It was a record 2021 Tryon Summer Series at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (TIEC), with more than 3,500 horses competing at the venue over six weeks piloted by more than 1,500 riders. Competitors represented 19 countries, including numerous Olympians prior to their Tokyo 2020 experiences. After hosting multiple sold-out weeks of competition and opening competitions to spectators in May, the fall Hunter/Jumper calendar is shaping up to be just as exciting at the venue, with the continuation of “Saturday Night Lights” and the return of favorite holiday events. Read highlights from Tryon Summer 6, the most recent Hunter/Jumper competition, as well as top moments from throughout the six-week series, below.
Conor Swail and Theo 160 Finish Strong In $25,000 Sunday Classic
Conor Swail (IRL) and his own Theo 160 took the lead in the $25,000 Tryon Resort Sunday Classic at TIEC with a speedy time of 32.813 seconds in the jump-off phase of competition. Wrapping up second place was Cady Klimas (USA) aboard Celtic Lady M2S, the 2007 Dutch Warmblood mare (Condios x Ekstien) owned by Jumpers Landing LLC with a time of 34.569 seconds. Third place resulted with Eliza Lehrman (USA) claiming the yellow ribbon with Sierra, the 2010 Danish Warmblood mare (Stolzenberg x Lambrusco Ask) owned by Five Way Farm LLC with a time of 36.803 seconds.
The Ken Krome (USA) designed course saw 21 horse and rider pairs, with six riders qualifying for the jump-off phase of the competition. After having frustrating faults with his two mounts in the $37,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3* earlier that week, Swail was motivated to capture the win on Sunday morning. Despite Theo 160’s recent introduction to larger fence heights, Swail remained confident in his horse’s ability. “The first round was very nice, very smooth. In the jump-off he went a little green on me. I found he got stuck behind my leg a little bit, but he was still very fast and very careful,” Swail said.
Swail commended his new partner, Theo 160, the 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Christian 25 x Calando IV), saying, “He’s very talented, a great little jumper. Today I thought he was awesome.” The pair also won the $6,000 Speed Stake during Tryon Summer 5 competition. Swail was on a streak throughout the Tryon Summer Series, collecting win after win aboard several mounts.
With the conclusion of the Tryon Summer Series, Swail has eight weeks of traveling ahead of him, he shared. “No rest for the wicked!” he emphasized. Swail and his horses have made impressive achievements over their past four weeks competing in the 2021 Tryon Summer Series, which Swail credits in part to the venue. “My horses are leaving here full of confidence, and jumping well. I’m looking forward to coming back in October. It’s been a wonderful time and it’s a great facility.”
Hannah Smith and Adore Amaze in $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Hannah Smith (Winston-Salem, NC) and Adore topped the leaderboards in the Tryon Summer 6 $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, winning with a total score of 175. Relevant, the 2013 Hanoverian gelding (Willaglanz NC x Red Wine) ridden by Winn Alden (Bristow, VA) and owned by Oliver Brown, lived up to his name by earning a handy score of 90.75, a total score of 168.75, and a second place ribbon. Third place honors were given to Martin Videla (Aiken, SC) and Double Tap, the 2013 Hanoverian gelding (De Victor x Fein Star) owned by Deborah Snyder, after the pair earned a two-round score of 168.5.
Twenty-eight riders tackled the first round of the Skip Bailey course, with a cutoff score of 76 set for the handy round. Smith and Adore, her own 2008 Warmblood (Hauptstutbuch Carina x Colbert GTI), sat in third place after a first round score of 86 going into the second round of competition. The pair earned a score of 89 in the handy to best the competition and win the first place prize. “There were a lot of fun challenges and opportunities to really show off in the course,” Smith explained, “She’s a great jumper, so it’s really fun to be able to kind of canter up, have those big jumps that were really pretty for them to look at, and jump up great.”
Smith shared her strategy to earn the top spot: “We were bold to the first jump, then had some nice rollbacks. The big challenge was to go inside to the trot jump, she was great and listened. There was the hand gallop to the last jump. Sometimes hand gallops can be hard because you don’t practice that every day, but she stepped right up and jumped the last jump great.”
Sybil Moylan and Churchill Champion Leadline Competition
Sybil Moylan piloted Churchill, the 2009 Welsh Pony owned by Mr. and Mrs. Gavin Moylan, around the Tryon Stadium during Sunday’s Leadline Class at TIEC. Moylan took home a medal, a rainbow-colored first place ribbon, a commemorative tote bag, and a TIEC stuffed pony for her efforts. The pair was determined to win, having won last week’s Leadline Class, and Moylan proudly marched her pony into the Tryon Stadium alongside her mother and father. After her win, Moylan took a victory lap around the ring to explore all of the big fences she hopes to jump one day.
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