Results: Tryon Spring 4
Paul O’Shea and Hellcat are Two for Two with $62,000 Earl Scruggs Music Festival Grand Prix CSI 2*
Paul O’Shea Dominates $32,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 2*
Alicia Wilkinson and Grimoire D’elphin Claim $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by AP Hassinger
Doug Payne Bookends Podium in $6,000 Speed Stake CSI 2*
Amanda Derbyshire Dominates $6,000 Two Phase CSI 2*
Tina Yates and Ivaludine S Best $25,000 Buckley Fence Sunday Jumper Classic
For Immediate Release
Sarah Madden for Tryon International
Mill Spring, NC - May 27, 2024 - Tryon Spring 4 competition marked the first FEI competition of the season at Tryon International Equestrian Center and Resort (Tryon International), highlighted by the $62,000 Earl Scruggs Music Festival Grand Prix CSI 2*. Paul O’Shea (IRL) and Hellcat claimed the win in a time of 33.94 seconds in an exciting jump off competition under the lights in Tryon Stadium. Richie Moloney (IRL) and Skelwith Diamond Lady, the 2014 Anglo European mare (Kalaska de Semilly x Balou du Rouet) owned by Equinimity LLC, received second place honors for their 34.7-second performance, while third place went to Marilyn Little (USA) and La Contessa, the 2015 Mecklenburg mare (License x Cornet’s Prinz) owned by the Palm Beach Show Jumping Group, after stopping the clock at 35.01 seconds.
Paul O’Shea and Hellcat
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Forty horse-and-rider pairs contested the Bernardo Costa Cabral (POR) course design, with 11 pairs qualifying for the jump off track. O’Shea and the 2011 Belgian Warmblood mare (Cassander Van Het Bremhof x Conan) owned by Team Eye Candy claimed their second consecutive FEI win of the week after also claiming the $32,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 2* on Thursday.
Richie Moloney and Skelwith Diamond Lady
©Shelbi Lee for Natalie Suto Photography
“I was a little lucky in the first round; we went fast the other day, so in the first round, we were a little flatter than normal,” O’Shea revealed. “I had a few rubs, but she really tried her heart out. In the second round, she was in great form.”
Marilyn Little and La Contessa
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Despite a tough competition that saw a few trailblazers before the first double-clear performance, O’Shea’s strategy was to reduce his speed to the final obstacle, he detailed.
Richie Moloney, Paul O’Shea, and Marilyn Little in their presentation ceremony alongside Tryon International’s General Manager, Equestrian Operations Glenn Petty and Earl Scruggs Music Festival organizing committee representative Doug Grondahl.
©Natalie Suto Photography
“With her, my strategy is always to slow down towards the end. And that actually helped the last oxer, which I think caused a little bit of trouble. You had to get very square. So, it actually helped me to slow down a little bit there and get straight to it.”
Davide Troncanetti was awarded the Groom’s Award presented by Ariat for his care and dedication to Hellcat, alongside Tryon International’s Drew Page.
©Natalie Suto Photography
O’Shea credited his mare’s natural quick-footedness and her natural shape over the jumps to their success together. “I mean, even in the first round, I think she had one of the faster times, so she naturally has a lot of ground speed. And, she doesn't jump high over the jumps - she just jumps across - which works out well.”
As the highest placing female rider in the Grand Prix, Marilyn Little was awarded the Leading Lady Award presented by Marthaler Jewelers, alongside Tryon International’s Director of Business Development, Lynn Penny.
©Natalie Suto Photography
“Dav,” who is the groom for Hellcat and has been with Eye Candy Show Jumpers for three years with O’Shea, is a longtime friend, O’Shea revealed. “We worked together in 2002, so that’s pretty cool. He loves the mare and takes really good care of her.”
