For Immediate Release
Liza Goodlett for TIEC

Mill Spring, NC – October 21, 2016 – David Will (GER) and Cento Du Rouet took home top honors in the $35,000 1.45m Horseware® Ireland Speed Stake CSI 5* at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) with a fault free round and a speedy time of 53.37 seconds. Just a single second separated first and second places, as Richie Moloney (IRL) and Slieveanorra crossed through the timers in 54.69 seconds, earning the red rosette. Third place honors were awarded to Laura Kraut (USA) and Andretti S with a time of 55.95 seconds.

David Will and Cento Du Rouet

Competition at the 2016 Tryon Fall Series presented by Greenville-Spartanburg Airport District commenced on Thursday, September 22, and will continue through Sunday, October 30, featuring hunter and jumper competition, alongside two weeks of FEI CSI 3* classes and the highly anticipated FEI CSI 5*.

David Will and Cento Du Rouet, a 2007 Oldenburger Springferd gelding (Chintan x Balou du Rouet), owned by Centin Güngor, set out to secure another victory today although Will was not sure of his plan after walking the course.

“There were a couple of lines that were really long and you could leave out in or that you could add one. I didn’t have a plan from the start, but then I watched the others go and I made my plan,” Will detailed, explaining his strategy regarding the track set by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA).

Will knew that he wanted to win the class today, saying, “I was planning on trying to win it. After yesterday, I had a few unlucky rails and then I thought today I wanted to do something good.”

The pair, who have accumulated top finishes in their two weeks at TIEC, made their mark once again today. Will went on to describeCento Du Rouet’s strengths and how they set them up to be successful specifically in the speed classes.

“Cento is always good for a win. He is naturally really fast and careful. He’s just a real fighter. He also really enjoys going quick.”

Will and Cento Du Rouet have been partners for just a few months, competing in Europe throughout the summer before traveling to New York, NY, for the Rolex Central Park Horse CSI 3* and then ultimately adding a stop in Mill Spring, NC, for both the FEI CSI 3* and FEI CSI 5* events. The duo will next travel to Washington International Horse Show (WIHS).

“Tryon is fantastic!” Will exclaimed. “This place is perfect for the riders and the horses. The organization is really good and it is just great for riders to be here.”

Liza Boyd of Camden, SC, and Brunello, owned by Finally Farm, Inc., upheld their reputation as the pair to beat in today’s $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, topping a field of nineteen entries in front of a supportive hometown crowd on The Grass Complex at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). Moving into the handy round, Boyd and Brunello amassed a total first round score of 184, which placed them atop the leaderboard. The duo earned a total score of 192 in their handy round effort, adding up to a final score of 376. The final tally solidified the win, amassing another historic and impressive victory for the duo. Kelley Farmer of Wellington, FL, and Kodachrome, owned by Nina Moore, finished in a close second place with a total score of 374 points, while Erica Quinn of Maineville, OH, and Celtic Fire, owned by CF Partners, scored a total of 362, to take third place honors.

Today was the second time that Boyd and Brunello have competed together this year. On a crisp fall day at TIEC accompanying a beautiful derby track set on the Grass Complex, Boyd was feeling positive about showing with her veteran partner and three-time USHJA International Hunter Derby Champion.

“Today I just had fun. I enjoyed every moment and I really just enjoyed this horse. I actually wasn’t really even nervous. I was also really pleased with how the footing held up,” said Boyd.

After the first round, Boyd held an 11-point lead ahead of Kelley Farmer, which she used to her advantage when deciding how to approach the challenging handy track. Knowing that Brunello always has a knack to win, Boyd cantered onto the field for her final round with a dedicated plan to take home the blue ribbon.

“I think in these derbies you really have to strategize the final round and know what you have to do. I thought the handy rode quite nice and presented us with some really good options. I knew I could take one low option and I knew there was one inside turn I didn’t have to do,” Boyd added.

With another successful handy round under her belt, Boyd shared her tricks of the trade, opening up about her competition routine with derby mounts, who she competes in the jumper classes ahead of the highlighted hunter class.

“I do it for the horses but I also do it for myself as a rider,” Boyd explained. “It just gets me back in the groove of bending lines and turning, instead of the typical hunter round of inside, outside, inside outside. Doing the jumper classes with the more technical and advanced tracks sharpens me up, as well as sharpens the horses.”

Boyd was thrilled with the opportunity to compete on the grass field with Brunello and her second mount, Shamrock, who earned tenth place honors on in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. Boyd continued on to thank the Bellissimo family and Tryon Equestrian Partners (TEP) for allowing hunter riders and horses the opportunity to show on the new Grass Complex.

“If this class hadn’t been on the grass field, Brunello probably would not have shown. It’s really great for our sport and our industry. It was so much fun riding out there and it felt really special” she elaborated.

Receiving the loudest of cheers throughout the day, Boyd talked about riding Brunello in front of his home crowd, commenting, “Janet Peterson, Brunello’s owner, lives here and the Breyer celebration that was held in his honor took place here. He has a lot fans at TIEC and this class was calling his name.”

Boyd mentioned the talk surrounding Brunello’s retirement, but said, “I selfishly cannot retire him yet. Brunello makes me feel like a really, really, really good rider,” she smiled. “He makes it so easy, nothing ever looks big or hard when I am riding Brunello.”

The 2016 Tryon Fall Series presented by Greenville-Spartanburg Airport District offers six weeks of hunter and jumper competition, including three weeks of internationally recognized FEI show jumping featuring two FEI CSI 3* weeks and an FEI CSI 5*. For more information on Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) and surrounding amenities please visit www.tryon.com.

For full results of the $35,000 1.45m Horseware® Ireland Speed Stake CSI 5* click here.

For full results of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby click here.

Photo Credit ©Sportfot. These photos may only be used once in relation to this press release.