Taylor Land (Atlanta, GA) and Liroy 30, the 2009 German Sport Horse gelding (Levistano x King Kolibri) owned by Pinetree Farms Inc., sped to a win in Friday’s $15,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake to kick off Tryon August 1 competition, stopping the clock at 33.565 seconds. Darragh Kerins (Wellington, FL) piloted Delight M-G C de Leuze, the 2009 Belgian Warmblood mare (Armitage x Vox Dei MG C De Leuze) owned by Trefoil Farm LLC, to second on a time of 34.816, while Daniel Bedoya claimed third aboard Abracadabra WKT, the Monica Hanks-owned 2008 Holsteiner mare (Casall x Romino), in 34.852 seconds.
Taylor Land on Liroy 30. Photo by TIEC/Bailey Beck Photography/Andy Upton.
“The course was nice!” Land shared. “I thought it was smooth and forward, which is good for my horse. There were some good tests that reflected some of the things I’ve been working on with him, like setting up to careful jumps. In the jump-off, there were some inside turn options and places where you could really gallop, so it was a good opportunity to use his big stride and make up time. He was just really with me.”
Darragh Kerins on Delight M-G C de Leuze. Photo by TIEC/Bailey Beck Photography/Andy Upton.
Land, who will continue as a competitor in the Tryon August Series and return in October for the Tryon Fall Series, is a frequent face in Tryon Stadium and praised the newly re-engineered Tryon Stadium footing:
“I love the new footing! It’s wonderful. They’ve done a fantastic job. It’s definitely softer than it’s been in past years, but it’s still really solid under their feet. The horses feel really comfortable and happy jumping on it.”
Daniel Bedoya on Abracadabra WKT. Photo by TIEC/Bailey Beck Photography/Andy Upton.
Additional Jumper Highlights:
In the Farmpaint 1.15m Jumper Division, F. Peter Jordan (Lexington, KY) piloted Hickstead’s Jewel, owned by Outland Farms LLC, to champion honors, with reserve named to Gisele Beardsley O’Grady (Tryon, NC) aboard Chaquira for Martha Hall.
The Nutrena® 1.40m Open Jumper Division saw Kirk Webby (Ocala, FL) and Jamie Stryker’s Crime Time 6 take top honors, with reserve going to Daniel Bedoya (Magnolia, TX) riding his own mount Heather.
Skyler Walker (Charlotte, NC) and the Hope Farm LLC entry Hope dominated the .90m Non-Pro Jumper Division, and Courtney Baggett (Houston, TX) claimed reserve aboard her own Upcountry Bettie.
Additional Hunter Highlights:
Innosense claimed champion in the Foothills Hunter 3’ Division with owner Mackensie Bowles (Stauton, VA) in the irons, while Melissa Blades (Grass Lake, MI) piloted Greg Shover’s Coscato to reserve.
Isaac Leffkowitz (Ocala, FL) and Qualiano claimed the Performance Hunter 3’3” Division for owner Lisa Kristiansen, while reserve was named to Suzanne Feagan (Columbus, NC) aboard the DCB Services LLC entry, Whiskey Thief.
Grace Rabb (Fort Mill, SC) and her own Carnival championed the Large Pony Hunter Division, and reserve belonged to Martha Parrott (Raleigh, NC) riding her own Stoneledge Bodes Well.
To view Welcome Stake class results, click here. To view full division results, click here. The Tryon August Series continues through August 23, 2020, with two weeks remaining of Hunter A/Jumper 4 competition.