Mill Spring, NC – Sept, 18, 2017 – The second international dressage competition of the 2017 season took place over the weekend at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), featuring both Small Tour and Large Tour competition in the George H. Morris Arena. Three different riders claimed the tests in the Grand Prix CDI-W division: Alexandra Duncan won the Grand Prix, Molly Paris claimed the Freestyle and JJ Tate finished the weekend winning the Special.
Duncan and Vitall Capture Grand Prix Win On Day One Of Tryon FEI CDI-W presented by Adequan®
Alexandra Duncan (CAN) and Vitall championed the FEI Grand Prix presented by Adequan®, earning a 65.600 percent to capture the win. Duncan and her 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Ferro x Jarelle x Aram) entered the CDI ring today for the first time together in two years after the horse suffered an injury to his splint bone, which resulted in a lengthy surgery and rehabilitation.
“It felt good to be back,” commented Duncan. “I was pretty happy with him today. We had a few small mistakes. Today he had some highlights in the passage, the two tempis were nice. I was pleased with the extended trot as well. Just the overall feel he gave in there today was great. He was really present and with me.”
Duncan, now based in Loxahatchee, FL, purchased the gelding when he was a five-year-old from Germany. The pair will continue on with competition in hopes of representing Canada at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 next September here at TIEC.
Molly Paris (USA) and her own Countess, a 15-year-old Danish Warmblood mare (Don x Compeed x Solos) finished in second place with a score of 64.360 percent, ahead of Elizabeth Austin (USA) and Steeped In Luck, a 14-year-old Irish Draught stallion (Mount Diamond Flag x Steeple View) owned by Keith Douglas, who collected third place on a score of 63.680 percent.
Emily Miles (USA) and Floretienne, an 8-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Flortestan I x Tamarinde) owned by Leslie Waterman, took the top spot in the FEI Prix St. Georges presented by Adequan® after receiving a score of 69.000 percent. Jessica Jo Tate (USA) and Summersby, a 10-year-old Hanoverian mare (Sir Donnerhall x St. Pr. Hauptsutbuch Roxanne) owned by Joseph Tate, captured second place with a 68.526 percent, while Kelly Layne (AUS) guided her own Fürst Amante, an 11-year-old Rhinelander gelding by Fürst Piccolo, to third place, receiving a 68.447 percent.
Paris and Countess Impress In Their First FEI CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle Competition at TIEC
On the second day of the Tryon Fall Dressage FEI CDI-W Molly Paris (USA) and her own Countess, a 15-year-old Danish Warmblood mare (Don x Compeed x Solos), rose to the occasion in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, earning a 68.375 percent to achieve the victory.
“This is our first CDI-W Grand Prix together and it’s been so amazing!” said an exuberant Paris. “She’s an amazing horse. She’s been great all week. It was a great place to win. We are from Charlotte, so we absolutely love competing in Tryon!”
She continued, “I’ve had Countess for about two years, and we bought her simply because I needed a horse to move up on. We’ve done the U-25 together and Chris Hickey said, ‘You have the horse, now go do the Grand Prix,’ so here we are!”
Paris, currently ranked at number 29 with Countess on the FEI Youth Dressage U25 list, is well known for her unique freestyle music, in which this edition features an alternative tune called ‘Move,’ by Saint Raymond.
Moving forward the 21-year-old plans to continue competing in the Under 25 division. Paris concluded, “I eventually want to come back to the Grand Prix, but we want to end up back at the U25 Championships first.”
Second place in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W presented by Adequan® was awarded to Elizabeth Austin and Steeped In Luck, a 14-year-old Irish Draught stallion (Mount Diamond Flag x Steeple View) owned by Keith Douglas, with 67.350 percent. Third place went to Debbie Hill (USA) and Zarcita, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Parcival x Sarita x Ahoy) owned Leslie Waterman, with a score of 66.525 percent.
Jessica Jo Tate (USA) and Summersby, a 10-year-old Hanoverian mare (Sir Donnerhall x St. Pr. Hauptsutbuch Roxanne) owned by Joseph Tate, bested the competition in the FEI Intermediaire I presented by Adequan® with a 68.526 percent.
Second place went to Kelly Layne (AUS) and her own Fürst Amante, an 11-year-old Rhinelander gelding by Fürst Piccolo, on a score of 65.763 percent. Capturing third place in the FEI Intermediaire I, was Emily Miles (USA) aboard Sir Sherlock, a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Leslie Waterman, earning 64.342 percent.
Competition Concludes at Tryon Fall Dressage FEI CDI-W With Victory For Jessica Jo Tate and Cayman V
Competition concluded on Sunday with a win for Jessica Jo Tate (USA) and Cayman V in the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI-W presented by Adequan®. The pair bested competition in the George Morris Arena, earning a score of 65.294 percent.
Tate and the 14-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Comeback II x Damgaard’s Brunetee x Lobster), owned by Joseph Tate, ended their week of competition on a high note, finishing ahead of Alexandra Duncan (CAN) and her own Vitall, a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Ferro x Jarelle x Aram), who earned a 60.608 percent in the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI-W presented by Adequan®.
“This was my first CDI with Cayman V,” said Tate. “I am just starting out with him in this kind of electric environment. On Friday I just didn’t have him quick enough and didn’t have him connected enough. The connection wasn’t as good as it can be, so, I went home and watched the video. Today I felt like we definitely improved that. He just tried his heart out for me today, so I was really thrilled.”
Tate, of Landrum, SC, purchased the horse with the idea of getting back into the Grand Prix CDI competition arena.
She continued, “It’s exciting that things are moving in the right direction with Cayman because he is still a beginner out here. We love coming to Tryon because it’s so close. It’s a great place to gain experience with an international feel. The facility is beautiful and well thought out, and footing is world-class. It’s one of the best horse show facilities I’ve ever been to.”
Tate also collected a victory in the FEI Intermediaire I presented by Adequan® piloting Summersby, a 10-year-old Hanoverian mare (Sir Donnerhall x St. Pr. Hauptsutbuch Roxanne x Rosenthau), owned by Joseph Tate, on a score of 69.548 percent. Second place position went to Emily Miles (USA) and Sir Sherlock, a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Sir Donnerhall x Shari), owned by Leslie Waterman, with a score of 64.333 percent.
Of Summersby, Tate commented, “Summer was tired today, but I’ve just been incredibly proud of her this weekend. She’s ten this year, and she can be pretty firey and emotional. She just showed up this week and had her game face on. I was thrilled with her consistency and her quality, as well as her complete focus on me.”
Tate will head to Dressage at Devon in two weeks to compete, and then will begin to make preparations for the winter circuit at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, FL.