Results: Tryon Summer Finale
John Brown and Ballon Bleu Secure $15,000 Buckley Fence Sunday Jumper Classic Victory
Rachel Smith and All The Chrome Shine in $1,000 Open Hunter Derby
Channing Noxon and Ventura Z Triumph in ProElite Welcome Stake
For Immediate Release
Emma Skelton for Tryon International
Mill Spring, NC – August 11, 2024 – In the $15,000 Buckley Fence Sunday Jumper Classic at Tryon International, John Brown (Mill Spring, NC) demonstrated exceptional skill and precision with Ballon Bleu (Amaretto D Arco x Papilon) to clinch top honors. The pair’s flawless performance and impressive time of 33.11 seconds set them apart in a competitive field over the Archer “Skip” Bailey (West Palm Beach, FL) course. Alicia Wilkinson (Charlotte, NC) and Salut Ca-Va (Stakkato x Ria Granda), the Hanoverian gelding owned by Horse Show Leases, LLC, earned reserve on a time of 34 seconds. Rounding out the podium, John Angus (Tryon NC), and Frenesie De Mars (Kannan x Tildia De Mars), the Selle Francais mare owned by Sigma Stables LLC, stopped the timers at 34.92 seconds for third place.
John Brown and Ballon Bleu
©Natalie Suto Photography
John Brown and Ballon Bleu were one of only three clear rounds in Tryon Stadium Sunday morning. “He's been just getting better and better,” Brown said of the Belgian Warmblood gelding. “He's owned by Ponce Tidwell. Ponce bought him as a yearling. We trained him as a three-year-old, when he was a stallion.”
Alicia Wilkinson and Salut Ca-Va
©Natalie Suto Photography
A longtime teammate of Brown’s, the rider representing Great Britain explained that Ballon Bleu partnered with him again after the horse’s career as a breeding stallion. “We've been jumping ever since, and progressing. He jumps 1.45 meters now, and he's getting ready to get his passport for the FEI 2*s,” Brown shared.
John Angus and Frenesie De Mars
©Natalie Suto Photography
“I’m grateful to be riding [Ballon Bleu], and for all our sponsors,” Brown concluded. “Thank you to Ponce Tidwell for owning the horse and letting me ride him, and to Donna Harrington, who bred him.”
John Brown and Ballon Bleu in their presentation ceremony.
©Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the Buckley Fence Sunday Jumper Classic, click here.
Rachel Smith and All The Chrome Shine in $1,000 Open Hunter Derby
August 11, 2024 – The $1,000 Open Hunter Derby saw Rachel Smith (Raleigh, NC) and All The Chrome (Her Majestys Bid x Johnnie Who) finish at the top of the leaderboard with a two-round score of 165. Among 15 total entries over the Seth Clayton (Lakeville, MN) coursek, Smith and her own 2004 Thoroughbred gelding walked into the handy round with a score of 83, earning 82 points in the short round to clinch the win. Aida Sanchez (Signal Mountain, TN) and Sarah Roberts’ Graceland (Edward x Felicias), the 2016 Hanoverian gelding took second in the class on a total of 161 points. In third, owner and rider Kaitlyn Morris (Chapel Hill, TN) piloted CSH Potter (All Star 5 x Finook M), the 2020 Dutch Warmblood gelding, to 148 points.
Rachel Smith and All The Chrome
©Laci Matthews for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the $1,000 Open Hunter Derby, click here.
Channing Noxon and Ventura Z Triumph in ProElite Welcome Stake
Mill Spring, NC – August 11, 2024 – Channing Noxon (Caledon, ON) and her own Ventura Z (Cidane x Twirania Z) the 2015 Dutch Warmblood gelding, showcased their talent and teamwork in the ProElite Welcome Stake, with the Canadian rider achieving a time of 36.69 seconds in the jump-off. The winning pair was followed by Julianna Empie (Chester Springs, PA), on Kelly Kocher’s 2012 Hanoverian mare, Chanel 479 (Check In x Rascaya), putting 37.21 seconds on the clock. Riding for Julia Weiss, Christina Kelly (Ocala, FL) and Can Fly (Unknown x Unknown), the 2015 warmblood gelding, took third in the Welcome Stake with a time of 38.26 seconds.
Channing Noxon and Ventura Z
©Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the ProElite Welcome Stake, click here.
The Tryon Fall Series presented by Coca-Cola, kicks off on September 20, with six weeks of Hunter, Jumper and Equitation competition including national and international jumping divisions. Stalls and lodging can be booked now for the fall series! Stay tuned for the full prize list, to be posted here. Saturday Night Lights returns on September 21, with a special back to school theme! Learn more at Tryon.com/snl.
Photos ©Natalie Suto Photography (Laci Matthews, as noted) unless otherwise 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.