Tryon Spring 3 Results
David O’Brien and El Balou OLD Speed to $35,000 Cooper Motor Company Grand Prix Win
Front Page and Colin Syquia Win $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by The Farm House
Emma Gurley and Latino are Victorious in $15,000 USHJA Junior/Amateur National Hunter Derby presented by The Farm House
Penny Lombardo and Party Started Celebrate their Win in $15,000 USHJA Open National Hunter Derby presented by The Farm House
Taylor Land and Get Go: $25,000 ProElite Welcome Stake Winners
For Immediate Release
Sarah Madden for Tryon International
Mill Spring, NC - May 23, 2023 - Saturday Night Lights presented by Tryon Horse & Home welcomed the $35,000 Cooper Motor Company Grand Prix to Tryon Stadium as the feature class for Tryon Spring 3 competition. David O’Brien (Wellington, FL) and El Balou OLD claimed the top prize with their 35.839-second jump-off performance, besting the field of just four clear rounds presented by Stuller Power Solutions. Willie Tynan (Lexington, KY) piloted Ballinteskin Joe, the 2011 Irish Sport Horse gelding (KEC Maximum Joe x Aldi Clover) owned by Michelle Guardino, to reserve honors in a time of 36.151 seconds. Gonzalo Busca Roca (Wellington, FL) rode the remaining two jump-off qualifiers to third and fourth place, respectively: Cristiano Obolensky, his own 2015 Hanoverian gelding, who cleared the short course in a time of 37.25 seconds; and Classified, the 2014 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Liliane Stransky, who was eliminated for going off course as the trailblazer of the jump off round.
David O’Brien and El Balou OLD
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
O’Brien and the 2012 Oldenburg gelding (Eldorado VD Zeshoek x Sunshine’s Botox) owned by Chansonette Farm LLC navigated the Andy Christiansen (Royal Palm Beach, FL) course design without any fuss, he shared. “In the first round, pretty much everything stuck to plan the way I wanted it to. I gave myself time to travel. He jumped the first Liverpool after the triple very well, and jumped the last Liverpool a little bit high, but it kept him careful for the last jump.
Willie Tynan and Ballinteskin Joe
©Brittany Hurst for Natalie Suto Photography
“All in all, he was very straightforward and brave... he is really a super careful horse. He has his own character, and has a lot of personality,” O’Brien continued. “He'll let you know exactly in what mood he's in, you know. He's a bit delicate in the mentality but we know how to work with him; pretty much just bribe him with treats. He sweetens up right away!”
Gonzalo Busca Roca and Cristiano Obolensky
©Brittany Hurst for Natalie Suto Photography
With a small, but competitive jump-off field, O’Brien’s strategy was to be careful in the first portion of the course before turning his horse loose:
Samantha Nutini was awarded the Tryon International Groom’s Award for her care and dedication to El Balou OLD, alongside TIEC Paddock Master Drew Page.
©Natalie Suto Photography
“I think in the jump off, the first three jumps came up, quite well. I could have done one less [stride] to the one beside the in-gate. But then after that he wasn't hitting the poles, so we just started running. Coming to the last fence, he really got down there quite easily. He's quite careful when he's going quickly!”
Willie Tynan, David O’Brien, and Gonzalo Busca Roca in their presentation ceremony alongside (L-R) Sissy Stanley, Mary McLeod, Lois Cooper, and Chip Cooper of Cooper Motor Company.
©Natalie Suto Photography
Leap Year Farm is a frequent staple at Tryon International competitions, and O’Brien emphasized how the venue works for all kinds of horses and riders. “I love Tryon, and I've been coming here since the very start. It's like close to a home for us, I've been here for so long,” he concluded.
“We'll probably hit here again in the fall on the way down [to Florida], and it breaks up our journey. We do probably about a month here each time we come. It's very good for all my clients. They've all moved up a level, and it gives them chances in the main rings, with time to get out the nerves. And that's all perfect.”
For full results from the $35,000 Cooper Motor Company Grand Prix, click here.
Front Page and Colin Syquia Win $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by The Farm House
May 19, 2023 - Colin Syquia (Wellington, FL) and Front Page scored 364 points over two rounds of competition to win Friday’s $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by The Farm House. Timothy Maddrix (Ocala, FL) rode Candid Traveler, the 2015 Holsteiner gelding (Casall x Tora II) owned by Michelle Guardino, to a score of 351.5 to earn reserve honors, while third place went to Matt Cyphert (Argyle, TX) aboard Ritz, the 2015 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Latour VDM x Gavanta) owned by Katie McDonnell, on a score of 349.
Colin Syquia and Front Page
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
The course set by Dean Rheinheimer (Sheridan, IN) suited Front Page, Cynthia Sulzberger’s 2014 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Vigo D’Arsouilles x Cartagena Indias Ecaussinnes), Syquia shared. “He was really smooth; the first round maybe started off a little bit slow to the first jump. But he was fluid, and he just built as he went. And then he just got super smooth and I was really pleased. It was a nice flowing course so that I was able to show off his good canter.”
Timothy Maddrix and Candid Traveler
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
In the handy, I was just watching the other competitors to see what they had done. And they were quite slick the last two, the two [riders] before me, so I figured I need to be quite neat. And especially because the handy had less tight turns and more galloping spaces. So, I really wanted to show off a brilliant canter and show off his big stride and scope, and I was able to do that.
“Well, he's been showing 3'9" in Florida a little bit, and we did a couple of derbies. He was fourth in one there, and we're just building for Devon in two weeks time, eventually aiming for Kentucky with Derby Finals and Green Incentive Finals,” Syquia shared.
