From TIEC; photos by Shannon Brinkman Photography
Matt Flynn and Wizzerd Win Advanced A Division
Mill Spring, NC - September 13, 2020 - The Blue Ridge Mountain Horse Trials at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), presented by EquiSafe Global, kicked off Friday, September 11, 2020 with nearly 350 entries in the event’s sophomore year.
Matthew Flynn (Potomac, MD) flew around the White Oak Cross-Country course with Wizzerd to win the Advanced A Division, ending on a score of 40.90. Bobby Meyerhoff (Statesville, NC) and Fortuna, the 2010 Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Robert D. Meyerhoff, improved from sixth to second after Cross-Country, ending on a score of 45.80. The fastest around the track, Katherine Brown (Aiken, SC) only added 2.40 to her score to end up in third on a total of 52.00 riding her own Victor Z, the 2011 Zangersheide gelding.
Flynn, who steadily climbed the ranks from fourth throughout the weekend with the 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding, owned by A. Patrick Flynn, Kathleen Flynn, and Merry Go Round Farm, shared that his goal on Cross-Country was a positive preparation run for the Tryon International Three-Day Event to be held at the venue in November:
“I thought it was a good track. It was definitely challenging, but it was sizeable enough that it was rewarding to a good, forward ride, which I think is good preparation for these horses coming back to do the CCI 4*-L here in November. My goal was to do my best to ride the forward lines and stay out of Wizzerd’s way and travel on more than I tend to, which is a goal I’ve been working to improve.”
Doug Payne and Vandiver won the Advanced B Division, leading after dressage and stadium on just his dressage score (23.10). However, he went clean on cross country but incurred 10.4 time penalties to still finish first on a score of 33.50.
“Quinn [Vandiver] just keeps getting stronger and better as we go,” Payne said of the 2004 Trakehner gelding (Windfall 2 x Mystic Replica XX) owned by Debi Crowley in partnership with Doug and Jessica Payne.
Editor’s Note: All this just goes to show that “it’s not over ‘til it’s over” in the world of eventing. For the first two phases in both Advanced divisions, Doug Payne let the way. He was first in Advanced A after dressage and stadium on Starr Witness (25.70), but incurred 60 jumping penalties and 24 time penalties on cross country to drop to eighth place (109.70). Payne was second in this division on Quantum Leap after both dressage and stadium on just his dressage score (26.10). But after 20 jumping penalties on cross country, he was technically eliminated (TE) and so did not place.
In fact, there was not a single rider in both Advanced divisions who did not have cross country time penalties. Only one rider in both the Advanced and Intermediate divisions had no time penalties on cross country: Lucienne Elms on Mistralou, who finished second behind Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS in Open Intermediate A.
Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS Top Open Intermediate A Division
In the Open Intermediate A Division, Will Coleman (Charlottesville, VA) continued his winning streak by clinching first place overall aboard Chin Tonic HS, owned by Hyperion Stud, LLC, after placing first in all three phases with a final score of 37.20. Lucienne Elms (Campobello, SC) and her own Mistralou rose from thirteenth place to secure second with a final score of 33.80. In third place, Bobby Meyerhoff (Statesville, NC) and Lumumba, whom he owns with The Donovan Group, finished with 41.40.
“The Cross-Country course was great!” Coleman reported of the Captain Mark Phillips track. “I had a really nice go. [Chin Tonic HS] is still a little bit green, but he handled it well. I was really pleased with how he ran. He’s growing up and I’m excited about his future. Mark built a really great track, with plenty of good questions.”
Liz Halaliday-Sharp and Maryville Sir Henry March to Open Preliminary A Win
lisabeth Halliday-Sharp (Lexington, KY) and Maryville Sir Henry were untouchable all weekend in the Open Repliminary A Division, ending on a score of 28.50 after a clear Cross-Country run on the Captain Mark Phillips course design. Dominic Schramm (Cochranville, PA) and Quadrocana, the Quadrocana Syndicate-owned 2013 Dutch Sport Horse mare, climbed to second by ending up on a score of 30.00 after all three phases, while Nilson da Silva (Aiken, SC) and Giana, the 2008 Oldenburg mare (Gatsby x Exetera) owned by Cindy Burke, improved their sixth place score to finish on 32.90 in third.
