Tryon Fall 5 Thursday Update
Laura Kraut Dominates the Premier Equestrian Grand Prix Qualifier CSI5*
ProElite Grand Prix Qualifier CSI2* Winners: McLain Ward and La Serra
For Immediate Release
Rette Solomon for Tryon International
October 17, 2024 – Aboard St. Bride’s Farm’s Baloutinue, Laura Kraut (USA) jumped to first place in Thursday’s Premier Equestrian Grand Prix Qualifier CSI5*, besting 41 total teams. Kraut put 36.33 seconds on the clock for the win, ahead of Tryon Fall 5’s feature Major League Show Jumping classes this week. Ashlee Bond (ISR) rode Donatello 141 (Diarado x Lamoureux I), her own 2011 Westphalian gelding to second place in the class, with a time of 36.54 seconds. Taking third with Vital Chance De La Roque (Diamant De Semilly x Rivage Du Poncel), Conor Swail (IRL) piloted the Mannon Farm-owned 2009 Selle Français gelding to a jump off time of 37.02 seconds.
Fresh off an Olympic silver medal, Laura Kraut and longtime partner Baloutinue (Balou Du Rouet x Landor S) tore up the Peter Grant (CAN) track, producing a double clear performance.
Debuting on the Major League Show Jumping circuit this season, Kraut has had an impressive start. “I’ve been watching Major League from afar,” she admitted. “When I heard about it, I thought it sounded like a great concept, and it feels like it’s really taking off. I needed to join the party!”
Laura Kraut and Baloutinue
©Avery Fletcher for Natalie Suto Photography
“I galloped as hard as I could to the wall. I probably would have liked to have one less stride there, but he was good,” Kraut said of the 2010 Hanoverian gelding in the team’s jump off effort. “Lucky for me, I watched Ashlee [in the jump off], and Ashlee’s horse and mine are very similar. So I just tried to do what she did – she really galloped to the oxer, and made a great turn back.”
Ashlee Bond and Donatello 141
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Kraut had nothing but praise for Baloutinue. “He’s got such fast footspeed, and he’s quick through the air. He’s like riding a thoroughbred, so it’s fun to let him go and try.”
Conor Swail and Vital Chance De La Roque
©Avery Fletcher for Natalie Suto Photography
No stranger to the Tryon area and the Blue Ridge Foothills equestrian community, Kraut noted that being back at Tryon International “is like coming home. I had my first championship in a pony division in 1976 in Tryon. I’m just happy to come back!”
For full results from the Premier Equestrian Grand Prix Qualifier CSI5*, click here.
ProElite Grand Prix Qualifier CSI2* Winners: McLain Ward and La Serra
October 17, 2024 – Kicking off Tryon Fall 5’s 2* competition, McLain Ward (USA) and La Serra (Casall x Lacros) shone in Tryon Stadium to claim victory in the ProElite Grand Prix Qualifier CSI2*. The Olympic rider and his own 2014 Holsteiner mare crossed the timers in 61.01 seconds to secure the win. Claiming second, Paul O’Shea (IRL) and Squirt Gun (Diarado x Quick Star), the 2011 Oldenburg gelding owned by Team Eye Candy, paired up to produce a time of 61.90 seconds. Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) rode his own 2015 Belgian Warmblood mare, Pandora Van De Kruishoeve (Cidane x Elvis Ter Putte), to complete the top three, marking 62.23 seconds on the timers.
McLain Ward and La Serra
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the ProElite Grand Prix Qualifier CSI2*, click here.
Week 5 of the Tryon Fall Series presented by Coca-Cola features thrilling Major League Show Jumping competition, returning for the second year in a row. Friday’s feature classes include The USHJA International Hunter Derby sponsored by Equiline, the CSI5* MLSJ Individual Round, and the CSI5* MLSJ Team Competition presented by Cabana Coast. The week’s festivities culminate in the $340,000 KASK Grand Prix CSI 5* during Tryon’s signature Saturday Night Lights event, under the lights of Tryon Stadium. Check back for daily updates on all the Major League Show Jumping action!
Photos ©Natalie Suto Photography (Avery Fletcher and Bailey Beck 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.