Charging to the win in Tryon Stadium, it was Hallie Grimes (USA) and Karoline of Ballmore (Diarado x Convento Van De Helle), owned by Can We Keep It? LLC, who were fastest in the $32,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 2*, finishing with 35.77 seconds on the clock. Fractions of a second behind the top-scoring team, Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) and her own 2012 Zangersheide stallion, Otto BH (Norton D’ Eole x Toulon), marked a second place time of 36.17 seconds. Completing the top three with a time of 36.94 seconds was Ashlee Bond (ISR) and Night Wish (Unknown x Unknown), Aurora Farms’ 2016 Hanoverian gelding.  

In celebration of Tryon International’s ten year anniversary, the $120,000 Camp Electric Co. Grand Prix CSI 3* kicked off with parachute jumpers from Carolina Skydivers landing in Tryon Stadium, and concluded with a dazzling drone show. In between anniversary festivities, Samuel Parot (CHI) and David Guetta (Zento x Vigaro) continued their show ring dominance by securing a Grand Prix win for the second week in a row, completing the course in a time of 34.48 seconds. Taking second on the Alan Wade (IRL) course on a time of 36.40 seconds was Kelli Cruciotti VanderVeen (USA) and Gideon (Super Trooper De Ness x Corland), the 2014 Zangersheide gelding owned by Serenity Farms. Placing third on the podium out of 24 trips, Ashlee Bond (ISR) and her own Donatello 141 (Diarado x Lamoureux I), the 2011 Westphalian gelding, finished in 35.28 seconds with a single rail down over the short course.

Under the lights of Tryon Stadium at the Tryon International Equestrian Center and Resort (Tryon International), Samuel Parot (CHI) triumphed aboard David Guetta (Zento x Vigaro) with a time of 34.71 in the $65,000 Bobcat Grand Prix CSI 2*. Ali Ramsay (CAN) and Bonita VH Keizershof Z (Bustique x For Pleasure), Ramsay Equestrian Inc.’s 2011 Zangersheide mare, came in second on the Colm Quinn (IRL) course with a time of 35.50 seconds. On a time of 36.11 seconds for third, Richie Moloney (IRL) piloted Skelwith Diamond Lady (Kalaska De Semilly x Balou Du Rouet), the 2014 Anglo European mare owned by Equinimity LLC.

Navigating Thursday’s $32,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 2* with two mounts, Alison Robitaille (USA) found herself among the top three, ultimately claiming the win with Oakingham Lira (Tornesch 1042 x Del Piero P B). Robitaille and her own 2013 Anglo European mare secured the win on a jump off time of 36.87 seconds across the Colm Quinn (IRL) course. Ali Ramsay (CAN) marked 37.70 seconds on the clock for reserve honors with Bonita VH Keizershof Z (Bustique x For Pleasure), the 2011 Zangersheide mare owned by Ramsay Equestrian Inc. Rounding out the podium with her second mount, Robitaille and Dagny (Durrant x Verdi), the 2014 Swedish Warmblood mare, stopped timers with a clear 40.04 seconds for third.

Closing out week two of the Tryon Summer Series presented by The Farm House, it was Samuel Parot (Wellington, FL) who claimed the win in Sunday’s $25,000 Buckley Fence Grand Prix. Aboard his own Tiffany De Olid, Parot turned in a jump off time of 37.89 seconds to secure the win over the Archer “Skip” Bailey track. Marking a time of 40.14 seconds, Ashlee Bond (Hidden Hills, CA) and Zambrini (ZambesI TN x La Touche), the 2014 Anglo European mare owned by Bellwyn Farm LLC earned reserve honors. Rounding out the top placings, Alexis Bodo (Nashville, TN) rode Harry’s Chat Girl Z (Houston x Chatwoman 111 Z), the 2014 Zangersheide mare to third place in 40.68 seconds

Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (Tryon International) hosted Tryon Summer Dressage 1 & 2 CPEDI 3* Thursday-Sunday at the venue alongside bustling Hunter/Jumper competition and entertainment events. For Para Dressage competitors there was a singular focus to the weekend: Paralympic Qualifiers. 

