Tryon Fall 5 Saturday Update
Conor Swail Commands $340,000 KASK Grand Prix CSI 5* Victory Aboard Casturano
The Archers Hit a Bullseye in Major League Show Jumping Team Competition CSI 5* presented by Cabana Coast
Sloane Coles Clocks in a $40,000 LeMieux Grand Prix CSI 2* Win
Shane Sweetnam Clinches Major League Show Jumping Individual Round CSI5*
For immediate release
Rette Solomon for Tryon International
October 19, 2024 – Mill Spring, NC – In the final feature class of Major League Show Jumping at Tryon International, six horse-and-rider pairs battled for dominance in the $340,000 KASK Grand Prix CSI 5*. Ultimately, it was Conor Swail (IRL) and Casturano (Castelan 3 x Canturo) who took the win, blazing through the jump off in 41.54 seconds. Fractions behind Swail, Kent Farrington (USA) and his own Greya (Colestus x Contender), the 2014 Oldenburg mare claimed reserve honors in 41.89 seconds. Daniel Bluman (ISR) completed the podium, marking a 42.21 second jump off aboard Abigail Wexner’s Corbie V.V. (Cornet Obolensky x Chacco Blue), the 2015 Zangersheide mare.
Conor Swail and Casturano
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Conor Swail and Mannon Farm’s Casturano are no strangers to the Major League Show Jumping tour, and this victory marked Swail’s first 5* win. “We’ve been together for a year and a half, going on two years in January,” Swail said of Casturano, the 2013 Holsteiner gelding. “He’s been an incredible athlete right from the beginning, very careful and with not much experience.”
Kent Farrington and Greya
©Avery Fletcher for Natalie Suto Photography
“I like to use the Major League [circuit],” Swail continued. “Last year, Casturano jumped an awful lot on the team and jumped a lot of clears. It’s progressed well, and this year we’ve moved up a little more. Every time we move up, he keeps answering all the questions.” As late additions to the next Major League stop, fans can expect to see Swail and Casturano in Monterrey, Mexico, at Club Hípico La Silla.
Daniel Bluman and Corbie V. V.
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
With six pairs in the field of 40 advancing to the jump off, Swail, Farrington, and Bluman were duly impressed with the Peter Grant-designed track.
“When you look at the six that made it to the jump off, I think that they're all horses that have jumped clear rounds at this level and won 5* Grand Prix, or have been very close to that,” third-place Grand Prix finisher Daniel Bluman observed. “I think the course design was great – it's a hard job, but we have to say that I think the Major League is doing an amazing job making sure they recruit the best course designers in the world. The job that these course designers have really can make or break the quality of a Grand Prix. A great job to Peter!”
Conor Swail, Kent Farrington, and Daniel Bluman in their presentation ceremony, alongside KASK CEO Fabio Cardarelli, KASK Sales Manager Andrea Nannarelli, KASK Marketing Coordinator Barbara Garbelli and Keean White of Major League Show Jumping.
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
With Major League Show Jumping returning to Tryon International, Saturday’s top performing athletes shared their experience in the Blue Ridge Foothills. “I've come to show here before, and it's a great facility,” Kent Farrington noted. “Obviously, there's been difficult times here with the hurricane, so it's still nice that the crowd appears and rallies behind our sport. I'm always happy to come here, I think it's good for the horses and good for our sport.”
As the highest placing female rider in the Grand Prix, Tiffany Foster was presented the Leading Lady Award presented by Marthaler Jewelers, alongside Director of Business Development Lynn Penny.
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
“[The facilities] are great for the horses, and great for the grooms and ourselves,” Bluman mentioned. “We get to stay here on site and there’s multiple restaurants – we get to have a great time! I think it’s a horse show that everyone in North America wants to attend.”
Stefan McNulty was awarded the Groom’s Award presented by Champion Shavings for his care and dedication to Casturano, alongside Tryon International’s Drew Page.
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
The top three Grand Prix riders enjoy the Champagne Toast presented by Biltmore Winery.
©Avery Fletcher for Natalie Suto Photography
Major League Show Jumping athletes are now heading to the tour’s seventh stop, in Monterrey, Mexico, at Club Hípico La Silla.
