For Immediate Release

Mill Spring, NC – July 16, 2016 – Margie Engle (USA) and Royce have been a fixture in the sport of show jumping since 2011, and tonight the pair captured their first major victory at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), besting a talented class of international competitors. The pair finished with an incredibly fast jump-off time, finishing two seconds faster than Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili, who set the pace and stopped the timers in 36.69 seconds. Matt Williams (AUS) and Valinski S, who will travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, later this month in their Olympic Games debut, secured third place with a time of 38.35 seconds. Competition at TIEC continues tomorrow featuring a $10,000 High Junior/Amateur Owner Classic and the final FEI class of the week with the $35,000 1.50m Suncast® Classic CSI 4* beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Engle took over the ride on the 2004 Oldenburger Springpferd stallion owned by Elm Rock Partners LLC five years ago, and has established a strong and trusting relationship with Royce, which was a major contributing factor to their win this evening. Engle, who is not easily deterred from laying everything on the line to earn a win, made a quick dash through the jump-off track set by Manuel Esparza (MEX), ultimately proving that the gutsy and bold round was worth the risk.

“Both Michelle Grubb and Allison Robitaille told me that when they walked one to two of the jump-off, they thought there were seven strides there. I think most of the combinations did eight and I felt like there was nothing to lose because we’re in the jump-off,” she detailed. “I then decided to do eight up the middle. They raised the jumps a little bit for the jump-off, which helps him because he’s really a power jumper.””I am just so thrilled. He tried his heart out and I wanted to move it up a notch from what I did on Thursday here. I knew I had some fast combinations coming up behind me and I had to take the shot when we had the chance,” elaborated Engle. “This has been a great week for us and he’s jumped fantastic here. I’ve been so impressed with each part of this competition.”

The class featured 41 entries and saw eleven combinations return for the jump-off round, which proved to be problematic for many of those who advanced to contest the short course. Only Engle, Vanderveen, and Williams finished the evening with a double clear effort, while the other eight combinations accumulated faults.”In the first round, I thought there were more clean than I had anticipated. The course walked hard enough. This was a nice break for Royce though, in a way, because he’s only been doing the CSI 5* shows in Europe,” commented Engle. “He was thrilled to be here on good solid footing and I was very happy with the way he went on Thursday too.”

Engle and Royce were selected as a potential combination to represent Team USA at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to be hosted later this summer, and Engle noted that Royce gained valuable experience competing at the observation events in Europe throughout the spring and summer. The stallion received a lengthy rest period after arriving back stateside and this week’s competition proved to be a welcome return back to the international ring.”He’s been learning how to go faster and faster and I have to thank the owners of this horse, who have been very patient with us from the beginning. He’s always had all of the jump in the world, but we’ve really focused on rideability with him,” commented Engle. “We started working with U.S. dressage rider Lisa Wilcox this past winter to help us with the flatwork and the adjustability.”

“I haven’t pushed him in a jump-off since Europe, so I figured today I was going to go for it and that was fast for him. We left out strides in the first two lines and then he turned super for me to the Horseware® vertical,” she explained. “To the skinny oxer I just kept squeezing and the distance was really far away, but I relied on his natural scope and he jumped it incredibly.”This was Royce’s first trip to TIEC and Engle felt the pair was able to apply much of what they had worked on in Europe in their two appearances this week, which led to their top finishes. She stated, “He’s a horse that does better in a bigger ring, which is why he has done so well here. He’s naturally a little bit of a slower horse, so indoors is not his cup of tea. He’s really good in new places. This is his first time here and I have been so happy with how he feels and the way he’s been going.”

Engle has competed around the world and remains one of the most decorated riders of the sport, having made appearances for Team USA in nearly all of the major championship events during her career. Her return to the winner’s podium tonight elated the crowd, as many spectators have idolized and followed Engle’s lengthy and successful career very closely through the years.”They had a great spectator turnout tonight, which always makes a class special. It is more fun to ride in front of a crowd that is engaged and energetic. I couldn’t have asked for a better result,” she smiled. “This is a spectacular venue all around, one of, if not, the best in the world.The rings and the footing are incredible and we’re very happy to be here. We’ll be staying next week for the CSI 4* and hope to continue with the success from this week.”Engle’s longtime groom Joy Montgomery was awarded with the Groom’s Initiative Award presented by Mark Bellissimo and Tryon Equestrian Partners, for her commitment and care of Royce and the other FEI horses in Engle’s string. Montgomery has been a staple of Engle’s program for many years and her dedication and hard work continue to ensure their team’s success. Engle was presented with the Leading Lady Rider Award, presented by real estate broker Meg Atkinson, for her top performances in this week’s FEI classes.Competition at Tryon Summer III concludes tomorrow, Sunday, July 17, featuring the $35,000 1.50m Suncast® Classic CSI 4* and the $10,000 High Junior/Amateur Owner Classic in the George H. Morris Arena. Tryon Summer IV will begin on Wednesday, July 20, and continue through Sunday, July 24. For more information about TIEC and to see a full list of results please visit www.tryon.com.

Final Results $216,000 Hollow Creek Farm Grand Prix CSI 4*

1. ROYCE, 2004 Oldenburger Springpferd stallion by Café Au Lait x Grandilot
MARGIE ENGLE (USA), Elm Rock Partners LLC: 0/0/34.962

2. BULL RUN’S FAUSTINO DE TILI, 2005 Belgian Warmblood stallion by Berlin x Darco
KRISTEN VANDERVEEN (USA), Bull Run Jumpers Five, LLC: 0/0/36.691

3. VALINKSI S, 2006 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Nijinski x Julius
MATTHEW WILLIAMS (AUS), Wyndmont Inc.: 0/0/38.254

4. A S D FARFALA, 2003 Holsteiner mare by Hyo Dario x Furioso II
PABLO BARRIOS (VEN), Pablo Barrios: 0/4/36.599

5. AIMEE, 2005 Dutch Warmblood mare by Solitair x Silvio II
PETER WYLDE (USA), Aram Ampagoumian LLC: 0/4/37.097

6. CARRABIS Z, 2003 Zangersheide stallion by Canabis Z x Grannusso
RICHIE MOLONEY (IRL), Equinimity LLC: 0/4/37.186

7. CORONA 93, 2004 Hanoverian mare by Cordalme x Lenz XX
MARILYN LITTLE (USA), Raylyn Farms: 0/4/38.506

8. SHIVER, 2005 Hanoverian gelding by Stakkato x Grannus
LIZA FINSNESS (USA), Liza Finsness: 0/4/40.773

9. BARIANO, 2001 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Jetset-D x Skippy
EUGENIO GARZA (MEX), El Milagro: 0/8/36.414

10. BARNETTA, 2004 Westphalian gelding by Baloubet Du Rouet x Polydor
SHARN WORDLEY (NZL), Sky Group: 0/11/58.212

11. CASPER, 2010 Oldenburg gelding by Contender x Baloubet du Rouet
SHARN WORDLEY (NZL), Sky Group: 0/RT

12. BABALOU 41, 2005 Oldenburg mare by Balou Du Rouet x Silvio I
TODD MINIKUS (USA), Two Swans Farm: 4/70.73

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