June 4th, 2012 – Tryon, NC ~ Blue skies shone brightly on Sunday as a week filled with exciting competition, fabulous parties and perfect weather culminated at the 2012 Tryon Summer Classic Horse Show. The event, held at FENCE (Foothills Equestrian Nature Center) in beautiful Tryon, NC, took place May 31 – June 3 and is managed by Aiken, SC based Equus Events. The show again benefitted the Tryon Hounds www.tryonhounds.com and featured a $2,500 USHJA National Derby sponsored by Reflections Farm and Brick Church Farm on Friday evening and a $10,000 Jumper Classic sponsored by The EMO Insurance Agency and Martha Hall on Saturday evening.
Friday night belonged to Karen Kelley of Charleston, SC and Laura and Meredith Mateo’s Uncle Luc as they strode to an impressive win in the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby sponsored by Reflections Farm and Brick Church Farm. Kelley said of her win, “I loved the course, all unrelated and off your eye. It felt as if we were on an outside course and that ring is so fun as all the spectators really make it feel exciting and special… Luc and I had a grand time! Another A++ job by Equus Events!” The pair brought in an 84 from round 1 as they came into the second handy hunter round in second place behind Don Sheehan and the Margaret Edge entry of chosen who scored an 87. In the handy round Kelley’s bold ride and Luc’s handiness earned them the top score of 85 giving them the win with a two round total of 169. Sheehan and Chosen were second with a 164 followed by Mador Du Chaufour and Glen Hartigan with a two round total of 158.