Conor Swail (IRL) and Vital Chance De La Roque galloped to victory in the $73,000 Cleghorn Gun Club Grand Prix CSI 2* at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (TIEC). Their efforts were challenged by Vanessa Hood (USA) and Santauer, the 2009 Oldenburg gelding (Sanvaro x Centauer Z) owned by Take Two LLC, collecting the red ribbon with a time of 47.787 seconds. Securing third place honors was Santiago Lambre (MEX) aboard Easy Girl, the 2011 Oldenburg (Conthargos x Nintender) owned by Mario Onate, with a time of 38.048 seconds and four jump faults.
Forty-four riders pursued the Guilherme Jorge (BRA) designed course with five riders qualifying for the jump-off round. With a short list of short-course competitors, the dash for the cash was tight, forcing rails and faults. The track proved to be no obstacle for Swail and the 2009 Selle Français gelding (Diamant De Semilly x Rivage Du Poncel) that he owns in partnership with Adeline Hecart, who were first to go double-clear.
Swail and his new ride have proven their competitive edge in their first six months together after a bit of a learning curve, he shared. “We’re starting to gel really well together,” Swail explained. “He’s very fast, very careful, [and] very smart. He’s a little feisty to ride, which took me a while to figure out, but I think we have a good partnership now and I hope this continues for a while.”