Colin Syquia and Front Page in their presentation ceremony.
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
“We love it here,” he concluded. “It's been a great venue, and we get to do a lot of different things. We can bring all levels of horses, like this one, FEI Grand Prix jumper, and young horses to get started. We just love the facility and we think it's great for our barn to bring all different levels of horses. I also just wanted to say congratulations to his owner; she deserves it.”
For full results from the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by The Farm House, click here.
Emma Gurley and Latino are Victorious in $15,000 USHJA Junior/Amateur National Hunter Derby presented by The Farm House
May 19, 2023 - Emma Gurley (Rutherfordton, NC) and her longtime partner, Latino, claimed their first derby win together Friday in the International Stadium at Tryon International, scoring 180 over two rounds in $15,000 USHJA Junior/Amateur National Hunter Derby presented by The Farm House. Ava Hartman (Marietta, GA) and Impression, her own 2013 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Etoulon VDL x Tornita L), rode to a score of 177 for reserve honors, while Grace Loughlin and Cassiopeia Cellestin, the 2010 Danish Warmblood gelding (Chellys Z x Anna) owned by Loughlin Sport Horses, earned third place after their 167.5-point performance.
Emma Gurley and Latino
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Gurley and her own 2005 Swedish Warmblood gelding (Lasandos x Adora MB) were fourth after the first round and walked into the handy test determined to perform at their best, she recapped. “The first round was really good, and we scored an 87. He went in and he performed very well; he jumped great. But I wanted to do better because we were sitting in fourth coming back into the Handy round. I think he wanted to win as much as I did! He was so in tune with me, and it was one of the best rounds I've ever had with him.”
Ava Hartman and Impression
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Though the pair have had much success together, this win in particular was a long-time goal, she shared. “We've been partners for five years, and we've always come close to winning derbies, but this was our first big Derby win. I was really glad it was at Tryon in the beautiful International Stadium. It was lovely to compete there.”
Grace Loughlin and Cassiopeia Cellestin
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Gurley and “Tino” know each other very well after years of competing together in the Children’s Hunters, Junior Hunters and Equitation divisions. “He's a very long horse, so I have to manage a lot. He's 17.3 hands and I'm 5’3”. So, I have to manage a lot of horse over a lot of ground. I feel like it just finally really clicked in that big stadium of just keeping the consistent rhythm and riding out of that. It just allowed him to jump fabulously as well,” she analyzed.
Emma Gurley and Latino in their presentation ceremony with trainer Ashley Bailey.
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
In addition to winning the $15,000 USHJA Junior/Amateur National Hunter Derby presented by the Farm House, Gurley and Latino were also champions in the Amatuer/Owner Hunter 3’3” Division and Classic winners, topping off a bucket list competition weekend.
“I just love riding in these rings. It's beautiful. The jumps are always nice, and it just really makes you feel important, whenever the derbies are held in those stadiums. I also love showing my jumper here, too. We got to ride in the Tryon Stadium this weekend, and it was a lot of fun as well.”
For full results from the $15,000 USHJA Junior/Amateur National Hunter Derby presented by The Farm House, click here.
Penny Lombardo and Party Started Celebrate their Win in $15,000 USHJA Open National Hunter Derby presented by The Farm House
May 19, 2023 - Party Started, the 2016 Westphalian gelding (Prado x Evian Odeveld) owned by Tricia Barr, jumped to top honors in the $15,000 USHJA Open National Hunter Derby presented by The Farm House, with Penny Lombardo (Loxahatchee, FL) in the irons and scoring 180 over two rounds. Crystal Young (Nutely, NJ) and MTM Nonchalant, the 2015 Warmblood gelding (Kannan x Foloma VDL) owned by Adelle Alletto, claimed reserve honors on a 179.25-point performance. Rounding out the podium on a score of 172 was Colin Syquia (Wellington, FL) and Wherewithal, the 2011 Zangersheide gelding (Chamberlain Z x Ulimolga) owned by Christina Mohr.
Penny Lombardo and Party Started
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the $15,000 USHJA Open National Hunter Derby presented by The Farm House, click here.
Taylor Land and Get Go: $25,000 ProElite Welcome Stake Winners
May 18, 2023 - Taylor Land (Atlanta, GA) and Get Go stopped the jump-off timers in 35.291 seconds to win the $25,000 ProElite Welcome Stake in Tryon Stadium. Of 37 trips to navigate the Andy Christiansen (West Palm Beach, FL) course, Land and the 2012 Hanoverian gelding (Grey Top x Wantana) owned by Pinetree Farms Inc. were one of 11 pairs to qualify for the jump off. In reserve, Classified, the 2014 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Liliane Stransky, piloted by Gonzalo Busca Roca (Wellington, FL) cleared the course in 37.354 seconds. Martien van der Hoeven (Pinehurst, TX) and In a Hurry, the 2013 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Dallas VDL x Busuela) owned by Pine Hollow Farm, produced a 37.568 second round to claim third place.
Taylor Land and Get Go
©Karli Dannewitz for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the $25,000 ProElite Welcome Stake, click here.
For all division results from Tryon Spring 3, click here.
Tryon Spring 4 will take place May 24-27 and features the $78,000 PBR Ironpeddlers ChuteGrand Prix at Saturday Night Lights presented by Tryon Horse & Home. All upcoming live music, entertainment events and more can be found at the events calendar here.
Photos ©Natalie Suto Photography (Bailey Beck, Brittany Hurst, 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.