Mill Spring, NC – June 25, 2016 – The inaugural Great Charity Challenge of the Carolinas (GCCC) will highlight the first week of the Tryon Summer Series at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) on Friday, July 1, showcasing the talents of both professional and amateur competitors as they ride to raise money for local charities in the Carolina Foothills region. The super hero theme for the 2016 event will serve to honor and recognize the heroes in the local community for their dedication and commitment to philanthropic work.
The Great Charity Challenge of the Carolinas (GCCC) is a charity-fueled competition, which comes to life in the form of a relay race, pairing teams of two equestrian competitors to selected charities operating in the local community. Teams will race through a jumper relay course with tracks set at two different heights, 1.15m and 1.30m, in the George H. Morris Arena at TIEC under the lights. Competition on Friday, July 1 will begin at 7:00 p.m. with festivities and entertainment beginning at 5:00 p.m.
Each of the 26 teams will race to finish the relay track in the fastest time, while $300,000 will be raised throughout the evening. Each charity paired with a team will receive a minimum of a $5,000 donation, while the winner will hoist a check for $75,000 at the end of the competition. 100% of the proceeds raised throughout the evening will be distributed to participating non-profit organizations.
The Great Charity Challenge of the Carolinas is the sister event to the Great Charity Challenge (GCC) hosted at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL each winter, which was conceptualized by Mark Bellissimo and his daughter Paige Bellissimo in an effort to give back to those in need in Palm Beach County. The event, which began in 2010, has distributed more than $9 million to more than 150 charities across Palm Beach County.
Currently teams of two or individuals wishing to be paired with a team through the submission of a donation can still register for the event. Finalized teams will be announced this week. For more information regarding team sign up, please contact gcc@tryon.com and for more information about the Great Charity Challenge of the Carolinas, please visit www.tryon.com. If interested in becoming a team sponsor for the event, please contact gcc@tryon.com to learn more. Donations made in honor of the event are tax-deductible.
Mill Spring, NC – June 12, 2016 – On the final day of FEI CSI 5* classes at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), Samuel Parot (CHI) took home the blue ribbon in the $86,000 1.50m Suncast® Challenge on his mount Couscous Van Orti. The speedy duo edged the competition with a time of 35.128 seconds. Parot was one of two combinations to jump double clear around the challenging course designed by Alan Wade (IRL). Karl Cook (USA) piloted his ride Caillou 24 to a faultless round and a time of 36.822 seconds, earning them second place. Coming in third to round out top three was Scott Keach (AUS) and Fedor with a time of 37.490 seconds.
The class brought an exciting jump-off round featuring six horse and rider combinations and had spectators cheering for Parot, as he dashed through the course and made a big move to the last oxer. Alan Wade delivered another solid course, building two tracks that aimed to test speed and agility. Parot commented on the course, “Alan Wade is really strong course designer and each of his courses is tough, yet fair. In the jump-off I kept seeing good distances. I honestly got a little lucky, and I won. A little luck is always necessary.”
“Both of my horses jumped well this week and I’m pleased with their performances,” he added.
Couscous Van Orti, a 2002 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Nabab de Reve x Cash), and Parot have been a team for a little over a year, competing in multiple FEI CSI 4* and FEI CSI 5* competitions. Parot spoke about the facility, which is growing to be a favorite stop for his team, saying, “Everything here is amazing. It is new, the footing is pristine, and the people are great. Also, the attention to the riders is unlike another show I’ve been too.”
On the final day of TIEC’s first ever FEI CSI 5* week, Parot touched on the importance of the entire competition, as he successfully guided two horses to top finishes, stating, “I cannot say enough good things about Tryon. It is comfortable for the riders and the horses. I hope more and more people will begin to come here because it is an unbelievable place.”
Karl Cook and Caillou 24
With this thrilling win now under his belt, Parot feels confident for the future success of Couscous Van Orti, Atlantis and the rest of his team as they begin a short break in competition before heading back to North Carolina for the four weeks of the Tryon Summer Series.
“Next we will head to Chile, my home country, for two weeks and then we will back to Tryon in July for the FEI CSI 3* and FEI CSI 4* competitions in the summer series,” he explained. “My plan for the fall is to head north to compete in Calgary at Spruce Meadows and then maybe the L.A. Masters in California. Wellington, FL will be our winter pit stop, before returning to this remarkable facility in the spring in 2017.”
“Normally every year after the winter season in Wellington, I head to Europe. However, last spring I came here to the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) and I was blown away. There is no need to go to Europe when America has immaculate shows such as these. We will absolutely be back,” Parot added.
Competition draws to a close at TIEC, concluding the 2016 Spring Series, which could not have been more successful, showcasing the talents of equestrians from around the country and the world. The first two weeks of the 2016 Tryon Summer Series, will begin on Wednesday, June 29, and entail back-to-back FEI CSI 3* weeks and AA Premier hunter divisions. The Tryon Summer Series will host four consecutive weeks of the popular “Saturday Night Lights” Series with two consecutive $130,000 Grand Prix CSI 3* classes up for grabs, followed by two $216,000 CSI 4* classes. The inaugural Great Charity Challenge of the Carolinas (GCCC) is set for Friday, July 1. If interested in participating as a rider or becoming a team or event sponsor, please contact gcc@tryon.com. For more information on Tryon International Equestrian Center please visit www.tryon.com.