Results: $340,000 KASK Grand Prix CSI 5*
Horse Name, Year Breed gender (Sire x Sire of Dam)
Rider (COUNTRY), Owner: Faults/Faults/Time
1. Casturano, 2013 Holsteiner gelding (Castelan 3 x Canturo)
Connor Swail (IRL), Mannon Farm: 0/0/41.54
2. Greya, 2014 Oldenburg mare (Colestus x Contender)
Kent Farrington (USA), Kent Farrington LLC: 0/0/41.89
3. Corbie V.V., 2015 Zangersheide mare (Cornet Obolensky x Chacco Blue)
Daniel Bluman (ISR), Abigail Wexner: 0/0/42.21
4. Eddy Blue, 2012 Oldenburg gelding (Eldorado VD Zeshoek x Chacco Blue)
Darragh Kenny (IRL), Carol Sollak: 0/0/42.72
5. Figor, 2010 Dutch Warmblood gelding, (VDL Groep Zagreb x Indoctro)
Tiffany Foster (CAN), Artisan Farms, LLC: 0/0/43.19
6. Tornado, 2014 Swedish Warmblood gelding (Diarado x Chacco Blue)
Skylar Wireman (USA), Skylar Wireman: 0/0/44.21
7. Claude, 2012 Westphalian gelding (Captain Jack 44 x Cefalo)
Elena A. Haas (USA), Elena A. Haas: 1/78.77
8. Hialita B, 2012 Dutch Warmblood mare (Emerald x Vaillant)
Thaisa Erwin (AUS), Michael Smith: 1/78.83
9. Ilex, 2013 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Baltic VDL x Chin Chin)
McClain Ward (USA), Bonne Chance Farm LLC: 2/79.02
10. Pikeur Lareen, 2015 Westphalian mare (Los Angeles x Cornet Obolensky)
Catherine Tyree Flores (USA), Catherine Tyree LLC: 3/80.86
11. Donatello 141, 2011 Westphalian gelding (Diarado x Lamoureux I)
Ashlee Bond (ISR), Ashlee Bond: 4/72.13
12. I-Cap CL Z, 2012 Zangersheide gelding (I M Special De Muze x Air Jordan)
Jessica Mendoza (GBR), Paul Mendoza: 4/74.69
For full results from the $340,000 KASK Grand Prix CSI 5*, click here.
The Archers Hit a Bullseye in Major League Show Jumping Team Competition CSI 5* presented by Cabana Coast
October 18, 2024 – Friday night’s Major League Show Jumping Team Competition CSI 5* presented by Cabana Coast saw the Archers, made up of Aaron Vale (USA), Nicola Philippaerts (BEL), and Harry Charles (GBR), at the top of the podium. With Gabriel Machado (BRA) of Maccabi United falling to Harry Charles and his mount Bandit (Obos Quality 004 x Cruisings Micky Finn) in the gold medal round, Machado was joined by teammates Mark Bluman (COL) and Shane Sweetnam (IRL) on the second place podium position. Vanessa Mannix (CAN), Sean Jobin (CAN), and Abdulraham Alrajhi (KSA) of Team Northern Lights secured third place in the team competition.
Team Archers, Team Maccabi United, and Team Northern Lights in their presentation ceremony.
©Avery Fletcher for Natalie Suto Photography
With Vale, Charles, and Philippaerts all being brand new additions to Team Archers, this also marks the John Madden-managed Archers’ first top placing of the Major League season.
“I was trying to get on a team recently, and had reached out to a few people and hadn't had much luck,” Aaron Vale explained. “I was out for a run last Sunday morning because I wasn't at a horse show, and John Madden called me and said, ‘hey, we can use you on the Archers.’ So I said, ‘I'm in!’”
Aaron Vale and Styles
©Avery Fletcher for Natalie Suto Photography
Aboard Styles (Cornet Obolensky x Canturo), the 2016 Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Don Stewart and Debbie Smith, Vale was ecstatic about his first Major League appearance and win. “How much better could I feel at the moment? It’s perfect!” Vale shared, fresh off the team win. “Obviously, John recruited some other good people, and it all worked out tonight.”
Nicola Philippaerts, paired with his own 2012 Zangersheide mare, H&M Luna Van't Ruytershof Z (Levisto Z x Inathina Van't Ruytershof) for his first Major League appearance, credited the team’s manager with the winning strategy. “John made the plan, and I think it worked out pretty well for us. We got to see a little bit how [team competition] works, but John made a good strategy, and everything worked out well today.”