Results: $62,000 Earl Scruggs Music Festival Grand Prix CSI 2*
Horse Name, Year Breed gender (Sire x Sire of Dam)
Rider (COUNTRY), Owner: Faults/Faults/Time
1) Hellcat, 2011 Belgian Warmblood mare (Cassander Van Het Bremhof x Conan)
Paul O’Shea (IRL), Team Eye Candy: 0/0/33.94
2) Skelwith Diamond Lady, 2014 Anglo European mare (Kalaska de Semilly x Balou du Rouet)
Richie Moloney (IRL), Equinimity LLC: 0/0/34.70
3) La Contessa, 2015 Mecklenburg mare (License x Cornet’s Prinz)
Marilyn Little (USA), The Palm Beach Show Jumping Group: 0/0/35.01
4) Paddington, 2015 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Unknown x Unknown)
Matt Cyphert (USA), The Paddington Group: 0/0/36.24
5) Thuur Z, 2014 Zangersheide stallion (Tyson x Flipper D’elle*hn*)
Tomas Yofre (ARG), Stellium Sport Horses LLC: 0/0/36.33
6) Bull Run's Jireh, 2014 Holsteiner gelding (Uriko x Colman)
Kristen Vanderveen (USA), Bull Run Jumpers Inc: 0/4/34.21
7) Jackofhearts, 2012 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Heartbeat x Baloubet Du Rouet)
Margie Goldstein-Engle (USA), Gladewinds Farm Inc: 0/4/36.25
8) Daisycutter, 2014 North American Sporthorse mare (Diktator Van De Boslandhoeve x Quidam De Revel)
Richie Moloney (IRL), Equinimity LLC: 0/4/36.91
9) Voltanos, 2013 Oldenburg gelding (Voltaire Pref x Lordanos)
Lauren Tyree (USA), Lauren Tyree: 0/4/38.18
10) Otto Bh, 2012 Zangersheide stallion (Norton D’ Eole x Toulon)
Amanda Derbyshire (GBR), Amanda Derbyshire: 0/12/34.06
11) Tiffany De Olid, 2012 CDE mare (Huppydam Des Horts x Unknown)
Samuel Parot (CHI), Samuel Parot: 0/EL
12) EA de Casavieja, 2014 Spanish Sport Horse mare (Quality Time TN x Unknown)
Michael Murphy (USA), Laura Murphy: 1/70.18
For full results from the $62,000 Earl Scruggs Music Festival Grand Prix CSI 2*, click here.
Paul O’Shea Dominates $32,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 2*
Paul O’Shea (IRL) and Hellcat took the win in Thursday’s $32,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 2*, stopping the jump off timers in 36.25 seconds. Alexandra Worthington (USA) and De L'oiselière, the 2013 Selle Français gelding (Kapitol D’argonne x Unknown) owned by Turn a Blind Eye LLC, earned second place by just .05 seconds, clearing the course in 36.30 seconds for reserve. In third, Maya Ines Denis Chambon (MEX) rode her own Callypso De La Hamente Z, the 2016 Zangersheide gelding (Chellsini Z x Kashmir Van Schuttershof), to a time of 36.32 seconds.
Paul O’Shea and Hellcat
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography
O’Shea and the 2011 Belgian Warmblood mare (Cassander Van Het Bremhof x Conan) owned by Team Eye Candy have seen success together at all levels, and he emphasized that sometimes it’s mostly about staying out of her way:
Alexandra Worthington and De L'oiselière
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography
“Hellcat is naturally a very quick horse,” he shared. “And if anything, the strategy is to not overdo it, because she gets a lot of momentum herself. She's naturally quick across the jumps and across the ground. She's very experienced and very brave, and she's always looking ahead and trying to help out. She always gets us results.”
Maya Ines Denis Chambon and Callypso De La Hamente Z
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography
To O’Shea, who noted that the times of the top ten or so horses were all quite close together, his advantage on the day comes down to the littlest details.
“It is an advantage if you have a horse that's quick over the jumps, and Hellcat is that, which is helpful. It's all so close. I mean, I even take my car keys and my airpods out of my pocket to [be light, in case] that’s something.”
Paul O’Shea in his presentation ceremony alongside Tryon International Competition Manager JP Godard.
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography
The Irishman is a frequent face at Tryon International, and he relayed that he prefers to utilize the Cross-Country courses for hacking out, having just done so that morning. “I've been coming to Tryon for years, and it's always been a very lucky place for me. It's a great facility with so much space. I was down on the cross-country course this morning, just trotting around. It is always good [course] building, with good jumps and good ground.”
For full results from the $32,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 2*, click here.