Mill Spring, NC – June 11, 2016 – On a historic and entertaining evening at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) featuring performances by Grammy-award winning artist Lee Greenwood and a special aviation demonstration by the Warbirds Flyover team, Kristen Vanderveen (USA) guided Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili to their first ever FEI CSI 5* victory, signaling the conclusion of an incredibly successful spring series. The duo, which earned their victory in the $380,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 5* for the Governor’s Cup in front of an enthusiastic crowd, outlasted the eleven horse jump-off with a time of 42.557 seconds for the win. Andrew Welles (USA) and Brindis Bogibo finished in second place, crossing through the timers in 44.191 seconds, while David Blake (IRL) and Binkie completed their FEI CSI 5* debut in third, finishing the track in 46.668 seconds.
Saturday’s event brought together a massive crowd from the western North Carolina region, amplifying the atmosphere in the stadium and creating a unique experience for a class full of veteran riders and rising stars. Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili followed several incredible performances in the electrifying jump-off round, which saw eleven combinations test the short course designed by Alan Wade (IRL).
Each of the top three placed horse and rider combinations contested their first major FEI CSI 5* class, making it a memorable evening for each of them individually, as well as marking a monumental class for the sport of show jumping, as three talented riders reached the podium at the highest levels of the sport for the first time.
“I have no words. I’ve never won a class of this caliber before and I’m overwhelmed and excited,” smiled Vanderveen, whose energy was palpable after the class. “He was super relaxed today and this is his second night class here this season. In the first class, he was a little bit excited, but tonight he really settled in and fed off of the atmosphere and the crowd, which was great.”
Vanderveen earned her first career FEI win at the venue in 2015 aboard Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili in the $127,000 Kingsland Grand Prix and the two have only improved since garnering a series of top finishes throughout the 2016 season. Determined to piece together two strong rounds of competition under the lights, Vanderveen rode the 2005 Belgian Warmblood stallion (Berlin x Darco) owned by Bull Run Jumpers Five LLC, with a forward pace, making use of his large stride, especially on the short course track.
“I wanted to give this class a real shot. I went in knowing that I was going to go for it and lay it out there. It worked out well for us and he was really with me. He used a lot of his ability and thankfully he has a lot to give,” she elaborated.
Getting to know the talented stallion has been a focus of Vanderveen’s, as the pair encountered immediate success before re-evaluating a training regimen and competition plan in the past few months. She described the process, stating, “It’s been coming up on a year and a half that we’ve had him. It’s still a new partnership and finally over the past six months we’ve really started to understand each other better.
“I’m looking forward to finishing the season here through July and building on that consistency,” she detailed, explaining their competition plans for the coming months. “I’m really looking towards the winter season again, as that’s where I’d really like to start pulling all of these pieces together and do some big things with him there as well.”
Andrew Welles and Brindis Bogibo
Welles, who earned a top career finish in the FEI CSI 4* competition at TIEC nearly a year ago, guided Brindis Bogibo to a well-earned second place. The pair, who recently began competing at the FEI level together, proved that their partnership has grown tremendously in the past two months.
“It’s an amazing feeling. I’m over the moon right now. Just seeing the atmosphere and it was such a beautiful night for an event like this,” commented Welles. “The crowd that they drew and the plane flyover, I just feel so fortunate to have been able to compete in this class and anything on top of that was just a bonus.”
Saturday’s competition came full circle for Welles, who explained that his fourth place finish in the grand prix at the FEI CSI 4* during the Tryon Spring Series in 2015, propelled the purchase of Brindis Bogibo, as AEM Enterprises and the Scudder family, approached him concluding the class, offering support for another horse to compete at the top levels.
“I would say our good finish here last year with my mare Boo was the catalyst for getting Brindis. I flew over the day after this horse show to try him. AEM Enterprises and the Scudder family have been so supportive of me. I don’t think we pictured coming back here and finishing better the next year, but it’s a great feeling.”
The 2006 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Grand Pilot I x Pacific), owned by AEM Enterprises, has stepped up recently, and Welles felt it was time to test the gelding, without holding any expectations for the outcome of this week.
“He’s just such a special horse. He has an unbelievable character and a huge heart. He hadn’t jumped bigger than a 1.35m last year when we bought him as a nine year old, so I’ve spent the fall and the winter filling in the pieces. It’s really started to come together over the past two months,” he detailed.
“It’s been a very fun ride. I feel incredibly blessed to have him and the entire team around me. I just owe it all to them,” he added.
Originally, the main event of the week, the $380,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 5* for the Governor’s Cup, was not even a consideration for Welles, who didn’t anticipate that his mount would be ready to compete at the CSI 5* level this early in the season. Undaunted by course, Brindis and Welles made easy work of the first round track and only a small bobble to a difficult slice at the Rolex vertical would drop them behind the pace of Vanderveen.
“I hadn’t really committed to do this class. My original plan when I was mapping out the spring was to do Thursday and Sunday here,” he said. “He’s exceeded my expectations by leaps and bounds as to what I had planned out for the spring. The two most recent classes we did on him we had a rail and both were my fault. There was really nothing holding him back from deserving a chance to take a shot at this class.”
“I think that Alan Wade is one of the best course designers in the world and I had confidence that it would be a fair chance to move my horse up and experience this level of competition,” Welles added.
David Blake and Binkie also completed their first FEI CSI 5* and have continued to demonstrate their strength and consistency throughout the season at TIEC. Binkie and Blake finished well throughout the week, but Blake explained he felt Binkie was excellently prepared, both mentally and physically for the test of the main event, in which he excelled.