Halliday-Sharp and her own 2013 Irish Sport Horse gelding were up for the challenge on course, and he was “outstanding,” Halliday-Sharp reported. “I was really happy with him. I thought it rode really well, and all the courses were up to height this weekend, which was good. Mark [Phillips] always designs them that way, which I think is very good.”
Erika Adams of Knoxville, TN placed second on Townsend in the Open Novice division. The pair were fourth after dressage (29.80) and moved up in their placing throughout all three phases. She was third after cross country, with no penalties, and finished second after stadium, still maintaining just their dressage score (29.80).
Allison Springer and No May Moon won the Modified-B division, finishing in first on just their dressage score (28.90). She was seventh after dressage, moved up to second place after cross country, with no jumping or time penalties, and then went clean on stadium, with no time penalties, to win the division.
Sunday Jumping Highlights
Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp (Lexington, KY) maintained first place across all three phrases in the Open Training A Division on Cooley Farm’s Shanoe Cooley, earning a final score of 25.90. John Michael Durr (Shelby, NC) and Chantal
Megchelenbrink’s No Matter What bumped up from third in phase one to second overall with a score of 26.80. Kimberly Keeton (Watkinsville, GA) and Amarula rounded out the podium with third place with a total score of 26.90.
In the Open Beginner Novice Division, Mary Carol Harsch (Chatt Hills, GA) took first place with her own Theodore alCoda with a three-day tally of 29.50. Morgan Batton (Aiken, SC) and Charmin, owned by Mickey Hayden, secured second place with a final score of 30.30. Third place went to Erin Flynn Mobley (Mansfield, GA) and Lauren Duhamel’s Fate’s Fine Magic with an overall score of 31.00.
Find full information about the BRMHT at: https://tryon.com/article/matt-flynn-and-wizzerd-win-blue-ridge-mountain-horse-trials-presented-by-equisafe-global-advanced-a-division
Matt Flynn and Wizzerd Win Advanced A Division
Mill Spring, NC - September 13, 2020 - The Blue Ridge Mountain Horse Trials at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), presented by EquiSafe Global, kicked off Friday, September 11, 2020 with nearly 350 entries in the event’s sophomore year.
Matthew Flynn (Potomac, MD) flew around the White Oak Cross-Country course with Wizzerd to win the Advanced A Division, ending on a score of 40.90. Bobby Meyerhoff (Statesville, NC) and Fortuna, the 2010 Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Robert D. Meyerhoff, improved from sixth to second after Cross-Country, ending on a score of 45.80. The fastest around the track, Katherine Brown (Aiken, SC) only added 2.40 to her score to end up in third on a total of 52.00 riding her own Victor Z, the 2011 Zangersheide gelding.
Flynn, who steadily climbed the ranks from fourth throughout the weekend with the 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding, owned by A. Patrick Flynn, Kathleen Flynn, and Merry Go Round Farm, shared that his goal on Cross-Country was a positive preparation run for the Tryon International Three-Day Event to be held at the venue in November:
“I thought it was a good track. It was definitely challenging, but it was sizeable enough that it was rewarding to a good, forward ride, which I think is good preparation for these horses coming back to do the CCI 4*-L here in November. My goal was to do my best to ride the forward lines and stay out of Wizzerd’s way and travel on more than I tend to, which is a goal I’ve been working to improve.”
Doug Payne and Vandiver won the Advanced B Division, leading after dressage and stadium on just his dressage score (23.10). However, he went clean on cross country but incurred 10.4 time penalties to still finish first on a score of 33.50.
“Quinn [Vandiver] just keeps getting stronger and better as we go,” Payne said of the 2004 Trakehner gelding (Windfall 2 x Mystic Replica XX) owned by Debi Crowley in partnership with Doug and Jessica Payne.