Continuing to capitalize on multiple wins and top placings in Tryon Stadium, Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) saw the top of the podium in the $120,000 Two Trees Distilling Co. Grand Prix CSI 3* to close out the The Tryon Spring Series presented by Stuller Power Solutions. Teaming up with her own Cornwall BH (Con Air x Cambridge 8), Derbyshire conquered the Oscar Soberon (USA) course in 37.74 seconds. Just behind the winning pair, marking a time of 38.16 seconds, was Kristen VanderVeen and Bull Run’s Hesed (Christian 25 x Lord Z), the 2014 Oldenburg gelding owned by Bull Run Jumpers Inc. Finishing out the top three with 38.31 seconds on the clock was Capt. Brian Cournane (USA) and his own Armik (Armitage 2 x Justinian XX), the 2009 Oldenburg gelding.

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.

Samuel Parot (CHI) and his own David Guetta (Zento x Vigaro) were victors in the $32,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 3*, stopping the jump off timers in 29.87 seconds for the win. Jad Dana (LBN) rode Caro W (Castelan II x Aragorn), the 2012 Holsteiner gelding owned by Peter Howard & Laure Sudreau, to reserve honors on a time of 30.03 seconds, while third place went to Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) and Otto BH (Norton D’ Eole x Toulon), the 2012 Zangersheide stallion, for their 30.14 second-performance.

Conquering the Ivan Tagle (ARG)-designed track to best a field of 32 competitors, Michael Murphy (USA) piloted Kaida CM to win Saturday night’s $120,000 St. Luke’s Hospital Grand Prix CSI 3* in Tryon Stadium. One of three double clears, Murphy and Kaida CM (Kennan x Indoctro) clinched first with a 37.27 second jump off time. Riding her own Cornwall BH (Unknown x Cambridge 8), the 2008 Holsteiner gelding, Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) put 39.24 seconds on the clock to claim reserve honors. Recording 44.02 seconds to round out the top three was Catherine Tyree Flores (USA) aboard her own Pikeur Lareen (Los Angeles x Cornet Obolensky), the 2015 Westphalian mare.

Jad Dana (LBN) and Itchcock Des Dames (Marius Claudius x Calvaro F.c.) stopped the clock in a time of 32.62 seconds on Thursday in Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort’s Tryon Stadium to claim a win in the $32,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 3*. Brittini Raflowitz (ISR) and Anibale De Hus (Conrad x Argentinus), the 2010 Selle Français stallion owned by Bellwyn Farm LLC, broke the beam in a time of 33.58 seconds to earn reserve place.

Tryon Spring 4 competition marked the first FEI competition of the season at Tryon International Equestrian Center and Resort (Tryon International), highlighted by the $62,000 Earl Scruggs Music Festival Grand Prix CSI 2*. Paul O’Shea (IRL) and Hellcat claimed the win in a time of 33.94 seconds in an exciting jump off competition under the lights in Tryon Stadium. Richie Moloney (IRL) and Skelwith Diamond Lady, the 2014 Anglo European mare (Kalaska de Semilly x Balou du Rouet) owned by Equinimity LLC, received second place honors for their 34.7-second performance, while third place went to Marilyn Little (USA) and La Contessa, the 2015 Mecklenburg mare (License x Cornet’s Prinz) owned by the Palm Beach Show Jumping Group, after stopping the clock at 35.01 seconds. 

Atop an all-female podium in Saturday night’s $30,000 Nutrena Grand Prix, Delaney Flynn (Windsor, SC) took both first and second with her equine partners. Posting two clear rounds, Flynn marked the fastest time of the night aboard Julieta (Canstakko x Zum Felde), with 39.69 seconds on the clock. Also going double clear to take second with Windsor Show Stables’ 2014 Holsteiner mare Cassinnia (Casilito x Senora), Flynn secured her second place podium spot with a jump off time of 40.90 seconds.