“I thought last week he felt great and was a bit unlucky. He jumped great and had a rail down in the jump-off, but I knew that he was ready for this week,” commented Blake. “Again, I felt like we were a bit unlucky in the Welcome, so I knew we were knocking on the door for a good performance.”
The duo worked for their first round effort, but Binkie rose to the occasion around the short course, nearly pressing Vanderveen for time during the last line, which concluded at the Horseware Ireland oxer in front of the crowd.
“I had to work in the first round tonight, but then in the jump-off he really worked for me. The crowd was really great tonight and I could feel that he was feeding off of that energy, especially going into the double. It worked out really well tonight and I’m just delighted with him.”
Luis Salvaras accepted the $500 Groom’s Initiative Award presented by Mark Bellissimo and the Tryon Equestrian Partners, recognizing his efforts as the main care provider for Vanderveen’s winning mount Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili. An essential member of the Bull Run Jumpers team, Salvaras is responsible and dedicated to the daily care and well-being of the incredibly talented stallion, who has become a top mount in Vanderveen’s string.
Among several other awards, Vanderveen received the Leading Lady Rider Award presented by Meg Atkinson for the second week in a row, honoring and recognizing her success and performance in FEI classes throughout the week.
Competition at TIEC continues Sunday with the final day of the 2016 Tryon Spring Series featuring the $10,000 Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic 1.40m presented by Asheville Regional Airport at 8:00 a.m., the $85,000 1.50m Suncast® Challenge at 10:00 a.m., followed by the $5,000 Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic 1.30m presented by Ariat® beginning at 11:30 a.m. For more information on TIEC and to see a full list of results, please visit www.tryon.com.
Karl Cook Bests the Competition aboard Caillou 24 in $35,000 1.45m Horseware Ireland Speed Stake CSI 5*
Mill Spring, NC – June 10, 2016 – Erica Quinn of Mainesville, OH and Need I Say captured their first career derby win together, topping the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Mirimichi Green at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). Quinn and Need I Say received a final two round score of 369 to take the win. Kelley Farmer of Wellington, FL guided Point Being and Baltimore to second and third place, respectively, earning total scores of 368 and 359 from the judging panel. Competition at TIEC continues Saturday with the highly anticipated $380,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 5* for the Governor’s Cup beginning at 8:00 p.m. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. with free admission and free parking for all attendees.
Quinn, who recently took over the ride on the 2008 Warmblood gelding owned by Kelley Farmer, was elated with the performance of Need I Say under the lights in the George H. Morris Arena. The pair completed an effortless and athletic handy round, which ultimately pushed them to the top of the leaderboard. Andy Christison built the course, which showcased a number of airy oxers and difficult combinations, proving to be a tough test for riders throughout the evening.
“He’s just an amazing animal. I can’t say enough nice things about that horse. In the first round, I bobbled going into the two stride, which I was mad at myself for, but then I came back in the second round and was confident. He’s just such a good handy horse. I feel like I can do anything on him,” she explained.
Need I Say has an attitude and athleticism that allows him to excel in the handy round, which is one of his most notable strengths. The pair received 10 handy points from each of the judging panels to boost their score after performing an effortless, but bold second round.
“When I turn, it doesn’t matter if it’s one stride or three strides, he’s always going to leave the ground. He gives you such a nice feeling over the fences,” she added. “I’m new to doing the derbies and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, but I also think that I just need to keep doing them and get used to the atmosphere.”
Originally, Friday’s class was not on Quinn’s planned competition schedule, as she had arranged to stay in Kentucky, but at the last minute decided to bring Need I Say with the other group of horses traveling to the TIEC venue with Kelley Farmer and Larry Glefke.
“Kelley told me to come down here to do the $50,000 instead of staying in Kentucky and now I’m sure glad I did,” she smiled. “It really worked out for us and I can’t say enough nice things about Larry and Kelley. This is an amazing opportunity for me and I couldn’t thank them enough.”
Farmer had the initial ride on the gelding after he arrived stateside and collected two derby wins right off the bat in Pensacola, FL, establishing Need I Say as a strong derby contender. Quinn took over the ride this spring, and has been competing the gelding since, learning from Farmer and her winning ways.
“Kelley has quite a few horses in her derby string and was nice enough to let me ride this horse. He finished very well here a few weeks ago too. This is our second derby together and the other was a few weeks ago here where we finished in third,” explained Quinn. “I’m just so thankful that she gave me the ride.”
Quinn has worked at Lane Change Farm with Glefke and Farmer for nearly two years and focuses on many of the Pre-Green horses in the barn, but is beginning to turn more of her attention to Need I Say.
“Erica has worked with us for a while and has done a very good job. She’s worked for this chance and she’s definitely paid her dues. Everyone needs a chance and she’s earned this,” said Farmer. “I have plenty of horses in my string and I wanted her to have a horse that had no tricks and that was capable of competing with mine. In the handy rounds, when we tell her, you know, you have to go inside, she has a horse that can do it.”
Farmer found Need I Say on a trip to Europe and his talent and scope drove her to cancel an original flight home and travel across Germany to try the horse for herself. She explained, “One of our agents over there showed him to me and I bought him on the same trip that I bought It’s Me. It turned out to be very worthwhile,” she laughed.
“He had done quite a bit in Europe and had won as a young horse. He was cut late and I got on him not too long after he was gelded. I watched him jump some pretty big courses and when I sat on him I thought that there is no way they can build anything on a Saturday night at Derby Finals that will phase this horse.”
