Tryon Spring 6 Update
Liza Boyd and Crooner Brimbelles Z Claim $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Equiline
Colin Syquia wins $10,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby presented by AP Hassinger with Banks
Gigi Phillips and Hazelwood Shine in $10,000 USHJA National Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby presented by AP Hassinger
Mercer Siblings Capture Top Spots in $1,500 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby presented by Penny Insurance Agency Equine & Farm
Trip of the Day Winner: Friday
For immediate release
Rette Solomon for Tryon International
Mill Spring, NC - June 7, 2024 - Under the lights in Tryon Stadium at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (Tryon International), Tryon Spring 6/Tryon Riding & Hunt Club Charity 1 Horse Show highlighted the Hunters Friday night with the $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Equiline. The class capped a day full of four hunter derby classes at the venue, and was topped by Liza Boyd (USA) aboard Crooner Brimbelles Z, scoring 375 over two rounds of competition. Gigi Phillips (USA) and Thunderbird, her own 2014 Westphalian gelding (Cornet Session x Thousend Dollar), scored 366 points over the Dean Rheinheimer (USA) track to claim the reserve title. In third on a score of 363.5 points, Jennifer Bliss (USA) piloted the 2005 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Tangelo van de Zuutheve x Nicolette V) owned by Harris Hill Farm LLC, Poker Face, to the yellow rosette.
Liza Boyd and Crooner Brimbelles Z
©Shelbi Lee for Natalie Suto Photography
Boyd and the Crooks Show Jumping LLC gelding were crowned champions over 15 horse-and-rider pairs. New to Liza Boyd and also to the hunter ring, Crooner Brimbelles Z (Windows VH Costersveld x Rare des Brimbelles Z) was initially shown by Lauren Crook in the jumpers. Kicking off his hunter career in April, the 2015 Zangersheide gelding captured champion in the high performance hunter division with John French in Wellington.
“I call him ‘the family horse’,” Boyd shared, “because the very first show we had him, my daughter showed him in the junior hunters and the national derby. The next week, I said, ‘okay, mommy's taking him over!’ He then won the international derby with me, and this is his third hunter show.”
Gigi Phillips and Thunderbird
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Boyd credited the whole team surrounding Crooner Brimbelles Z in his transition from the jumper ring to the hunter ring. “He is just what Lauren said he’d be – he's so honest. He is careful, but so scopey. You don't really have to use much leg off the ground, and he’s so broke on the flat. He had such a good foundation from Lauren and Crook Show Jumping riding him in the jumpers,” she shared. “It was a really easy transition, and John French is not a bad rider to teach him the hunter route for the first time!”
As the final rider to tour the handy round track, Boyd used this position to study the course. She also noted that defending champion of the class, Gigi Phillips, was a formidable challenger. “I was in the hot seat going last, which helped. I was able to see what turns I had to do,” Boyd observed. “Leave it to Gigi Phillips! She's a good junior rider. You’ve got to watch these young kids, they'll go for it. Gigi really galloped and turned, and put the pressure on me. Gigi was right on my tail, and I had to really go for it. I had to get gritty and turn tight, but the horse has so much scope and so much ability. You can turn tight and he could jump way, way bigger.”
Jennifer Bliss and Poker Face
©Shelbi Lee for Natalie Suto Photography
With the international derby held concurrently with the Tryon Riding and Hunt Club’s Carolina Show Hunter Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Boyd acknowledged that this was a particularly significant victory. “Tonight was such a special night, because Brunello got inducted into the Carolina Show Hunter Hall of Fame. It was really exciting that Crooner would win tonight.”
Liza Boyd and Crooner Brimbelles Z in their presentation ceremony alongside Angie Millon, President of the Tryon Riding & Hunt Club, presenting the Barbara Jimenez Memorial Perpetual Trophy.
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Riders participating in any of the five USHJA International Hunter Derby classes at Tryon International in 2024, presented by Equiline, will have the chance to accrue points throughout the season and can win an Equiline E5 Saddle at the conclusion of the series. Points will be earned by rider, not by horse. For more details, visit Tryon.com/compete.
For full results from the $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Equiline, click here.
Gigi Phillips and Hazelwood Shine in $10,000 USHJA National Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby presented by AP Hassinger
June 7, 2024 - As the second derby winner crowned on the grass, Gigi Phillips (Charlotte, NC) piloted Hazelwood (Unknown x Unknown) to a score of 180 to claim the $10,000 USHJA National Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby presented by AP Hassinger. Earning 175 points to take reserve in the derby was Sarah Rabb (Fort Mill, SC) partnered with Balous Bonfire (Balous Bellini x Polly Pocket 16), the Westphalian gelding. Madeline Rubin (Mooresville, NC) completed the top three aboard Nuff Said (Up To Date x Akacia), the 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding with a score of 174.5.
