Tryon Fall 2 Results:
Sharn Wordley Rides Mick Jagger to Win $30,000 WCRA Grand Prix
Kristi Watson and Longfellow Victors of $1,500 Open Hunter Derby
Taylor Land and Escobar WW: $15,000 ProElite Welcome Stake Champions
For Immediate Release
Rette Solomon for Tryon International
Mill Spring, NC - September 30, 2023 - Saturday Night Lights presented by Tryon Horse & Home saw yet another thrilling night of show jumping featuring the $30,000 WCRA Grand Prix. Twenty-six competitors competed under the lights of Tryon Stadium, with Sharn Wordley (Citra, FL) and Mick Jagger being crowned the champions. Wordley rode the 2008 gelding to victory in an effortless 38.68-second jump off performance. Placing second with a time of 39.60 was John Angus (Mooresboro, NC) aboard Fou De Vous (Norman Pre Noir x Ma P’tite Lulu), the 2015 Selle Français gelding owned by Sigma Stables LLC. Rounding out the podium to take third place was Lauren Balcomb (Citra, FL) and Verdini D'houtveld Z, her own 2011 Dutch Warmblood gelding, marking a jump off time of 39.44 seconds.
Sharn Wordley and Mick Jagger
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Wordley and Mick Jagger (Chacco Blue x Acentora) are a relatively new team, but have had their fair share of triumphs in their time together. “He’s a great horse,” Wordley said of the Hanoverian gelding owned by Della Wordley.
John Angus and Fou De Vous
©Natalie Suto Photography
“I bought him from Santiago Lambre a year and a half ago. It took me a little bit to build a partnership with this horse, but this year, he’s been first or second in nearly every Grand Prix that I’ve taken him in.”
Lauren Balcomb and Verdini D'houtveld Z
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Four horse and rider teams returned to the Nick Granat-designed jump off course, with John Angus holding the fastest time until Wordley’s final round with Mick Jagger. “[John] was quick enough!” Wordley remarked of his competitor’s jump off time. “I was lucky that I was the last to go so I could see what he did [in the jump off]. I just had to keep the rails up and go a little bit faster, which we were lucky enough to do.”
John Angus, Sharn Wordley and Lauren Balcomb in their presentation ceremony alongside Tryon International Competition Manager JP Godard and Tryon Equestrian Partners Carolinas Operations President Sharon Decker.
©Natalie Suto Photography
Wordley and his team are looking forward to continued success in the Tryon Fall series. “I love it here,” he shared. “It’s like a second home for us!”
Dana Robinson was presented the Groom’s Award presented by Tryon International for her care and dedication to Mick Jagger, alongside Tryon International’s Drew Page.
©Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the $30,000 WCRA Grand Prix, click here.
Kristi Watson and Longfellow Victors of $1,500 Open Hunter Derby
September 30, 2023 - Partnered with Longfellow, Kristi Watson (Oak Ridge, NC) started Saturday morning strong by securing the win in the $1,500 Open Hunter Derby. With eleven horse and rider teams navigating the Seth Clayton (Lakeville, MN) course, Watson scored a combined 168 points aboard the 2015 German Sport Horse gelding (Lorano 15 x Zahra) for owner Joslin Davis to come out on top. Taking reserve honors was Levi Foor (Raleigh, NC) and Oasis (Odysseus W x Vata), the 2015 Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Kit Connor, scoring 164 points over two rounds. Rachel Smith (Raleigh, NC) and her own All The Chrome, the 2004 Thoroughbred gelding (Her Majesty’s Bid x Johnnie Who), collected 155 points for third place.
Kristi Watson and Longfellow
©Karli Dannewits for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the $1,500 Open Hunter Derby, click here.
Taylor Land and Escobar WW: $15,000 ProElite Welcome Stake Champions
September 28, 2023 - Aboard Escobar WW, the 2015 Oldenburg gelding owned by the Team Land Syndicate, Taylor Land (Atlanta, GA) claimed the win in Thursday’s $15,000 ProElite Welcome Stake. Besting twenty other pairs in the class, Land and Escobar WW (Etoulon x Böckmann’s Lord Pezi) marked a speedy jump off time of 39.17 seconds. Close behind the winning duo was Todd Minikus (Lake Worth, FL) and Harvest WB (Toulon x Zilke B), the 2012 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Maxine Schatten, recording a jump off time of 40.66 seconds to secure second place. With four faults in the jump off and a time of 38.68 seconds, Riley Delbecq (Duck Key, FL) and Cardozo 4 (Colestus x Landfee), the 2013 Westfalen gelding owned by Todd Minikus LTD, claimed third in the class.
Taylor Land and Escobar WW
©Karli Dannewitz for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results of the $15,000 ProElite Welcome Stake, click here.
For all division results from Tryon Fall 2, click here.
The Tryon Fall Series continues with six weeks of Jumper, Hunter and Equitation competition, and Saturday Night Lights presented by Tryon Horse & Home continues every Saturday through October 28. Competitors can learn more and book stalls at www.Tryon.com/compete. To see everything that’s happening next at Tryon International, visit www.Tryon.com/allevents.
Photos ©Natalie Suto Photography (Bailey Beck, Karli Dannewitz and Natalie Suto, as noted). These photos may only be used once, in relation to this press release. Competitors may view and purchase competition photos at www.nataliesutophotography.shootproof.com. With questions regarding photography at TIEC, contact media@tryon.com.