“There is no horse that can do things like he does in the handy. It’s really unbelievable. He is the most beautiful and rideable horse. Anywhere you put him he’s going to go. I knew that he would walk into any derby ring and win,” she added.
Farmer also commented on her second and third place rides, noting that both horses performed well, while Baltimore’s third place finish makes him the fastest earning hunter to reach $100,000 in prize money.
“Baltimore was a really good boy and I made a little bit of a mistake, which pushed down our score and it was my fault, but Point Being was great. He still can get a little bit green, especially at night,” she elaborated. “He wants to try so hard and he’s such a careful horse. He’s an overachiever and he gets a little overwhelmed at night, but that’s just him and that’s what I love. He just has an intensity that you don’t typically feel and is what makes him so special.”
Karl Cook Bests the Competition aboard Caillou 24 to Secure a Win in the $35,000 1.45m Horseware Ireland Speed Stake CSI 5*
Karl Cook (USA) quickly crossed through the timers to secure victory in the $35,000 1.45m Horseware Ireland Speed Stake CSI 5* aboard Caillou 24 at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). Cook rose to the top of the leaderboard with an efficient time of 65.10 seconds to secure the win. Richie Moloney (IRL) trailed closely behind with a time of 65.80 seconds with his mount Slieveanorra, while Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Cyklon 1083 rounded out the top three with a time of 67.31 seconds.
Karl Cook and Caillou 24
Cook and Caillou 24 tackled Alan Wade’s (IRL) track with a smooth and quick effort, as the pair used the opportunity to gain valuable experience at the 1.45m height. Wade has built competitive and educational courses throughout the week and Cook noted that the design was very suitable for the strengths of his horse.
He elaborated, “The way Alan [Wade] set the course made for the riders to take exciting turns instead of having to protect the front rails. It allowed us to flow down the lines and it was very nice to ride.”
Caillou 24 is a talented and young mount for Cook, as the pair has just started to regularly compete at the FEI level together. Caillou 24, a 2007 Holsteiner gelding (Casall x Corrado I), previously campaigned to the FEI CSI 3* level in Europe before Cook took over the ride early in 2014. Taking his time training the gelding at home, the pair have built confidence and a stronger relationship over the past year. After concluding a successful winter campaign, Cook felt it was time to gain more experience in a major FEI competition atmosphere.
“We have been protecting him a little bit and trying to teach him how to jump the way we want. But, at the same time, they also need to learn how to go fast and the only way to do that is by competing,” he explained. “He’s very good because he turns extraordinarily tight yet has a huge stride to leave out in a lot of the lines too. Normally you never get those two together in a single horse, so it’s a great feeling to have in the ring.”
Cook is based year-round out of Woodside, CA and spoke about what motivated his team to travel to TIEC for the venue’s first ever FEI CSI 5* week. Eric Navet (FRA), who Cook trains with year-round, also made the trip east with several horses.
“I had heard rumors about the place and wanted to see it for myself. My first impression of the venue was just wow, to be honest,” said Cook. “It has taken an incredible and obvious amount of foresight and investment to bring this facility to where it is. The thing is, this area is closer than people on the back home would think. You’re only five hours from Kentucky and it’s in a really great location for travel.”
“You also have to acknowledge the huge amount of prize money available at this venue. It is modern jumping. You are jumping on consistently good footing and the jumps are great,” he added. “Everything is really convenient for everyone and that’s what is important. It’s not just rings and barns; it’s so much more. Nothing about this venue is bad for our sport; it’s only going to do great things for it.”
Cook and his team will head back to California once the week concludes on Sunday, but will make arrangements to return to the venue in 2017 for next season’s competitive spring series. Once his string is back and settled, the team will look to finish a very strong summer and fall season, which will include several FEI World Cup Qualifiers, which will now be hosted on the West Coast.
“We are going to head home and work with the horses because you can’t really train them at the show the best you would like to.” Cook commented. “We might come back to do Central Park and possibly loop that in with the Million in Saugerties. I felt like we needed to come out here and feel it out. We will be back for the Spring Series here next season for sure,” he added.
For more information on the events and activities at TIEC, please visit www.tryon.com.
Mill Spring, NC – June 9, 2016 – Sharn Wordley (NZL) continued his dominance at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), earning his second consecutive win during the FEI CSI 5* week at the venue. Wordley piloted Casper to a commanding victory in the $130,000 1.50m Suncast® Welcome CSI 5* finishing the track in 46.34 seconds. Andrew Bourns (IRL) collected second place aboard Hyakari with a time of 48.65 seconds, while Richie Moloney (IRL) and Carrabis Z crossed the timers in 52.15 seconds for third.
A series of special of events at TIEC will begin Friday, June 10, in celebratory anticipation of the first FEI CSI 5* Grand Prix in venue history. The $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Mirimichi Green will begin at 7:00 p.m., while legendary show hunter Brunello will be honored between the first and second rounds of competition. During the ceremony Breyer will present owners Janet Peterson and Liza Boyd, as well as groom Alberto Ramirez, with the first manufactured model horse of Brunello. The highlight event of the week, the $380,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 5* for the Governor’s Cup will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 11. Gates will open to the public at 6:00 p.m. General admission and parking are free for all events throughout the weekend.
Wordley and Casper took a bold approach to the Alan Wade (IRL) designed track, which rode appropriately for the class according to many of the participating competitors. The course was large and technical, but incredibly fair. Wordley reiterated his comments from Wednesday, giving another testament as to why Wade is one of the best course builders in the world.