Tryon Spring Dressage 2 was action-packed amid an already-packed showgrounds, bringing the spotlight to Dressage competition alongside Hunter/Jumper competitions and intercollegiate Equitation and Reining for IHSA Nationals. ‘S’ judges Beverly Rogers and Judy Downer were in the boxes from sunrise to sunset on Saturday and Sunday, judging classes of all levels from Introductory to FEI. 

In conjunction with the first edition of the season of Saturday Night Lights presented by Stuller Power Solutions at Tryon International, Jimmy Torano (Wellington, FL) and Kochio Z (Kannan x Datura Z) dashed to first to win the $75,000 Tryon Grand Prix. The only double clear of the night, Torano and the 2014 Zangersheide gelding took on Manuel Esparza’s track to mark a jump off time of 41.72 seconds. Continuing a successful week aboard her own Otto BH (Norton D'eole x D-armel Van't Kamerveld) to take second in the Grand Prix was Amanda Derbyshire (Wellington, FL). Derbyshire and the 2012 Zangersheide stallion incurred one jumping fault with a time of 39.10 seconds. Completing the top three was Luke Jensen (Denton, TX) and ABC Quantum Cruise (O.B.O.S Quality OO4 x Ardnehue Diamond Cruiser), the 2009 Irish Sport Horse. Jensen and the gelding owned by Wyndmont Inc. incurred eight jumping faults and finished with a time of 42.43 seconds.

The Tryon Spring Series presented by Main Street Insurance kicked off this week with Tryon Spring 1, hosted April 30-May 5. Coming off their reserve honors in Wednesday’s Open Jumper Classic, Amanda Derbyshire (Wellington, FL) and Otto BH (Norton D'eole x D-armel Van't Kamerveld) capitalized on their success to win Thursday’s $30,000 ProElite Welcome Stake.

Tryon International kicked off their spring in the sandbox with the first national dressage show of the season, Tryon Spring Dressage 1. Two arenas remained in full throttle from Friday to Sunday (April 19-21), all levels judged by four star judges Kristi Wysocki and Agnes Billington. Classes ranging from Grand Prix to FEI and national freestyles, and even a Pas de Deux, made for an exciting weekend for riders and spectators.

After an action-packed weekend of competitors vying for the top spot at the Katydid CDE (Combined Driving Event) at Tryon International, Raymond Helmuth (Cambridge, IA) and his own Kendro (Globetrotter x Genderose) were crowned champions of the 3* Single Horse division and earned the USEF Combined Driving National Championship for Advanced Single Horses. Placing first across the board in all three phases, Helmuth and Kendro finished out the weekend with 128.35 points. Leslie Berndl (Lexington, KY) and Impressive (First Class x Olizandra), her 2013 Dutch Warmblood gelding, claimed second in the group with 150.31 points. Collecting 158.36 points to take third was Jennifer Thompson (Lodi, WI) and Lexus (Grote Wonder x Werina), her 2016 Dutch Harness Horse gelding.

Tryon Cares presented by iHeart Media, the community outreach initiative of Tryon International, in partnership with valued sponsors Pavillon, CooperRiis, and St. Luke’s Hospital Mental Health and Wellness, is proud to present Mental Health Awareness Month presented by Pavillon, with programming throughout the month of May at the venue. All events are open to the public and showcase the importance of taking care of mental health and wellbeing alongside physical health.

the 76th Tryon Block House Steeplechase hosted more than 3,000 people at the Green Creek Race Course in Green Creek, NC, just minutes from the Tryon International Equestrian Center (Tryon International) and the Tryon Riding & Hunt Club (TR&HC), who partner to produce the historic steeplechase event each spring. Five races took place on good turf track conditions around the 1.16-mile irrigated track.