Editor’s Note: All this just goes to show that “it’s not over ‘til it’s over” in the world of eventing. For the first two phases in both Advanced divisions, Doug Payne let the way. He was first in Advanced A after dressage and stadium on Starr Witness (25.70), but incurred 60 jumping penalties and 24 time penalties on cross country to drop to eighth place (109.70). Payne was second in this division on Quantum Leap after both dressage and stadium on just his dressage score (26.10). But after 20 jumping penalties on cross country, he was technically eliminated (TE) and so did not place.
In fact, there was not a single rider in both Advanced divisions who did not have cross country time penalties. Only one rider in both the Advanced and Intermediate divisions had no time penalties on cross country: Lucienne Elms on Mistralou, who finished second behind Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS in Open Intermediate A.
Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS Top Open Intermediate A Division
In the Open Intermediate A Division, Will Coleman (Charlottesville, VA) continued his winning streak by clinching first place overall aboard Chin Tonic HS, owned by Hyperion Stud, LLC, after placing first in all three phases with a final score of 37.20. Lucienne Elms (Campobello, SC) and her own Mistralou rose from thirteenth place to secure second with a final score of 33.80. In third place, Bobby Meyerhoff (Statesville, NC) and Lumumba, whom he owns with The Donovan Group, finished with 41.40.
“The Cross-Country course was great!” Coleman reported of the Captain Mark Phillips track. “I had a really nice go. [Chin Tonic HS] is still a little bit green, but he handled it well. I was really pleased with how he ran. He’s growing up and I’m excited about his future. Mark built a really great track, with plenty of good questions.”
Liz Halaliday-Sharp and Maryville Sir Henry March to Open Preliminary A Win
lisabeth Halliday-Sharp (Lexington, KY) and Maryville Sir Henry were untouchable all weekend in the Open Repliminary A Division, ending on a score of 28.50 after a clear Cross-Country run on the Captain Mark Phillips course design. Dominic Schramm (Cochranville, PA) and Quadrocana, the Quadrocana Syndicate-owned 2013 Dutch Sport Horse mare, climbed to second by ending up on a score of 30.00 after all three phases, while Nilson da Silva (Aiken, SC) and Giana, the 2008 Oldenburg mare (Gatsby x Exetera) owned by Cindy Burke, improved their sixth place score to finish on 32.90 in third.
Halliday-Sharp and her own 2013 Irish Sport Horse gelding were up for the challenge on course, and he was “outstanding,” Halliday-Sharp reported. “I was really happy with him. I thought it rode really well, and all the courses were up to height this weekend, which was good. Mark [Phillips] always designs them that way, which I think is very good.”
Erika Adams of Knoxville, TN placed second on Townsend in the Open Novice division. The pair were fourth after dressage (29.80) and moved up in their placing throughout all three phases. She was third after cross country, with no penalties, and finished second after stadium, still maintaining just their dressage score (29.80).
Allison Springer and No May Moon won the Modified-B division, finishing in first on just their dressage score (28.90). She was seventh after dressage, moved up to second place after cross country, with no jumping or time penalties, and then went clean on stadium, with no time penalties, to win the division.
Sunday Jumping Highlights
Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp (Lexington, KY) maintained first place across all three phrases in the Open Training A Division on Cooley Farm’s Shanoe Cooley, earning a final score of 25.90. John Michael Durr (Shelby, NC) and Chantal
Megchelenbrink’s No Matter What bumped up from third in phase one to second overall with a score of 26.80. Kimberly Keeton (Watkinsville, GA) and Amarula rounded out the podium with third place with a total score of 26.90.
In the Open Beginner Novice Division, Mary Carol Harsch (Chatt Hills, GA) took first place with her own Theodore alCoda with a three-day tally of 29.50. Morgan Batton (Aiken, SC) and Charmin, owned by Mickey Hayden, secured second place with a final score of 30.30. Third place went to Erin Flynn Mobley (Mansfield, GA) and Lauren Duhamel’s Fate’s Fine Magic with an overall score of 31.00.
Find full information about the BRMHT at: https://tryon.com/article/matt-flynn-and-wizzerd-win-blue-ridge-mountain-horse-trials-presented-by-equisafe-global-advanced-a-division