“I think the course rode exactly how it walked. It was a tough course and I knew that there weren’t going to be too many clears. The time allowed was quite tight and I was clear on my first horse too, but finished with time faults,” he said. “You had to go fast but you had to have your horse short as well into the tight lines. He did a brilliant job building a course that was big enough, technical enough, and took skill to ride, but was still very safe.”
Comparing his win Wednesday aboard Barnetta with his win Thursday with Casper, Wordley explained the differences between the two rides, but also described his individual approach to each horse in order to generate the most success in the ring.
“Barnetta rides very long so I have an easy go at making up some of the time with him in open lines. With Casper, he’s so careful; I have to keep him a bit closer with me. I added a stride today in one of the lines in the jump-off, but still made a go at the course. I didn’t get to see Andrew [Bourns] ride. I only saw it for a bit on the monitor, but it was hard to tell how fast I needed to go,” he commented. “I didn’t plan on going two seconds faster, but Casper is just such a quick horse.”
The course proved to be a difficult test, as only five combinations of 41 entries finished clear and inside the time. Shane Sweetnam (IRL), Carlos Ramirez (COL), and David Raposa (USA) each finished the afternoon with a single time fault, while Wordley piloted his other two mounts, Auckland De L’Enclos and Barnetta, to tenth and eleventh place, respectively.
Casper is an incredibly talented mount for Wordley, and at only ten years old, there is a very bright future for the 2006 Oldenburg gelding (Contender x Baloubet du Rouet) owned by Sky Group. Wordley also noted that Casper will be his potential mount poised for a run to the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in 2018.
“He’s been a very special horse for us and I still think there is so much more that he’s capable of. I’m really pleased with the way we finished today,” he commented.
Andrew Bourns and Hyakari
Andrew Bourns, who finished in second in the class, originally sourced Casper from Belgium and competed him up to the CSI 3* level before Wordley took over the ride with Sky Group as the new owners in late 2015.
“It’s great to watch Sky Group and Sharn have so much success with this horse and watch him start to reach his real potential. They’re so supportive of the sport and we all appreciate people like that coming in and helping it to grow,” said Bourns. “It’s a great feeling to see them do so well here and if there’s any pair that I am fine with taking the class ahead of me today, it’s Sharn and Casper.”
Wordley has worked with the gelding on developing a more open stride, but his innate quickness and agility always places them close to the top of the leaderboard. Wordley commented, “He’s a really smart horse. His weakness may be that it’s hard to leave out down a line where someone else may be able. His stride is a little bit short, but it helps him in the first round. When people do double leave outs, I can’t get to that on him, but he is so careful and is such fast horse anyway that I rarely find that to be a problem.”
Aside from this week’s competition, Wordley plans to contest some of North America’s biggest competitions this season with Casper in hopes of continuing their success at the CSI 5* level together. Less than a year into their partnership, it is obvious that there is tremendous success on the horizon for the duo.
“He’s only ten and this horse has done so much for me already. This is his second 5* show and he was second in Wellington, FL at WEF in the 5* night class. Just this year I’ve started to go quicker with him and ask for a bit more. We’ve worked on jumping bigger so that he could learn to believe in himself at the top levels. He feels so confident now and that’s why I’ve been able to go for it in these classes,” he added.
Competition will resume at TIEC Friday with the $35,000 1.45m Speed Stake beginning at 12:00 p.m., while the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Mirimichi Green will begin at 7:00 p.m. Only a few table reservations in Legends Club remain available for Friday evening. Please contact legendsclub@tryon.com for more details or call (828) 863-1130. The $380,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 5* for the Governor’s Cup will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, with gates opening to the public at 6:00 p.m. General admission and parking are free for all events.
For more information and to see a full list of results, please visit www.tryon.com.
Mill Spring, NC – June 8, 2016 – Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) ushered in the first ever FEI CSI 5* week, as spectators watched Sharn Wordley (NZL) take the win in the $35,000 1.45m Horseware Ireland Open aboard Barnetta with a time of 41.985 seconds. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Cyklon 1083 collected second place, finishing in 43.219 seconds, while Karl Cook (USA) and Caillou 24 rounded out the top three, crossing the timers in 44.231 seconds. Competition at TIEC continues Thursday with the $130,000 1.50m Suncast® Welcome beginning at 12:30 p.m. in the George H. Morris Arena.
Wordley has secured a number of top finishes at TIEC throughout the Tryon Spring Series, rotating a strong string of four horses through the winner’s circle. The track, designed by Alan Wade (IRL), who will build the FEI courses for the remainder of the week, saw nine combinations of twenty original entries move forward to the jump-off round. David Raposa (USA) and Eric Navet (FRA) both voluntarily withdrew from the short course, which left seven pairs to vie for the win.
“The course was just fantastic. Alan always builds beautifully and he’s one of the best course builders around. Very rarely do you ever say anything negative about his courses,” said Wordley. “I didn’t feel a ton of pressure going into the jump-off. He’s jumping well and I was able to go last so I had the chance to see what everyone else did.”
As the last pair to enter the jump-off round, Wordley felt that Barnetta’s large stride would come into good use, which is how he felt they secured the win. He explained, “I think I made up the time in a few places here or there around the course because he covers a lot of ground. He stayed very smooth for me and it was a course that you had to ride that way. It suited him very well and I was happy with the way he performed, especially since it’s the first time I’ve really asked him to move in the jump-off.”