Nicola Philippaerts and H&M Luna Van't Ruytershof Z
©Avery Fletcher for Natalie Suto Photography
Riding his own nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse stallion Bandit, Harry Charles clinched the win for the Archers in the gold medal round. “I’m glad we got two really quick rounds, and I’m happy to help the team get off to a good start in the second half,” Charles mentioned.
“These boys tee’d me up perfectly, and it worked out in our favor,” Charles noted, never missing an opportunity to credit his teammates.
Harry Charles and Bandit
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
This win moved the Archers into fifth place in the Major League Show Jumping standings, just behind the Trelawny Trailblazers.
Sloane Coles Clocks in a $40,000 LeMieux Grand Prix CSI 2* Win
October 19, 2024 – Teaming up Ninja JW Van De Moerhoeve (Elvis Ter Putte x Kashmir van Schuttershof), Sloane Coles (USA) outshone a field of 55 to win the $40,000 LeMieux Grand Prix CSI 2* on Saturday afternoon in Tryon Stadium. Coles and the 2013 Belgian Warmblood mare owned by The Ninja Group were the speediest of ten total double clears, stopping jump off timers at 36.48 seconds. Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) and Cornwall BH (Con Air x Tessi), her 2008 Holsteiner gelding, jumped to second place, securing a time of 36.73 seconds. Aboard Kenya RM, the 2015 Warmblood mare owned by Cavall Holdings, Mark Bluman (COL) completed the podium on a time of 36.95 seconds.
Sloane Coles and Ninja JW Van De Moerhoeve
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography
With many successes under the winning team’s belt at Tryon International and beyond, Sloane Coles and “Ninja” have enjoyed a fruitful fall season. “I've had since she was eight – she's 11 now, and she's in really good form,” Coles shared. “She was second in the 3* up at Silo Ridge, and my plan was to win today!”
Amanda Derbyshire and Cornwall BH
©Avery Fletcher for Natalie Suto Photography
Coles gave her mare plenty of credit in their initial fault-free round across the Peter Grant (CAN) course. “In the first round, she was great. It wasn't my best round, and I got a little bit lucky. After not having a great round, I felt like I came into the jump off even more determined,” the Virginia-based rider explained. “With that many riders in it, you just have to try and actually execute your plan.”
Mark Bluman and Kenya RM
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Helping to mobilize the Virginia equestrian community, Coles was one of the many generous donors who supported Tryon International’s Hurricane Helene relief efforts. “I was really on the fence about coming, with everything happening with the hurricane,” Coles admitted. “My community in Middleburg really stepped up, and we brought three trailer loads, with a lot of hay and a lot of grain from our feed store at home. Our whole community brought so many donations, so that made me feel better about coming!”
Sloane Coles, Amanda Derbyshire, and Mark Bluman in their presentation ceremony alongside President, Tryon Equestrian Partners Carolinas Operations Sharon Decker, Noreen Cothran of The Farm House, and General Manager, Equestrian Operations Glenn Petty.
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography
As the highest placing female rider in the Grand Prix, Sloane Coles was presented the Leading Lady Award presented by Marthaler Jewelers, alongside President, Tryon Equestrian Partners Carolinas Operations Sharon Decker.
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography
“All the volunteers, they're doing so much for the relief, and I'm happy to have been a very small part of it. I definitely have to thank my community at home, and it's been a nice show!” Coles concluded.
Stephanie Koerner was awarded the Groom’s Award presented by Champion Shavings for her care and dedication to Ninja JW Van De Moerhoeve, alongside Tryon International’s Drew Page.
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography
The top three Grand Prix riders enjoy the Champagne Toast presented by Biltmore Winery.
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the $40,000 LeMieux Grand Prix CSI 2*, click here.
Shane Sweetnam Clinches Major League Show Jumping Individual Round CSI5*
October 18, 2024 – Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and James Kann Cruz (Kannan x Cruising), the 2013 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Gizmo Partners, LLC topped the Major League Show Jumping Individual Round CSI5*, putting 66.27 seconds on the clock in the single-round format. With his own 2015 Irish Sport Horse stallion Bandit (Obos Quality 004 x Cruisings Micky Finn), Harry Charles (GBR) jumped a clear round to place just behind Sweetman in second, with a time of 66.44 seconds. Francisco Goyoaga Mollet (ESP), and Stakato Cornet (Cornet Obolensky x Stakkato), the 2015 Oldenburg gelding owned by Ashland Farms, rounded out the top three, securing a time of 67.21 seconds.
Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the Major League Show Jumping Individual Round CSI5*, click here.