Alicia Wilkinson and Grimoire D’elphen Claim $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by AP Hassinger
May 24, 2024 - Alicia Wilkinson (Charlotte, NC) and Grimoire D’elphen dazzled the judges in Friday’s $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by AP Hassinger. The duo scored 182 over two rounds to take the title. In reserve, Madelyn Kuhn (Johnstown, OH) rode No Salt All Sugar, her own 2013 Selle Francais gelding (Numero Uno x Belladonna di Mezzograno), to a score of 176. Mindy Coretz (Tulsa, OK) and Loremur, the 2012 Warmblood gelding owned by Abigail Casselberry, rounded out the podium with their total score of 175.5 points.
Alicia Wilkinson and Grimoire D’elphen
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Wilkinson and the 2016 Selle Francais gelding (Thunder Gesmeray x Dior D’elphen) owned by the Grimoire Group were well suited to the long lines of the course, as well as the multiple options for inside turns in the handy round, she recapped.
Madelyn Kuhn and No Salt All Sugar
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
“I loved the course because it had really nice long lines, with no numbers to count,” she emphasized. “The course was set well, and the handy was tricky. Like, there were some inside turns, and then there were some super inside turns! My strategy was to do all those inside turns.”
Mindy Coretz and Loremur
©Shelbi Lee for Natalie Suto Photography
Wilkinson elaborated on the stallion’s “awesome” personality. “He acts like a gelding, is super sweet and kind and likes to snuggle. He always jumps the jumps. He gives his all every time!”
Alicia Wilkinson and Grimoire D’elphen in their presentation ceremony.
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by AP Hassinger, click here.
Doug Payne Bookends Podium in $6,000 Speed Stake CSI 2*
May 24, 2024 - Doug Payne (USA) piloted two mounts to top honors in Friday’s $6,000 Speed Stake CSI 2* in Tryon Stadium, taking the win with Quintessence, the 2011 Holstiener gelding (Unknown x Unknown) owned by Payne Equestrian, in a time of 57 seconds. Tanner Korotkin (USA) and King Z, the 2015 Zangersheide gelding (Kannan x Major de la Cour) owned by Sandalwood Farms, clearend the course in a time of 57.15 seconds to grab second place. In third, Payne rode Chaccolate RFB, the 2013 German Sport Horse gelding (Chacco-Blue x Oklund) owned by Issy Kelly and Payne Equestrian, to a time of 57.49 seconds.
Doug Payne and Quintessence
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the $6,000 Speed Stake CSI 2*, click here.
Amanda Derbyshire Dominates $6,000 Two Phase CSI 2*
May 22, 2024 - Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) and Renkum Oriana, the 2016 mare (Unknown x Unknown) owned by David Blake, won the first FEI class of the week on a time of 25.96 in the speed phase of competition over the Bernardo Costa Cabral (POR) course design. Michael Murphy (USA) and Ea de Casavieja, the 2014 Spanish Sport Horse mare (Quality Time Tn x Unknown) owned by Laura Murphy, scored reserve honors in a time of 26.47 seconds. Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR) and Scoop de Seton Z, the 2014 Zangersheide gelding (Hunters Scendro x Echo Van T Spieveld) owned by Sigma Stable LLC, cleared the course in 27.03 seconds for third place.
Amanda Derbyshire and Renkum Oriana
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the $6,000 Two Phase CSI 2*, click here.
Tina Yates and Ivaludine S Best $25,000 Buckley Fence Sunday Jumper Classic
May 26, 2024 - Tina Yates (Wellington, FL) and Ivaludine S claimed a win in Sunday’s $25,000 Buckley Fence Sunday Jumper Classic, stopping the clock at 30.654 in the jump off with the 2013 Dutch Warmblood mare (Dallas VDL x Elsludine S) owned by Lynn Parker. Amanda Derbyshire (Wellington, FL) and Renkum Oriana, the 2016 mare (Unknown x Unknown) owned by David Blake, scored reserve with a time of 33.007 seconds. Tomas Yofre (Lexington, KY) and Cardora, the 2010 Holsteiner mare (Caretino x Tamara V) owned by Stellium Sport Horses LLC, rounded out the podium in a time of 33.661.
Tina Yates and Ivaludine S in their presentation ceremony with JP Godard, Tryon International competition manager.
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the $25,000 Buckley Fence Sunday Jumper Classic, click here.
The Tryon Spring Series presented by Main Street Insurance continues with Tryon Spring 5 hosted May 29-June 2, 2024. Learn more at www.Tryon.com/compete.
Photos ©Natalie Suto Photography (Bailey Beck, Natalie Suto, Sarah Sturgis and Shelbi Lee 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.