This was the first win for Wordley and Barnetta at TIEC this season, but the 2004 Westphalian gelding (Baloubet du Rouet x Polydora) owned by Sky Group, has always finished close to the top of the leaderboard. Barnetta handled the track and added pressure well, according to Wordley, which is what he has been working on since taking over the ride a year ago.
“He feels fantastic. That was the first time I’ve gone fast with the horse because last year I was really just trying to build his confidence in the grand prix classes,” he commented. “That was my main focus last season, but he’s had some great finishes too. He was second in Central Park and he was third in a big class at WEF, so he has the talent.”
Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083
Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083 led late in the jump-off order and looked to have a firm grasp on the win before Wordley maneuvered Barnetta to a quick right turn after the Adequan® one stride to secure the victory.
“We’ve found that he prefers jumping three classes when we bring him out. It’s better for him and he just keeps jumping better with each class. I’m really looking forward to this week with him. He has a big stride so I can kind of just float around the courses with him,” he added.
Wordley has three horses competing in FEI this week and is motivated to add top finishes to his overall record with Barnetta, Casper, and Auckland De L’Enclos, while improving his world ranking, in which he currently holds 79th place. The three horses competing under Wordley’s guidance this week each have a unique strength of their own, but Wordley’s top mount, Casper, will be one to watch during the $380,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 5* for the Governor’s Cup on Saturday, June 11.
“Barnetta has been a really great horse for me. He’s going to jump the class tomorrow and then will have Friday off before we bring him back out on Sunday,” he noted. “Casper and Auckland will both go in the $130,000 class tomorrow, along with Barnetta, and then Casper will do Saturday night for certain. We’ll have to see how the rest of the week plays out.”
Competition at TIEC continues Thursday with the $130,000 1.50m Suncast® Open Welcome beginning at 12:30 p.m. For more information on TIEC and to see a full list of results, please visit www.tryon.com.
Mill Spring, NC – June 5, 2016 – Juan Ortiz of Wellington, FL and Nenuphar’Jac captured the $25,000 Lodge on Lake Lure Grand Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) with a time of 41.317 seconds to conclude competition at Tryon Spring 7. Kyle Timm of Apex, NC and Georgie B finished in second, crossing through the timers in 40.287 seconds, while Sharn Wordley of Wellington, FL and Corino collected third place, finishing in 41.31 seconds. Competition at TIEC resumes on Wednesday, June 8, with the start of the first FEI CSI 5* week in venue history, which will feature the $380,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 5* on Saturday, June 11.
Ortiz and Nenuphar’Jac, owned by Stransky’s Mission Farms, Inc., completed the only double clear effort of the day, as the other three combinations in the jump-off dropped rails on the short course. Nenuphar’Jac is a well-known mount who has been campaigned at the highest levels of the sport with a number of professionals.
“I think that the course rode a little bit bigger than we had anticipated for a national class, but as soon as I walked the course I knew I had a horse with the experience and talent to handle it and do well.”
The gelding has amassed notable international success throughout his career and Ortiz is excited to have taken over the ride. He explained, “Liliane Stransky acquired him for me from McLain Ward so that I could have a second horse to jump in the bigger classes. This was my sixth class with him, but I don’t use him too often and only bring him out when I know he has a chance to win.”
Kyle Timm and Georgie B
The pair have only contested a few classes together as Ortiz is ensuring that he takes the necessary time to understand Nenuphar’Jac and has chosen to only compete the experienced 2001 Selle Francais gelding (Cumano x Anemone du Col) in specific classes.
“We’re really happy with this result. Every time this horse goes into the ring I’m getting to know him better and better. It’s been about creating a match with each other, but I want to make sure that I’m allowing him to perform perfectly in the ring,” he added.
Ortiz capitalized on the difficulty of the track with his skilled mount, riding a fast and efficient round, even though he was unable to stick to his original plan the whole way through the course.
“I thought I was a little bit slow in the rollback turn to the last line and I left the door open there, but fortunately I was able to jump clean. That’s the most important part of completing a jump-off round, making sure you’re clean and fast,” commented Ortiz. “That’s what got me the ribbon. I was able to set a fast and clean pace, which made it difficult to catch.”
Ortiz plans to bring Nenuphar’Jac back to TIEC for the Tryon Summer Series and will compete his other mount, Dulien van de Smeets, who is also a top contender, in next week’s FEI CSI 5* competition.
“I will bring her out next week and right now she’s a reserve for the Olympics for the Venezuelan team. I also jumped her today and she jumped clean, but had a time fault,” he commented. “She jumped very well and I think we’re ready for the 5* next week.”
For more information on TIEC and to see a full list of results, please visit www.tryon.com.
Mill Spring, NC – June 4, 2016 – Shane Sweetnam (IRL) powered to another win at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) this week, piloting Cobolt to victory in the $130,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 3* under the lights in the George H. Morris Arena. Sweetnam and Cobolt saved the best for last, completing the jump-off course in 41.58 seconds to secure their top place finish. Daniel Bedoya (BOL) and Quattro earned second place, finishing in 42.424 seconds, while David Beisel (USA) and Call Me Hannes collected third place with a time of 45.351 seconds.
Competition at Tryon Spring 7 concludes Sunday with the $25,000 The Lodge on Lake Lure Grand Prix at 11:30 a.m. The Tryon Spring Series continues next week, hosting the first ever CSI 5* at the venue, which begins on Wednesday, June 8, and continues through Sunday, June 12, featuring the $380,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 5* on Saturday, June 11.
