Tag Archives: Festival of the Hunt

Tryon Fall Festival 2 and Festival of the Hunt Conclude Equestrian Events at TIEC for 2019

The Parade of Hounds ©TIEC.

Mill Spring, NC – November 20, 2019 – The 2019 equestrian competition calendar concluded at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) at Tryon Resort with the 2019 Festival of the Hunt presented by Two Rivers Hay and the final component of the Tryon Fall Festival series, Tryon Fall Festival 2. The competitions overlapped with the kickoff of Winterfest at Tryon Resort, which runs November 15 through January 5, 2020.

The Festival of the Hunt presented by Two Rivers Hay featured two days of off-site judged hunts, celebrating the sport of foxhunting and evaluating competitors in the field. No animals are harmed. Concluding the competition, all participants competed in mock hunt and field hunter tests alongside Open Field Hunter classes.

Results for the TIEC Field Hunter Championships presented by Defiant Whisky are as follows:

  • First: Erin Kimmer (Mecklenburg Hounds) riding Finnis Chrome Magnum
  • Second: Gisele Beardsley O’Grady (Green Creek Hounds) riding Atoka
  • Third: Catherine Mooneyham (Green Creek Hounds) riding Kessler
  • Fourth: Nicola Deines (Green Creek Hounds) riding Rock, Paper, Scissors
  • Fifth: Amara Baker (Moore County Hounds) riding Battalion
  • Sixth: Lisa Biederman (Long Run Woodford Hounds) riding Eva
  • Seventh: Randi Goulding (Green Creek Hounds) riding Dynamik II
  • Eighth: Cameron Sadler (Moore County Hounds) riding Secret Bid

“Finny and I have been a team for a couple years,” said Kimmer, who topped the TIEC Field Hunter Championships in her first Festival of the Hunt experience. “We do eventing as well as fox hunt. He’s just a really cool guy! He pretty much does whatever I want him to do. He’s a great all-around horse.

“I’ve been foxhunting for about five or six years now, but this is my first time competing in the Festival of the Hunt,” Kimmer, who hunts with the Mecklenburg Hounds, shared. “I’ve wanted to come every single year you all have had it, but it just hadn’t worked out for my schedule. I am so glad it worked out this year! I’m going to tell all of my friends how wonderful it was, and we’re all coming back next year.”

Results for the Hilltopper Championship presented by Defiant Whisky are as follows:

  • First: Cathy Gomez (Belle Meade Hunt) riding Princeton
  • Second: Anne Pierce (Goodwin Hounds) riding Ted

Cathy Gomez and Princeton repeated their 2018 win in the Hilltopper Championships, and she shared that “Princeton, who we’ve had for two years, loves to hunt! It was really fun coming back here after my win last year, because I knew what it would be like, and got to practice.” Gomez continued, “It’s really nice that they change [the course] each time, so you’re not totally prepared, except for that you know there’s water, the berm to go up and down, and so on. This year, we had a bridge and the gate, so they made us get on and off, which was good.”

Gomez chose to participate in the judged hunt with the Green Creek Hounds, and complimented the experience as well as the portions of the competition hosted at TIEC on Saturday. “We got to hunt at Green Creek Hounds, and it was fabulous! It was such beautiful country – just lovely. I always like the gallops and halts because Princeton is really responsive. They’re his favorites! The mock hunt is always fun, too. It’s such a great opportunity, and TIEC is a beautiful facility! It’s such a treat to get to come here.”

Tryon Fall Festival 2 Sees John Angus and W. Tonix Hero Claim $15,000 Jumper Classic

John Angus (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) and W. Tonix Hero, Stephanie E. Angus’ 2003 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Ogano Sitte x Itaquine de Roll), dominated Sunday’s $15,000 Jumper Classic at TIEC, clearing the short course in a time of 39.528 seconds for the win. Christina Kelly (Aiken, SC) and Shining de Reve, a 2006 Selle Francais gelding (Zandor Z x Akinella) owned by Vick Russell, claimed second on a time of 39.912 seconds, while Kate Gluckman (Arlington, VA) and her own Uncle Ad W Z, a 2006 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Untouchable Z x Annie Z), received third on a time of 43.772 seconds.

Savannah Unger and Fabio Fly to $5,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake

Savannah Nicole Unger (Morriston, FL) and her own Fabio, a Dutch Warmblood gelding (Tangelo van de Zutthoeve x Ullah), sped around the jump-off in a time of 37.746 seconds to win the $5,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake on Friday, ahead of John Angus and Stephanie E. Angus’ W. Tonix Hero’s second-place effort in a time of 37.893 seconds. Chasen Boggio (Canton, GA) and mount Co Pilot, a Westphalian gelding (Coney Obellnsty x Pauline), took third with 38.595 seconds.

Merideth Bryans and Jaguar Champion the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Merideth Bryans (Newborn, GA) and Jaguar, a 2010 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Vickie Bryans, championed the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby on Saturday, with a two-round score totaling 166. Tommi Clark (Tryon, NC) and Appointed, a 2011 Mecklenburg gelding (Cassilas x Rosali) owned by Chosenbrook Show Stables, earned a total score of 162 to receive second. Suzanna Treske (Waxhaw, NC) and her own Conella I, a 2010 Holsteiner mare (Connor x Geste), were awarded third after their efforts totaled 159 points.

