Ashley Conkle and Return To Me Dominate the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Meg and Damian Fine Homes & Equestrian Properties

Andres Espinet-Sanpere and Ferrari DN Speed to Win the $6,000 Power & Speed Stake CSI 2*

For Immediate Release

Lily Yampolsky for TIEC

Mill Spring, NC – October 6, 2022 – Sharn Wordley (NZL) riding Fernando Cardenas Jr.’s Valentine Car took the win in the $37,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 2* with a time of 37.09 seconds. Reserve honors went to Nicholas Dello Joio (USA) and The Berry Group LLC’s 2011 Oldenburg stallion Conthargos (Conthargos x Quidam’s Rubin) with a time of 38.11 seconds. In third place was Lauren Balcomb (AUS) and hers and Sharn Wordley’s 2011 Zangershiede gelding Verdini D’Houtveld Z (Verdi TN x Caretino 2) with a time of 38.46 seconds.

Thirty-five entries tested the track designed by Guilherme Jorge (BRA), with 12 going clear and advancing into the jump-off. Wordley and the 2009 Warmblood gelding (Son of Juan Car x Galiani CH) were able to speed to the win by over a second. About his jump-off performance, Wordley said:

Sharn Wordley and Valentine Car
©Bailey Beck for TIEC

“I wasn’t planning on going that fast, but Nick didn’t leave much on the table. So, I had to go for it. I figured if I was going for it, I might as well try to win it! He’s quite a fast stepping horse. Everything by chance came up the way I wanted to do. It was one of those lucky rounds.”

Valentine Car has been a successful mount for Wordley this year, especially at TIEC:

Nicholas Dello Joio and Conthargos
©Bailey Beck for TIEC

“He’s had a two month holiday, so he was quite fresh but he’s jumping great. We changed some things with his nutrition and some therapies that are working really well with him and making him feel really good. He’s jumping fantastic, so I’m really happy with him.”

Lauren Balcomb and Verdini D’Houtveld Z
©Bailey Beck for TIEC

Wordley emphasized that the partnership is really coming together on all fronts. “We’ve only been together a year now. It takes a while to get to know each other, and [for the horse] to know you. He’s learning to be really fast and anticipate what I need from him. So, combined with his physical state and his togetherness, he’s starting to get really fast.”

Sharn Wordley and Valentine Car in their presentation ceremony alongside J.P. Godard, TIEC Competition Manager.
©Bailey Beck for TIEC

“I love [TIEC]. It’s one of my favorite horse shows, and it’s nice to be here,” Wordley concluded. “I haven’t been here since the summer series. It’s good to be back!”

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

Ashley Conkle and Return To Me Dominate the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Meg and Damian Fine Homes & Equestrian Properties

October 7, 2022 – The $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Meg and Damian Fine Homes & Equestrian Properties
championship went to Ashley Conkle (Wellford, SC) riding Laura Hunt’s Return To Me with an overall score of 181. Reserve champion honors went to Aida Marina Sanchez (Signal Mountain, TN) and Jo Ann Forman’s 2011 Dutch Warmblood gelding, Haiku (Advance x Utrillo Van De Heffink), with a score of 177. Joy Janouskovec (Whitsett, NC) and Molly Alderman’s 2011 Warmblood gelding Danieli (Unknown x Unknown) took the third place position with a score of 172.5.

Ashley Conkle and Return to Me
©Emily Thurner for TIEC

Thirty entries contested J.P. Godard’s (Aiken, SC) course, with Conkle leading the way into the handy section with a first round score of 90. She continued her winning ways by topping the handy round with a score of 91 on the 2011 Warmblood gelding Return To Me (Twister x Opal).

Aida Marina Sanchez and Haiku
©Kristen Anchors for TIEC

“I’m super, super lucky. He’s quite a handy animal. So the plan was to walk in there and do all the inside turns and try to be as handy as we possibly can to keep the lead. You have to walk in there and try to keep it, or somebody else is going to catch you.

Joy Janouskovec and Danieli
©Emily Thurner for TIEC

“[Return To Me] is no stranger to the derby ring,” Conkle elaborated. “He started his hunter career about three years ago, but he’s really stepped up and really enjoyed it. He is an absolutely unicorn. He’ll do [the USHJA National Derbies] and the 3’6″ Performance Hunters with me and then he steps down and takes his owner around the Long Stirrup Division and just is an absolute saint.

Ashley Conkle and Return to Me in their presentation ceremony alongside presenting sponsor Meg Atkinson.
©Emily Thurner for TIEC

Local to the facility, Conkle concluded that having such a quality showgrounds just minutes away is not her only favorite part about TIEC:

“We love coming to [TIEC]. It has a very special place in my heart and it’s in our backyard as well, so it’s hard to leave when you have such a world class facility in your backyard. I love that the derbies are being made a little bit more special,” she said, “and having bigger presentations and all the prizes and making a big deal out of it. I really appreciate that, and it gives it a little something extra special.”

For full results from the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Meg and Damian Fine Homes & Equestrian Properties, click here.

Andres Espinet-Sanpere and Ferrari DN Speed to Win the $6,000 Power & Speed Stake CSI 2*

October 5, 2022 – FEI competition for the 2022 Tryon Fall Series kicked off with the $6,000 Power & Speed Stake CSI 2* on Wednesday. Andres Espinet-Sanpere (PUR) and his own 2010 Dutch Warmblood gelding Ferrari DN (Indoctro x Chin Chin) took the win with a time of 27.69 seconds in the speed phase. In second place was Margie Goldstein-Engle (USA) and the Gladewind Partners, LLC’s entry and 2010 Selle Francais gelding, Aston Des Etisses (MyLord Carthago *HN x Quidam De Revel), with a time of 27.94 seconds. Rounding out the top three was Tom Foley (IRL) and Sher Al Farm & Donald Stewart’s 2013 Dutch Warmblood gelding, Idalgo (Catoki x Quidam de Revel), with a time of 28.19 seconds.

Andres Espinet-Sanpere and Ferrari DN
©Bailey Beck for TIEC

For full results from the $6,000 Power & Speed Stake CSI 2*, click here.

Tryon Fall 3 continues through Sunday October 9, featuring the $75,000 John Deere Greenville Turf & Tractor Grand Prix CSI 2* in the Tryon Stadium at 7pm. Saturday Night Lights presented by Tryon Horse & Home will feature “Touch a Truck”, allowing kids to explore and learn about vehicles like a fire truck, police car, ambulance, and different types of construction vehicles, starting at 5pm in Legends Plaza. 

Photos © TIEC (Bailey Beck, Emily Thurner, and Kristen Anchors as noted). These photos may only be used once, in relation to this press release. Official show photos can be viewed and purchased at www.Tryon.com/photos. With questions, please contact media@tryon.com.