The $130,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 3* featured 33 entries and saw only five combinations move forward to contest the jump-off round. Michel Vaillancourt (CAN) set both tracks, which proved to test speed and accuracy, as two pairs finished the evening with a single time fault and eight combinations dropped a rail for four faults. Cobolt and Sweetnam were the last pair to secure a clear jumping effort, making them the fifth pair to enter the jump-off round and also the final combination to test the short course.
“I definitely felt pressure. You have to understand the goal, but you can’t be silly about it either. He’s quite a quick horse and I knew that he was feeling good because he was bucking from fence one to two,” explained Sweetnam. “We were a little lucky at fence two because of it, but he responded great and jumped the rest very well.”
Sweetnam also took the $35,000 1.50m Suncast® Welcome on Thursday aboard Cyklon 1083, who is the sire of tonight’s winner, Cobolt. Displaying his experience and expertise, Sweetnam piloted Cobolt, a 2008 Swedish Warmblood gelding (Cyklon 1083 x Selena) owned by The Blue Buckle Group, to their first major FEI win together.
“He’s a new enough ride for me. He’s ten and his father is actually Cyklon who won the other day, so it’s a father and son kind of thing this week,” chuckled Sweetnam. “We haven’t done so many big classes together yet, so for the jump-off I wasn’t sure how it would pan out but he handled it very well.”
“I thought he jumped great in both the first and second round. It was a great win for him,” he added.
The Blue Buckle Group acquired Cobolt in January and Sweetnam has taken his time getting to know the talented gelding, who joined Sweetnam’s string with a proven FEI record in Europe. The duo competed together for the first time this past February and only contested a handful of 1.50m classes during the winter circuit.
“I did a couple of 1.50m classes with him, but this is obviously our first big result,” commented Sweetnam. “He jumped the 1.50m class the other day and I made a few little mistakes but he jumped great. My plan was always to get a good result tonight and I have to say, I was very pleased with the way he jumped. Now I need to figure out what our next big class will be.”
Daniel Bedoya and Quattro
While Sweetnam has three mounts entered in the Tryon Spring 8 FEI CSI 5* next week, Cobolt will not contest the week’s main event, the $380,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix, but Sweetnam is looking forward to producing more top results with the gelding throughout the rest of the season.
“I was very impressed with him tonight and I know that he is a quick horse. He has a lot of real talent and I’m hoping that this win is the first of many to come for us,” concluded Sweetnam.
Sweetnam’s groom, Lilly Johnson, was presented with the Groom’s Initiative Award on behalf of Mark Bellissimo and Tryon Equestrian Partners, honoring her for the meticulous care and dedication to Sweetnam’s winning mount, Cobolt.
Kristen Vanderveen (USA) received the Leading Lady Award, presented by realtor Meg Atkinson, in recognition of Vanderveen’s performances in FEI classes during Tryon Spring 7.
The Tryon Spring Series continues next week with Tryon Spring 8, featuring the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Mirimichi Green on Friday, June 10, and the $380,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 5* on Saturday, June 11. For more information on TIEC and to see a full list of weekly results, please visit www.tryon.com.
Hunter Holloway and Entourage Take Top Honors in $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Mill Spring, NC – June 3, 2016 – Taylor Land of Atlanta, GA and Nepal collected a first place finish in the $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), completing the jump-off in 40.795 seconds for the win. Luis Larrazabal of Wellington, FL finished in second place aboard Quintus Fabius, crossing through the timers in 41.623 seconds, while Bryn Sadler of Santa Fe, NM and Cezarro earned third with a time of 42.012 seconds. Competition at Tryon Spring 7 continues Saturday with the $130,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 3*. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. and the class is set to start at 8:00 p.m.
Land and Nepal, a 2002 Argentine gelding (G.S. Raimundo x Rye Grass Finest RP H-31) owned by Jay Land, went early in the order, entering the ring as the third pair to test the track set by Michel Vaillancourt (CAN). Land and Nepal led with a clean effort on the first round track, moving them forward to the jump-off round. Brittni Raflowitz, of Palm City, FL and Baloumina Du Ry, followed after Land, also securing a place in the jump-off and ultimately finishing in fourth.
“He’s fourteen and we’ve had him for nine years now. He’s like a family heirloom,” laughed Land. “He’s been passed around between me, my sister, and my dad, and he’s just been a great horse for us all around.”
The duo rode a crisp first round, which demanded technical attention and skill, as it included several tight turns and two forward combinations. According to Land, Nepal has made great strides since her family bought him as a young horse, and he has steadily made his way through the ranks with several members of the Land family.
“We started him when he was five and he hadn’t jumped any bigger than 1.20m at the time. I’ve done so much with him and he’s been such a great horse for me,” explained Land. “We’ve done NAJYRC and Spruce Meadows together and really anything we ask of him he’ll always do.”
This is the duo’s top finish to date at TIEC this season and Land was pleased with their rides in both rounds, noting that the gelding felt fresh and mentally prepared for the class even before they entered the ring.
“This is our first class this week, but we’ve been here for three weeks so he felt like he was ready to go,” she noted. “My plan was to try and be smooth and clear in the first round and I think we accomplished that.”
Land went first in the jump-off round and attacked the course with a forward and bold round in an effort to seal the win, knowing that only three riders followed her in the order. She explained, “Since I had to go first in the jump-off I knew there weren’t so many people behind me and I decided to go fast and really go for it. It was either going to be first or fourth for us, but it worked in our favor today.”
