Kristen VanderVeen (Wellington, FL) and Bull Runโs Divine Fortune ended Tryon Fall 3 on a high note, stopping the jump-off timers in 38.099 seconds to take the win in Sundayโs $25,000 Tryon Resort Grand Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). Riding Chuck Berry 8, the 2007 Hanoverian gelding (Chacco Blue x Winzerin B) owned by Atlas Equine Holdings, LLC, Abigail McArdle (Wellington, FL) grabbed second on a time of 40.764 seconds, while Wilhelm Genn (Lebanon, OH) and Bugatti, the 2006 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Heartbreaker x Nona Bella) owned by Eduardo Leon, earned third-place honors after their 41.546-second jump-off performance.
The Catsy Cruz (MEX) course saw 35 entries test the first round, with five returning to test the jump-off track. โThe time was a little bit tighter than itโs been all week, which helped get the numbers a little bit smaller in the jump-off. Sheโs naturally my speed horse, with her natural fast canter, and the time allowed actually suited us quite nicely,โ VanderVeen shared. โSo, that was great, and then the jump-off was just fun. I just went as fast as I could, and sheโs such a fighter in the jump-offs โ itโs really her specialty.โ
VanderVeen emphasized that she โkept it simpleโ with the Bull Run Jumpers Six LLC-owned 2009 Dutch Warmblood mare (Padinus x Amhilavsca Fortuna), who has accrued multiple speed stake wins with VanderVeen in the irons and specializes in speed. โMy jump-off plan was to go as fast as I could from jump one to the lastโฆ I kept it really simple. She kind of has two speeds โ slow and fast โ and thereโs not a lot in between. Once you get into the fast gear with her, you just stay there!โ
Known for her successes at the venue, VanderVeen will spend the next three weeks at TIEC before deciding where to go next, and mentioned that Tryon Fall 3 was a great opportunity for her to spread the attention to some of the lesser-known horses in her deep string, ahead of continuing FEI competition throughout the month.
โIโm really happy with how all the horses showed this week, and weโll bring out the big guns next week, so it was fun to get to show these horses that donโt always get a chance to shine. The weather has been beautiful this week โ itโs incredible,โ she concluded. โTryon in the fall is pretty spectacular.โ
David Matisz and M. Holliday Cruise to $6,000 Speed Stake CSI 2* Win
David Matisz (HUN) and M. Holliday came out on top in Fridayโs $6,000 Speed Stake CSI 2*, stopping the timers in 70.44 seconds to take the win. In second, Kama Godek (USA) and Stonehenge 5, her own 2011 Hanoverian stallion (Stolzenberg x Kolibri), cleared the course in 70.58 seconds, while third place went to Bliss Heers (USA) and Christos, the 2009 Holsteiner stallion (Christo 5 x Linaro) owned by Bridgeside Farms LLC, after their 74.92 second performance.
The Catsy Cruz (MEX) course design saw 13 pairs in the field, and Matisz chose to compete with the David Matisz LLC owned 2012 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Zilverstar T x Gelhaโs VDL Emilion) Friday instead of taking on Saturdayโs $73,000 Tryon Resort Grand Prix CSI 2*, he explained. โI thought it was a well-built, nice course. It flowed really nicely. I had a young horse, and just wanted him to have a good experience. I thought he jumped it well, and it was a good experience for both of us. This is his first international horse show, so we didnโt really know what to expect from him this week.โ
Matisz shared of M. Holliday that last year they competed โin the young horse [Developing Jumper Series] classes, and he showed us a lot of potential. This year, weโve been building him up โฆ and we wanted to test him this week. He got a little green in the Welcome Stake, so I decided to jump him in the Speed Stake today instead of the Grand Prix. It turned out to be a good idea; he jumped really well and I think he got a very good experience this way.โ
Putting in a slick round that didnโt appear rushed, Matisz explained that he believes he shaved time of his round right from the first fence:
โI think from fence one to two, there was a gap that was a little bit tight, and I donโt think everybody took that. Thatโs probably where we saved a little time, and I just tried to keep going forward after the jumps. Things came up really nicely today, and I think luck was also on my side!โ
A longtime competitor at the venue, Matisz emphasized that TIEC is ideal for him as well as for his clients. โWe come here at least once every year. Itโs such a nice place and such a nice facility. I have a group of clients who jump from the Low Adults to the Grand Prix, and this place provides nice divisions, classes and prize money throughout the week, so itโs ideal for a barn like ours. We try to come here as much as we can.โ Matisz concluded, โI want to say thank you to management for organizing such a great show, and for keeping everyone as safe as possible. I think theyโre doing a great job.โ
Jimmy Torano and Laskano Conquer $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Jimmy Torano (Wellington, FL) and Laskano galloped to a win in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby during Tryon Fall 3, scoring a two-round total of 184 points for the win. Liza Boyd (Camden, SC) and Walk-Off, a 2014 Holsteiner gelding owned by Gigi Manigault, scored 91 and 92 for a two-round total of 183 and second place, while third place honors went to Maria Rasmussen (Royal Palm Beach, FL) and Business Time, scoring 174 with Maya Groveโs 2012 Swedish Warmblood gelding (Heartbeat x Little Sunshine).
