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Holly Shepherd Wins First Day of $1,000 Adequan 1.30m Open Jumper

Holly Shepherd and Belle Clara DKS. Photos ©Sportfot.

David Blake and Zelaleen Take $1,000 Animo 1.20m Open Jumper at Tryon Spring 6

Mill Spring, NC – May 20, 2015 – Competition was underway at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TEIC) today with the start of Tryon Spring 6, the sixth installment of the 2015 Tryon Spring Series. Holly Shepherd of Grand Bay, AL finished in first and second in the $1,000 Adequan® 1.30m Open Jumper piloting Dejan Krunic’s Belle Clara DKS to first and Loretta Patterson’s Copycat to second place. David Blake of Wellington, FL topped the $1,000 Animo® 1.20 Open Jumper aboard Pine Hollow Farm’s Zelaleen. Tryon Spring 6 will continue through Sunday, May 24, and the Tryon Spring Series will conclude on Sunday, June 7.

Holly Shepherd dominated the $1,000 Adequan® 1.30m Open Jumper class at TIEC, finishing first aboard the Belle Clara DKS, riding the jump-off round in 36.65 seconds to secure the win. Shepherd then put in another fast clear round riding Copycat, crossing the timers in 67.246 seconds in the first round and jumping clean in 36.66 seconds in the jump-off, just a hundredth of a second slower than her ride aboard Belle Clara DKS.

The class of 25 entries battled for the fastest time around J. P. Godard designed course, which entailed several quick rollback turns, creating faults in several trips. Belle Clara DKS handled the tight course with ease, suggesting good things to come for the pair who has started their week at TIEC in strong fashion.

Jordan Coyne, winner of the Tryon Spring 5 $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix, rode Christoph Schroeder’s Catori to third place, completing their first round in 67.975 seconds and finishing the jump-off in 39.812 seconds.

David Blake and Zelaleen Top First Day of $1,000 Animo 1.20 Open Jumper

David Blake and Pine Hollow Farm’s Zelaleen topped the first class of the $1,000 Animo 1.20 Open Jumper at TIEC, besting a class of 22 entries. The duo finished the first round on course in 61.457 seconds and completed the jump-off in 40.718 seconds to seal the win.

David Blake and Zelaleen
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David Blake and Zelaleen

“Zelaleen is owned by the Dvorkins and is ridden by their daughter, Carly, who typically competes the horse. We decided to give it a run before she arrives this weekend,” said Blake. “She’ll be competing him in the Low Junior classes this weekend and I just wanted to basically give him a good round before she comes to compete.”

TIEC will serve as the summer base for Blake and Pine Hollow Farm team, as they will continue to compete throughout the remainder of the spring and summer seasons at the venue. This week is their first week of competition at TIEC and Blake was pleased with the course design he saw today.

“It was a lovely course and the ring is really nice to ride in. There’s plenty of space and you know it’s not too big or too small for what we need,” commented Blake. “This facility is just state of the art; we were here last fall and it was lovely and now it’s just 200% more.”

Blake had several rides throughout the first day of competition with mounts in both the 1.30m and 1.40m classes today and is looking forward to the larger classes to come later in the week.

“Basically today was about getting on and helping them get used to a new place. We’re hoping to do a few in the big class tomorrow and then a few on Saturday night in the Grand Prix as well and a couple in the Under 25 Grand Prix on Sunday,” he stated. “It’s a busy enough week for us for sure. It’s good to be busy and that’s why we enjoy it here.”

Ricardo Villa aboard his own Dulana finished in second place, finishing the jump-off clear in 40.743 seconds and Holly Shepherd with Loretta Patterson’s Win a Date finished in third, completing the jump-off in 41.028 seconds.

For more information on TIEC and to learn more about the June 6th schedule, please visit www.tryon.com. Please “Like” the TIEC Facebook page at www.facebook.com/tryonresort to be eligible for various contests and promotions.

About Tryon International Equestrian Center

The Tryon International Equestrian Center is destined to become one of the premier centers in the equestrian world. This new facility opened in June 2014 with sanctioned horse shows and initial supporting amenities including 10 riding arenas, 850 permanent stalls, a covered riding facility and fitness center. Future expansion includes a sports complex, two hotels, sporting clay course, and an 18-hole golf course plus a full calendar of equestrian competitions and activities. It is a spring, summer and fall haven for eastern and northeastern American equestrian competitors and enthusiasts. For more information, call 828-863-1000 or visit www.tryon.com.

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