Tea Zegarac-Pollock and Sea Salt Make a Comeback to Win the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Meg and Damian Fine Homes & Equestrian Properties 

The Final 2022 $37,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 2* Win Goes to Samuel Parot and Buga Z

For Immediate Release

Lily Yampolsky for TIEC

Mill Spring, NC – October 28, 2022 – Kamille Marcussen (Coralville, IA) and Michael Basset’s Daily Planet took the win in the Open section of the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Meg and Damian Fine Homes & Equestrian Properties with a combined score of 181. Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen (Wellington, FL) took both the second and third place spots, with a score of 177 aboard Serenity Farm’s Gambler B, and a score of 162 with APG-Stables’ 2016 Dutch Warmblood mare APG Livory (Fibonacci x Civory).

Kamille Marcussen and Daily Planet
©Chelsea Lothrop for TIEC

Eight entries rode Skip Bailey’s (Wellington, FL) course, with Cruciotti Vanderveen and the 2011 Dutch Warmblood gelding Gambler B (Campbell VDL x Adelwise VDL) leading with a score of 88 after the classic round. Marcussen and the 2016 Oldenburg gelding Daily Planet (Diacontinus x Queen’s Evidence) were able to move up from second with a score of 94 in the handy following their 87 in the classic round.

Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen and Gamber B
©Chelsea Lothrop for TIEC

“[Daily Planet] was wonderful. I wasn’t really sure as it was his first time showing in an indoor [ring] and his first derby, but he’s such a sweetheart and has such a really good natural rhythm. It felt really easy and really smooth. He really impressed me,” Marcussen emphasized. “[In the handy,] I just wanted to be smooth. I wasn’t really sure, because  he was a jumper in the past, if maybe he’d get a little excited when we started turning, but he actually just really sighted in and really focused and gave me some really beautiful jumps. So I’m really happy with him.”

Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen and APG Livory
©Chelsea Lothrop for TIEC

Daily Planet started out as a jumper when he came over to America, but after some trips in the ring, Marcussen saw his potential to be a top hunter mount:

“Michael Meller found him and imported him about a year and a half ago now. We got him as a five year old and did him in the five-year-old jumpers. I qualified him for the 5-year-old Jumper Finals in Michigan and he jumped five clear rounds up to 1.20m. We were slow in the jump-off, but we ended up in the top ten. After that, we converted him into a hunter. We always knew he was naturally a hunter, and since then, it has been so easy for him,” she detailed. “He’s no prep, no anything. He’s just a good boy and he loves what he does. He’s such a kind horse that wants to please you, so it makes it really easy. His very first hunter show was here at TIEC last year, and he was champion in the 5&Under Young Hunter Division, so it’s fun to come back and have this experience with him.”

Kamille Marcussen and Daily Planet in their presentation ceremony alongside presenting sponsor Meg Atkinson
©Chelsea Lothrop for TIEC

Marcussen has made the trip to TIEC quite a few times, saying, “I love the management at TIEC. The facility is really top notch. TIEC does a really good job of making it really horse friendly, groom friendly, and rider friendly. You have plenty of room to ride and the footing is always amazing. The in-gates are friendly and it’s just a beautiful show. It’s always one of my favorites to come to.”

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

Tea Zegarac-Pollock and Sea Salt Make a Comeback to Win the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Meg and Damian Fine Homes & Equestrian Properties 

October 28, 2022 – Tea Zegarac-Pollock (Manaplan, FL) and Mokum Farms’ Sea Salt finished on a combined score of 176 to lead the way in the Jr/Am section of the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Meg and Damian Fine Homes & Equestrian Properties. In second was Sophia Ashley (Edmond, OK) and Zoe Warden’s 2003 Warmblood gelding William Tell (Carland x Roodkapje) with a score of 149. Jennifer Spratt (Rutherfordton, NC) and her own 2010 Oldenburg mare Vera (Unknown x Unknown) earned a score of 147 to round out the top three.

Tea Zegarac-Pollock and Sea Salt
©Chelsea Lothrop for TIEC

Skip Bailey’s (Wellington, FL) course was contested by twelve junior and amateur riders, with Zegarac-Pollock and the 2012 Zangersheide gelding Sea Salt (Cassini Gold x Udora) leading after the classic round with a score of 87. The pair followed up their performance with a score of 89 in the handy to secure the win. 

Sophia Ashley and William Tell
©Chelsea Lothrop for TIEC

“I was really happy with my first round [on Sea Salt]. I was disappointed with my round on my other horse, so I really tried to have a solid round with him. The distances just really showed up for me today, and I was really lucky to get such a good score. He was perfect. My handy plan was to not try to be a hero or do any really fancy turns. I just wanted to have a really solid round and keep him consistent. When I saw a tighter distance, I just tried to keep my leg on and make it look smooth.”

Jennifer Spratt and Vera
©Chelsea Lothrop for TIEC

After some time off, Zegarac-Pollock found that Sea Salt would thrive in the equitation and derby ring instead of as a hunter, and her decision has been paying off:

“He was out of work for a while, and we got him back a little bit ago. We decided he made a better equitation horse than a hunter, and we’ve really just built him up from there. I’ve been doing the equitation on him and we won the Taylor Harris Medal earlier today. He’s just been such a pleasure to work with.”

Tea Zegarac-Pollock and Sea Salt in their presentation ceremony alongside presenting sponsor Meg Atkinson
©Chelsea Lothrop for TIEC

“I absolutely love TIEC,” Zegarac-Pollock exclaimed. “I love being able to stay on the showgrounds. I love the early mornings, even though they’re kind of cold, but they’re really fun. I just love the environment here. You are in a bubble, where you never really have to leave. Being around horse people and people that love what you love all the time is just such a special experience.”

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

The Final 2022 $37,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 2* Win Goes to Samuel Parot and Buga Z

October 27, 2022 – Samuel Parot (CHI) and his own 2010 Zangersheide gelding Buga Z (Chester Z and Quality Touch Z) sped to a time of 37.96 seconds to win the $37,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 2*. In second was Sharn Wordley (NZL) and his own 2004 Irish Sport Horse stallion Gatsby (Simba x Cruise On) with a time of 38.96 seconds. Third place went to Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen (USA) and Mirjam Bierings and Springpaarden Fonds Nederland’s 2010 Dutch Warmblood gelding Forever SFN (Azteca VDL x Non Stop) with a time of 39.41 seconds. 

Samuel Parot and Buga Z in their presentation  ceremony alongside TIEC Competition Manager J.P. Goddard.
©Chelsea Lothrop for TIEC

For full results from the $37,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 2*, click here.

Tryon Fall 6 continues through Sunday October 30th, featuring the $75,000 Equestrian Services International Grand Prix CSI 2* in the Tryon Stadium at 7pm. Saturday Night Lights presented by Tryon Horse & Home will feature both Halloween and Barktoberfest, with costume contests for both people and pups alike! Treat-or-treating will also be available at all of our restaurants and throughout vendor row!

Photos © Natalie Suto Photography for TIEC (Chelsea Lothrop 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.