Gigi Phillips and Hazelwood
©Natalie Suto Photography
Gigi Phillips and the 2013 Dutch Warmblood gelding have proved a smooth transition from jumpers to hunters. Phillips’ trainer, Andrea Guzinski, purchased the gelding from Amanda Derbyshire two years ago. “[Hazelwood] has just been figuring out the hunters,” Phillips added, “he’s a really quick learner, so he's been pretty good to work with.”
Sarah Rabb and Balous Bonfire
©Shelbi Lee for Natalie Suto Photography
The grass course provided Phillips and Hazelwood with an opportunity to show their strengths in the handy section. “[Hazelwood] is really good about making a tight turn and jumping a jump without being straight,” Phillips explained.
Madeline Rubin and Nuff Said
©Shelbi Lee for Natalie Suto Photography
Phillips and her other mount, Thunderbird (Cornet Session x Thousend Dollar), the 2015 Westphalian gelding, are the reigning champions of the $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and hope to claim the title again. “I'm excited. I think it should be fun. I've heard rumors about a good course,” Phillips commented.
Gigi Phillips and Hazelwood in their presentation ceremony.
©Shelbi Lee for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the $10,000 USHJA National Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby presented by AP Hassinger, click here.
Colin Syquia wins $10,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby presented by AP Hassinger with Banks
June 7, 2024 - One of two national classes hosted on the Tryon International Derby Field on Friday morning, the $10,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby presented by AP Hassinger saw Colin Syquia (Wellington, FL) guide Banks (Coronet Obolensky x Butterfly V.D. Hellfinck), the 2017 Westphalian mare to a score of 182 points and the win over the JP Godard (Aiken, SC) track. Hunter Kay (Columbia, SC) claimed reserve honors aboard Mario (Unknown x Unknown), the 2012 Warmblood gelding, while Liza Boyd (Camden, SC) earned a score of 176.5 with Bluewater (Unknown x Unknown), the 2017 Dutch Warmblood gelding, for third place.
Colin Syquia and Banks
©Shelbi Lee for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the $10,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby presented by AP Hassinger, click here.
Mercer Siblings Capture Top Spots in $1,500 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby presented by Penny Insurance Agency Equine & Farm
June 7, 2024 – Robert Mercer (Wellington, FL) and Clovermeade Pop Secret (Clovercrofts Hero Of The Heart x Currituck Glory Be), the 2010 Welsh Pony gelding, took home the blue ribbon in Friday’s $1,500 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby presented by Penny Insurance Agency Equine & Farm. The duo scored 174.5 points after two rounds of competition over the JP Godard (Aiken, SC) track. Keeping it in the family, Katherine Mercer (Wellington, FL) rode to both second and third place in the derby. With 174 points, Katherine took Goldmark (Unknown x Unknown), Take 3 LLC’s Dutch Warmblood gelding to reserve honors in the class. Katherine earned 168 points aboard Small Surprise (Cosmopolitan D NRN x Christa), the 2015 Dutch Riding Pony mare owned by Frog Pond Stables for third.
Robert Mercer and Clovermeade Pop Secret outrode a field of 18 competitors to take the win in Friday afternoon’s pony derby.
Robert Mercer and Clovermeade Pop Secret
©Natalie Suto Photography
Also known as “Butter”, Robert and his pony have been competing together for the past few months and already have a few derby appearances on their resumé.
Katherine Mercer and Goldmark
©Mary Young for Natalie Suto Photography
“He’s my favorite!” the young rider said of his winning mount, owned by his sister Katherine. “He likes chicken wraps, and likes to scratch my head with his mouth.”
Katherine Mercer and Small Surprise
©Natalie Suto Photography
Also taking the fourth and eighth spots in the class, Robert shared that his plan for the derby was to ride confidently throughout the entire course.
Robert Mercer and Clovermeade Pop Secret in their presentation ceremony.
©Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the $1,500 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby presented by Penny Insurance Agency Equine & Farm, click here.
Trip of the Day Winner: Friday
Friday’s Trip of the Day was presented by Clear View Farms. Katherine Mercer (Wellington, FL), was awarded Trip of the Day honors, riding Primrose (Balous Bellini x Ferrara), the 2015 Westphalian mare owned by Frog Pond Stables for the team’s performance in the USHJA Hunter 3’.
©Rette Solomon for Tryon International
Tryon Spring 6/Tryon Riding & Hunt Club Charity 1 Horse Show continues through Sunday, June 9, with Saturday Night Lights presented by Stuller Power Solutions kicking off at 5pm in Legends Plaza on Saturday. The evening is crowned by the $120,000 Two Trees Distilling Co. Grand Prix CSI 3* at 8pm. To learn more, visit www.Tryon.com/allevents.
Photos ©Natalie Suto Photography (Mary Young, Natalie Suto and Shelbi Lee, 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.