June 6th, 2011~ Tryon, NC – The 2011 Tryon Summer Classic came to a close yesterday. The show took place at FENCE (Foothills Equestrian Nature Center) in beautiful Tryon, NC June 2-5. FENCE is an over 380 acre nature, education, and recreation facility nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Equus Events, Inc. handled the managing duties this week.
The Tryon Hounds were once again the show’s beneficiary and put on two fabulous parties during the event. On Friday evening the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby was held under the lights along with an Exhibitors’ Party in the VIP Tent sponsored by the Tryon Hounds. While exhibitors and spectators enjoyed cocktails and dinner, 16 horses and riders were prepping to compete in the National Hunter Derby. Joseph Carnicom of Toledo, OH designed the course which featured 4 height options and natural obstacles such as coups, brush boxes, split rail fencing and rustic logs. Christina Jason and Allison Mills Renoir Z came home victorious in the class with a first round score of 87 and a second round score of 85 which gave them a 189 two round total to take the win over Lisa Otto’s Duke Principe MF and rider Holli Adams. Christina rides for DFG Stables and Daniel and Cathy Geitner out of Aiken, SC. She handled most of the riding duties this week at the Tryon Summer Classic along with Cathy Geitner while Daniel was with clients at the Devon Horse Show. “The hospitality at this show is fantastic, the courses were great and Renoir Z really rose to the occasion!” Originally from Rochester, MI, the young professional now lives in Aiken, SC. “I already owe a lot of my accomplishments to Cathy and Daniel. They are both great horseman and I am privileged to learn from the best”.
Jason’s winning ways continued on to Saturday evening’s $10,000 EMO Insurance Jumper Classic which was presented by The Tryon Hounds and EMO Insurance Agency. One of only two clear in the first round, a lone rail in the jump off kept CDS Stables Snook and Jason in second while hometown rider Vick Russell and Lily Hahn’s Lucky One captured the blue with a clear round and time of 45.189. “Great class; I really am the Lucky One,” cited Russell. Russell was joined in the winner’s circle by EMO representative Martha Hall as well as the owners of Lucky One, Lily Hahn, husband Ben, and new baby Benjamin. During the class, patrons were treated to the Tryon Hounds annual fundraiser in the VIP tent which included libations and local cuisine donated by area eateries. An exhibitors’ area was also available during the Jumper Classic under the hospitality tent which offered riders and trainers cold drinks, beer, and wine as well as pizza from the local Buck’s Pizzeria. The exhibitors’ area was graciously sponsored by Benchmark Farm and Martin and Dana Klein, Juan and Jennifer Gamboa, and DFG Stables and Daniel and Cathy Geitner. Earlier in the day, Baskin Robbins was on hand with an ice cream sundae bar for everyone to enjoy. The ice cream party was sponsored by Equus Events and the Godard Family.
Sunday, the final day of the show, brought many of the Tryon Hounds’ perpetual trophies being awarded to some of the show’s Grand Champion and High Point riders. Some of the winners included:
*Hoffman Van Wieren Trophy for Grand Champion Hunter – Goodman owned by Katherine Coster and ridden by Bruce Christison
*Frederick B. Farwell Grand Champion Amateur Owner – Good Thing and Carol O’Brien
*The Fox Creek Farm Challenge Trophy Grand Junior Hunter – Funny Face owned by Charlotte Hoffman and ridden by Michael Kocher
*The Red Frazier Memorial Grand Pony Hunter – Winter Wardrobe owned by Hannah Siegel and ridden by Elizabeth Butterworth
*The George Webster High Point Short Stirrup – Savannah Smiles and Kendall Edwards
*Grand Adult Hunter – Road to Time owned by Daniel Robertshaw and ridden by Grayson Schirmer
*Grand Children’s Hunter – Bulls Bay owned by Ann Rice Ervin and ridden by Jessica Rooks
The final event of the show was the Ariat Charity Challenge. Congratulations to Thermal Belt Outreach Ministries and team Motlow Creek for taking the victory in the challenge.
For more information and complete results please log on to www.equusevents.com. Equus Event’s summer schedule continues with an exciting new show series the Atlanta Summer Fest August 18-21 and 25-28 at the gorgeous Bouckaert Farms in Fairburn, GA.
Contact:
Equus Events, Inc.
803-643-5698
www.equusevents.com
Meganvgodard@gmail.com