Torano and the Isalou, Inc. entry, the 2012 Westphalian gelding (Los Angeles x Laskaja), walked up the lines to show off a powerful stride throughout the Dean Rheinheimer (Sheridan, IN) course, he detailed. โThere were unrelated distances which were nice for my horse because I was able to gallop along and show him off. There was one line that everybody was riding in eleven or twelve strides, and my horse has a big stride, so I galloped it in ten strides in both rounds,โ he recapped. โI think that probably helped with my score.โ
Laskano is โbasically undefeated,โ Torano shared, since his horse show debut at TIEC. โWe just got him in May of this year. He did his first horse show right here in Tryon and he was champion with me in the Green Hunters and champion in the Amateur Hunters. Heโs basically undefeated. Heโs been a champion everywhere weโve been. Unfortunately, his owner is recovering from an injury and is not here to ride him or see him, but at least we got some good news to tell her and send pictures of her horse with a blue ribbon!โ
Heading into the handy round, Torano was one point behind Boyd, and knew he needed to โpull out all the stopsโ to gain the lead: โMy plan was to gallop and be as tight and as neat as I could be. I really felt like I showed a lot of brilliance and worked with pace. I thought I would end with a strong finish, so on that line that was an eleven or twelve stride, I did ten. The horse was just phenomenal.โ
Hunter Highlights:
Maria Rasmussen (Royal Palm Beach, FL) and Maya Groveโs Hallmark were champions in the EquiSafe Global Green Hunter 3โ Division, with reserve earned by Harold Chopping (Southern Pines, NC), aboard the Rick Gabel and Carole OโBrien entry, Halston.
In the Marshall & Sterling Insurance Adult-Amateur Hunter 18-35 Division, Emily Rickert (Dunnellon, FL) rode Story Teller to a champion ribbon for Foxridge Farms Stables, while reserve belonged to Jospehine Rose (Springboro, OH) and mount Cracker Jack.
Rachel Lindsey (Austin, TX) was champion in the Performance Hunter 3โ6โ Division, riding MTM Poker Face for Jillian Glubke. Maria Rasmussen (Royal Palm Beach, FL) and SVF ON My Own claimed reserve for Sunset View Farm LLC.
Jumper Highlights:
Cathleen Driscoll (Elk Mills, MD) and her own Enzo H claimed the champion title in the 1.35m Open Jumper Division, with Ricardo Villa (Campobello, SC) guiding Tender Bravissimo to reserve for Devan Klamon.
In the Developing Jumper Series 7-Year-Old 1.30-1.35m Young Jumper Division, Callie Schott (Franklin, TN) piloted Nippon to the top for Southern Arches, LLC, while reserve for the week went to Brooke Kemper (Reddick, FL) in the irons for Shadow Pond Group with Rocket J Squirrel.
Sharn Wordley (Citra, FL) and Helios Prime, owned by the Helios Group, were champions in the Nutrenaยฎ 1.40 Open Jumper Division, with reserve named to Kelli Cruciotti-VanderVeen (Wellington, FL), riding Zidante for Serenity Farm.
The Tryon Fall Series continues through Sunday, November 1, with Tryon Fall 4 to feature CSI 3* competition, the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Finals, as well as the Neue Schule/USEF Junior Jumper National Championships. Though all remaining 2020 competitions at TIEC are closed to the public, live streaming is available at www.Tryon.com/streaming.
For full results from the $25,000 Tryon Resort Grand Prix, click here.