Santiago Lambre and Comtess 202 Victorious in $37,000  Power & Speed Stake CSI 3*

Emma Sargent and Giolita Grab $2,000 Power & Speed Stake CSI 3* Win

For Immediate Release

Allie Hay and Emily Carpenter for TIEC

Mill Spring, NC – July 7, 2021 – Kevin Mealiff (IRL) and Tupac Van De Vrombautshoeve Z sped to the win in Thursday’s $37,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 3* at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (TIEC), stopping the jump-off timers at 29.841 seconds. Brittni Raflowitz (ISR) and Hilton Van De Breepoel, the 2007 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Contact Van De Heffinck x Opium) owned by ESI Show Jumpers Inc., earned second place with a jump-off time of 30.715 seconds. Santiago Lambre (MEX) and Comtess 202, the 2011 Westphalian mare (Comme Il Faut 5 x Pilot) owned by Mario Onate, jumped clear with a time of 30.751 seconds to earn third place.

Kevin Mealiff and Tupac Van De Vrombautshoeve Z
©Sportfot

Forty-one riders jumped the Alan Wade (IRL) course design in the first round of competition; ten riders went clear and returned for the second round jump-off. Mealiff and the 2010 Zangersheide gelding (Thunder VD Zuuthoeve x Karioka del Follee) owned by Oakmont Stables LLC conquered both courses, finishing more than a second ahead of the previous time to beat set by Raflowitz. Mealiff commented on the course design, saying, “You knew what you were going to get and [that] it was going to be tough and fair. He [Wade] always gets it right. I think all the horses jumped well and no one could have any complaints.”

Brittni Raflowitz and Hilton Van De Breepoel
©Sportfot

Mealiff admitted that his win was aided by the luck of the draw; he was last to go, so he was able to watch the competition and strategize how time could be cut out. “I was very tight from [fence] one to two” he explained. “Then, I was very tight back from the Liverpool. I can really dare my guy to the jumps and know he’ll go over!”

Santiago Lambre and Comtess 202
©Sportfot

The partnership between Mealiff and Tupac Van De Vrombautshoeve Z is a relatively new one. The pair competed together for the first time during the Winter Equestrian Festival this past season. Since then, they have had several strong finishes, but Mealiff finally earned his spot at the front of the victory gallop in Thursday’s Welcome Stake, he recapped.

Kevin Mealiff and Tupac Van De Vrombautshoeve Z in their awards presentation alongside Ringmaster Steve Rector.
©Sportfot

After this week’s competition, Mealiff will return to his home base in New York and will compete close to home before returning to TIEC in the fall. “We love coming here. We came here last summer and have been here for two weeks now. The horses really love it here. It’s a bit of a lucky place for us!”

Santiago Lambre and Comtess 202 Victorious in $37,000 Power & Speed Stake CSI 3*

July 6, 2021 – Santiago Lambre (MEX) and Comtess 202 kicked off one of several podium finishes during Tryon Summer 4 competition so far, claiming first in the $37,000 Power & Speed Stake CSI 3* with a time of 25.901 seconds in the speed phase. Samuel Parot (CHI), riding his own Koblenz Van De Vinusakker, the 2010 Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Alexsander Smolnikar, earned second place with a second phase time of 27.055 seconds. Finishing in third place was Conor Swail (IRL) and Koss Van Heiste, a 2010 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Breemeersen adorado x Contact vd heffinck) owned jointly by Eadaoin Ni Choileain and Dalco LTD, with a time of 27.133 seconds over the short track.

Santiago Lambre and Comtess 202
©Sportfot

The course, designed by Alan Wade (IRL), challenged 27 riders during the first round of competition, with 18 returning for the shortened jump-off round. Lambre conquered the course with the 2011 Westphalian mare (Comme Il Faut 5 x Pilot) owned by Mario Onate to earn a blue ribbon. He shared, “The course today was two phases. In the second phase, we had some options and tight turns. I liked the course design! Really, for the first day, it was the perfect round.”

Samuel Parot and Koblenz Van De Vinusakker
©Sportfot

Santiago Lambre and Comtess 202 have a recent partnership, yet the pair combined to pull out another win in their short history. “I have had her for only a couple of months now,” Lambre explained, “She’s a very nice mare, and very competitive. She won two Grand Prix classes this year! I’m very happy.”

Conor Swail and Koss Van Heiste
©Sportfot

Lambre, a frequent face at the venue and one of its winningest riders on record in Tryon Stadium, will continue competing at TIEC throughout the Summer Series, then plans to return in the fall. In the meantime, they’ll be contesting the $137,000 Night in the Country Grand Prix CSI 3* Saturday evening. “I come to [TIEC] every year. It’s a fantastic facility!” he concluded. “The place is amazing: when you arrive here from other shows you have an indoor, good stalls, and good restaurants. It’s a perfect place!”

Santiago Lambre and Comtess 202 in their awards presentation alongside Ringmaster Steve Rector.
©Sportfot

Emma Sargent and Giolita Grab $2,000 Power & Speed Stake CSI 3* Win

July 6, 2021 – Emma Sargent (USA) and Giolita her own 2011 Dutch Warmblood mare (C-Ingmar x Briolita), earned the first win of the week in Tryon Stadium by clearing the speed phase of the $2,000 Power & Speed Stake CSI 3* in 26.763 seconds. Vanessa Mannix (CAN) and her own Catinka 25, the 2009 Oldenburg mare (Catoki x Luxano), earned reserve on a speed phase time of 28.524 seconds, while Amanda Flint (USA) piloted her own Irvington VDL, the 2013 Zangersheide gelding (Dallas x Quick Star), to third after their 28.623-second speed performance through the Alan Wade (IRL) course design.

Emma Sargent and Giolita
©Sportfot

For full results from the $37,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 3*, click here.

For full results from the $37,000 Power & Speed Stake CSI 3*, click here.

For full results from the $2,000 Power & Speed Stake CSI 3*, click here.

Tryon Summer 4 continues through Sunday, July 11, featuring the fifth annual Pony Spectacular presented by Star Stable. Friday features a $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at 4:00pm in Tryon Stadium, while Saturday morning showcases pony athletes and riders in the $10,000 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby. Saturday, July 10 will play host to the month’s Saturday Night Lights event, with activities starting at 6:00pm and $137,000 Night in the Country Grand Prix CSI 3* competition kicking off at 8:00pm. All highlight classes are live streaming for free at www.Tryon.com/streaming. For more information on competition at TIEC, visit www.Tryon.com/compete.

Photos ©Sportfot. These photos may only be used once in relation to this press release. Tryon Summer Series competitors can request photos and review galleries at www.Tryon.com/photos.