Victoria Colvin (Loxahatchee, FL) and Gemino bested a nine-horse jump-off to take the $30,000 Sunday Jumper Classic at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), stopping the jump-off timers in 43.57 seconds. Kristen VanderVeen (Wellington, FL) and Bull Run’s Almighty, the Bull Run Jumpers Six LLC-owned 2008 Hanoverian gelding (Caspar x Quidam De Revel), claimed second place on a time of 44.39 seconds, with Hector Florentino (Rutherfordton, NC) earning third aboard Carnaval, the 2005 Oldenburg gelding (Chacco-Blue x Landadel) owned by Spruce Meadows Ltd., in a time of 46.824 seconds.
Victoria Colvin on Gemino. Photo by Bailey Beck Photography/TIEC.
Course designer Nick Granat (Wellington, FL) saw 43 entries test the first-round track, with nine pairs qualifying for the short course. Colvin was chasing a speedy time from VanderVeen, and said that her goal was really just to “go in and have fun, and see what [Gemino] could do. I haven’t done a Grand Prix in a while, so it was a bit different for me, since it’s been a couple months,” Colvin revealed. “He’s only eight, and it was probably my fourth time riding him, ever. I’m riding a couple for Lauren [Hough] right now since she’s injured, but he’s super fast as it is,” she said of the 2012 Dutch Warmblood stallion (Manhattan x Democraat) owned by Chester Siuda.
Kristen VanderVeen on Bull Run’s Almighty. Photo by Bailey Beck Photography/TIEC.
Though she’s mainly been focused outside the Jumper ring this year excepting her current rides for Hough, Colvin was able to put in a smooth and quick dash through the course to take the win, and thought the course design rode nicely, she shared. “There was one line, from the four to the one to the six, that was probably the toughest line, but I think it was a nice course for everybody, and there were enough in the jump-off,” Colvin relayed.
Hector Florentino on Carnaval. Photo by Bailey Beck Photography/TIEC.
“I’ve been showing in Kentucky a little bit, because I was prepping for Derby Finals, and now I’ve come here with Lauren,” Colvin recounted of her show season, which like for many equestrians, has been rearranged several times. “I’m going to be here next week, then back to Florida, and that’s all I know for right now! I was here for one week before I went to Kentucky, but before that, I hadn’t been here in a couple years.
Victoria Colvin on Gemino in their presentation ceremony. Photo by Bailey Beck Photography/TIEC.
“I love it here,” Colvin said of the venue. “The last time I was here, a couple of these buildings weren’t here! I do love it here. It’s a big space, and everything is good for the horses, like the fans in the barns, and such. Everything’s nice.”
For full class results, click here. The Tryon August Series continues through August 23, 2020, with one week remaining of Hunter A/Jumper 4 competition.