The duo will stay and compete next week at TIEC, before taking a small break ahead of the summer season. Land explained, “We’ll be here next week for the CSI 5* and then I think head home for a bit of a rest. I love showing here though because the atmosphere is just incredible. The bigger classes on Saturday always have a great crowd and I love the feel of the ring. It just feels really intense all of the time.”
Hunter Holloway and Entourage Take Top Honors in $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Hunter Holloway of Topeka, KS continued her momentum from Tryon Spring 6 into this week’s competition, capturing top honors in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby hosted at TIEC aboard Entourage, owned by Hays Investment Corp., with a total score of 173. Blythe Marano of Franklin, TN and Fondant, owned by Virginia Ingram, finished in second with a total score of 172.5, while Daniel Bedoya of Magnolia, TX and Playbook, owned by Monica Hanks, collected third place, receiving a 170.5.
Hunter Holloway and Entourage
Holloway and Entourage received a score of 82 in the first round from the judges, before returning in the handy round to receive an impressive 91. Marano and Fondant sat atop the leaderboard after the first round, earning an 88 from the judges, but a score of 84.5 in the handy would ultimately drop them to second place.
“He’s seven and we got him a year ago. He moved up to the Junior Hunters towards the end of the season in Ocala and has been really awesome ever since. He just keeps stepping up,” commented Holloway. “He scored a 90 last week and a 91 today so I’m feeling pretty good about how he’s going right now.”
Holloway rode the handy round beautifully, piloting Entourage to a smooth and accurate round, showcasing his athleticism and attentiveness. She entered the round with a plan to take advantage of the numerous inside turns on course, which helped her to secure the win.
“There were a lot of inside turns that were options and I felt like I had ground to make up from the first round so I decided to go for them,” she said. “I wanted to take the chance and really go for it. He handled it very well. He was up for the task all the way around and I was really impressed.”
Entourage began his derby career this past spring with Holloway guiding from the irons and he’s displayed a sense of consistency and bravery that has impressed everyone at Equi-Venture Farm.
“He’s very easy and is a really straight forward horse. We’re hoping for a good summer season and success at indoors in the fall,” she smiled.
Competition at TIEC continues Saturday with the $130,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 3*. Gates open to the public at 6:00 p.m. and competition begins at 8:00 p.m. Parking and general admission are free! For more information on TIEC and to see a full list of weekly results, please visit www.tryon.com.
Mill Spring, NC – June 2, 2016 – Clinching his first victory at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) this season, Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Cyklon 1083 secured the win in the $35,000 1.50m Suncast® Welcome, finishing the track in 35.393 seconds. Kristen Vanderveen (USA) finished in second place aboard Bull Run’s Testify, stopping the jump-off timers in 35.944 seconds, and piloted Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili to third place with a time of 36.624 seconds.
Tryon Spring 7 continues at TIEC throughout the week featuring FEI CSI 3* competition and will highlight the $130,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 3* on Saturday, June 4, with gates opening to the public at 6:00 p.m. and competition beginning at 8:00 p.m. General admission and parking are free.
The course set by Michel Vaillancourt (CAN) saw 12 pairs move forward to the test the short course, while 28 original entries tackled the first round track. Five combinations finished the class with a double clear effort, while Vanderveen was the only competitor to finish the day with a double clear effort on both of her entries.
“I thought Michel did a good job. It was stout enough and I don’t think that it was overly technical, but it was big enough,” said Sweetnam. “He’s a great course designer and I think he had the right number of clears with 12 in the jump-off and in the ribbons.”
Cyklon 1083, owned by Spy Coast Farm, LLC, is an experienced mount for Sweetnam and has accumulated a number of top placings this year, including eight top five finishes in FEI competition throughout the winter circuit in Wellington, FL. The 2001 Swedish Warmblood stallion (Cardento x Cassandra) has spent ample time in many of the world’s biggest classes with Sweetnam in the irons and that experience is easily noted when the pair enter the ring.
“I thought my horse jumped very well in the first round and he’s fifteen so he has enough experience,” he stated. “Every Classic that I do with him I hope that I have a chance at winning it. He’s been having a great year and has had plenty of results. I feel like if I get into the jump-off with him I always have a chance.”
Sweetnam has established a working relationship with Cyklon 1083 that allows him to understand when to push for more, but also where it is safer to add, which was evident in the duo’s jump-off round. The pair opted to take several inside turns and Sweetnam felt it differentiated their time enough for the win.
He explained, “In the jump-off today I think a lot of people did five strides from fence two to three and I did six. I just felt for him, that I turned tightly back to two and three, so I think that’s where I made that time. Doing five in that line wouldn’t have been the ideal plan for him because he’s a little horse.”
Kristen Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Testify
Vanderveen set a strong pace aboard Bull Run’s Testify early in the jump-off, which seemed too good to beat until Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083 dashed through the timers just five-tenths of a second faster. Sweetnam is gearing up for a big week ahead, as he will have three horses entered in the Tryon Spring 8 FEI CSI 5*.
“I’m going to jump him in the class this Saturday night and hopefully we can have the same type of result. Next week is obviously a very big week and he’ll go again. I’ll have Chaqui Z and Buckle Up entered as well. Between the three of them I’m hoping that we can get some good results. There’s plenty of money and during the 5* week Thursday and Saturday will be very big for everyone.”
Competition at TIEC continues tomorrow featuring a $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix and a $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. The Tryon Spring 7 “Saturday Night Lights” event will welcome the $130,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 3* with gates opening to the public at 6:00 p.m. and the first horse on course set for 8:00 p.m. For more information on TIEC and to see a full list of weekly results, please visit www.tryon.com.
