a huge boom at A. The production crew for Russell Best’s Brave Street Productions was there in full force from the early morning hours making sure every angle was covered.

Robert Dover exhausted but elated after an intense three weeks of taping day and night, called DressageDaily at the end of the day, just prior to the big wrap party held at the Player’s Club. “The support we have received from the community has been overwhelming.” said Dover. “The Judges, (Linda Zang, Jessica Ransehousen, Hilda Gurney, Gary Rockwell, and Anne Gribbons) all did this as volunteers, and came at their own expense to help with the final phase, and I can’t thank them enough for their support.” Gold Coast president and show organizer Noreen O’Sullivan-Flanagan worked tirelessly to assure that Gold Coast provide the perfect backdrop for the show’s taping, which will be aired sometime this fall.

Sponsor banners flanked the arena, as each of the final four performed a test in front of the judge’s panel of their assigned horses. They then came back 2 hours later, switching mounts. Associate producer Karin Offield witnessed the transition of each contestant on a daily basis who was picked from over 150 tapes which were submitted.

After the show, under a veil of secrecy and confidentiality agreements, the winner was selected, but all six came away from the experience as winners. “Everyone came away with lots of prizes and gifts from sponsors.” said Dover.

DressageDaily brought our reporter Shaneen Kohler to the weekend festivities, and she filled an entire reporter’s notebook with interviews and quotes from the event. Stay tuned as we bring you reports from last weekend, and as we look forward to the World Cup Final in Amsterdam, and the USDF Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, The Freestyle Symposium in Lexington Kentucky, and then the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event.