To learn more, visit www.Tryon.com.

Anita Crouse and Rickie Capture TIEC Field Hunter Championships at “Festival of the Hunt”

Anita Crouse and Rickie. Photos ©ErikOlsenPhotography.

Mill Spring, NC – November 12, 2016 – Anita Crouse, representing Green Creek Hounds of Tryon, NC, piloted her own Rickie to top honors in the Tryon International Equestrian Center Field Hunter Championships presented by Adequan® hosted on the Grass Complex at the venue this afternoon. The TIEC Field Hunter Championships presented by Adequan® served as the highlight of the inaugural “Festival of the Hunt”, which brought together three fox hunting organizations from the region for a week of sport across the Carolina Foothills community.

Crouse and Rickie participated in the organized hunts throughout the week and were selected by judges Snowden Clarke, Linden Wiesman Ryan, Roger Smith, and Thomas Cadier to compete in the TIEC Field Hunter Championships presented by Adequan® as a culmination of the weeklong festivities.

“It was a great experience. My horse handled this very well. It was a little bit nerve wracking at the beginning, but I trust him and here I am,” said Crouse.

As part of the championship event, the top three combinations were asked to return to the complex by the judges, who then rode parts of the course on their respective choices to further exemplify the rideability and braveness of the top three finishers.

“I felt so confident when the judge got on Rickie, especially because the judge, Thomas Cadier, has a horse that is very much a look-a-like to mine,” explained Crouse. “I knew that he’d like him.”

This is the first time that Crouse was offered the opportunity to ride on the Grass Complex at TIEC and it was a memorable afternoon for her and Rickie. She elaborated, “Galloping in the field with all of my friends and other foxhunters will always be a highlight of this week. Just the gala and camaraderie around it is something I won’t forget.”

“It’s exposure to the public for what fox hunting is,” continued Crouse. “It can be such a fun sport and we’re glad that people were able to experience it here.”

The judges are experienced fox hunters and have a breadth of experience between them, participating in numerous hunts across the East Coast. In an effort to gain more attention and participation for the sport, the “Festival of the Hunt” will continue to be a staple of the fall season at the venue for years to come.

huntSnowden Clark, who hails from Middleburg, VA, one of the fox hunting capitals of the world, served as a judge for the competition and echoed Crouse’s sentiments, noting that the tradition of the sport, which dates back to the early 1500s, can only grow with festivals and events such as the one hosted at TIEC throughout the week.

“I think what was important about this week is that it showed the diversity of the horses and people who participate in fox hunting and hopefully made for an enjoyable experience for everyone,” he said. “It was a great first event.”

Roger Smith, a partner of the Tryon Equestrian Partners (TEP) and avid fox hunter, also served as a judge for the weeklong competition and is already looking forward to the growth of the “Festival of the Hunt” in the future.

“We hope this becomes a great tradition and legacy for the Carolinas. May I also say to Anita, who hunts all of the time, that I’m so proud of your performance and if anyone deserves the blue ribbon, it’s you,” commented Smith.

As each of the judges touched on the importance of the week, Linden Wiesman Ryan of Blue Ridge, VA was also quick to comment on the stellar performance of Crouse and Rickie, noting, “Anita’s horse was just one that stood out to me all week. It was just lovely and never put a foot wrong. We hope, as Roger said, that this becomes a yearly event and a tradition, ultimately attracting more people to fox hunting.”

“I believe that fox hunting is the foundation for virtually all of the equestrian sports that we love to watch and compete in. I feel that an event like this helps remind all of us, as well as engages spectators too,” added judge Thomas Cadier.

“I would like to thank Linden and Snowden for traveling here and adding their knowledge and expertise in judging to our first event, as well as the lovely young lady who put this all together, Carolyn Cadier. Without her it would not have been as successful as what we saw this year,” concluded Smith.

TIEC would also like to recognize the accomplishments of Ginny Howard of Green Creek Hounds and her own Bubby for their first place finish in the Hilltoppers divisions, as well as Jana Hinely of Green Creek Hounds and Calli for their first place finish in the Appointments class. West Hamryka of Shakerag Hounds and mount Cooper were presented with the “Best Conditioned Award” while Erin Gambrell and her own Entity earned the “Sportsmanship Award” alongside Daniel McFerrin and his own Bohannan.

The event management team also sends its sincerest gratitude to Jim Troppman for his diligence as Master of Ceremonies for the event.

The “Festival of the Hunt” also featured an evening Meet & Greet event with renowned artist and photographer Drew Doggett in the Legends Club Lobby, as his collection “Band of Rebels: White Horses of Camargue” has been on display at TIEC for the past month. For more information on Drew Doggett and to view the collection online, please visit www.drewdoggett.com.

For more information on “Festival of the Hunt” and TIEC, please visit www.tryon.com.