Tryon Fall Festival 2 Sees John Angus and W. Tonix Hero Claim $15,000 Jumper Classic

Savannah Unger and Fabio Fly to $5,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake

Merideth Bryans and Jaguar Champion the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby

For Immediate Release

Mill Spring, NC – November 20, 2019 – The 2019 equestrian competition calendar concluded at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) at Tryon Resort with the 2019 Festival of the Hunt presented by Two Rivers Hay and the final component of the Tryon Fall Festival series, Tryon Fall Festival 2. The competitions overlapped with the kickoff of Winterfest at Tryon Resort, which runs November 15 through January 5, 2020.

The Parade of Hounds
©TIEC

The Festival of the Hunt presented by Two Rivers Hay featured two days of off-site judged hunts, celebrating the sport of foxhunting and evaluating competitors in the field. No animals are harmed. Concluding the competition, all participants competed in mock hunt and field hunter tests alongside Open Field Hunter classes.

Festival of the Hunt competitors
©TIEC

Results for the TIEC Field Hunter Championships presented by Defiant Whisky are as follows:

First: Erin Kimmer (Mecklenburg Hounds) riding Finnis Chrome Magnum
Second: Gisele Beardsley O’Grady (Green Creek Hounds) riding Atoka
Third: Catherine Mooneyham (Green Creek Hounds) riding Kessler
Fourth: Nicola Deines (Green Creek Hounds) riding Rock, Paper, Scissors
Fifth: Amara Baker (Moore County Hounds) riding Battalion
Sixth: Lisa Biederman (Long Run Woodford Hounds) riding Eva
Seventh: Randi Goulding (Green Creek Hounds) riding Dynamik II
Eighth: Cameron Sadler (Moore County Hounds) riding Secret Bid

Erin Kimmer in her presentation ceremony alongside Roger Smith of Two Rivers Hay and TIEC Partner and Molly Oakman, TIEC.
©TIEC

“Finny and I have been a team for a couple years,” said Kimmer, who topped the TIEC Field Hunter Championships in her first Festival of the Hunt experience. “We do eventing as well as fox hunt. He’s just a really cool guy! He pretty much does whatever I want him to do. He’s a great all-around horse.

“I’ve been foxhunting for about five or six years now, but this is my first time competing in the Festival of the Hunt,” Kimmer, who hunts with the Mecklenburg Hounds, shared. “I’ve wanted to come every single year you all have had it, but it just hadn’t worked out for my schedule. I am so glad it worked out this year! I’m going to tell all of my friends how wonderful it was, and we’re all coming back next year.”

Erin Kimmer and Finnis Chrome Magnum
©TIEC

Results for the Hilltopper Championship presented by Defiant Whisky are as follows:

First: Cathy Gomez (Belle Meade Hunt) riding Princeton
Second: Anne Pierce (Goodwin Hounds) riding Ted

Cathy Gomez in her presentation ceremony alongside Molly Oakman, TIEC.
©TIEC

Cathy Gomez and Princeton repeated their 2018 win in the Hilltopper Championships, and she shared that “Princeton, who we’ve had for two years, loves to hunt! It was really fun coming back here after my win last year, because I knew what it would be like, and got to practice.” Gomez continued, “It’s really nice that they change [the course] each time, so you’re not totally prepared, except for that you know there’s water, the berm to go up and down, and so on. This year, we had a bridge and the gate, so they made us get on and off, which was good.”

Cathy Gomez and Princeton
©TIEC

Gomez chose to participate in the judged hunt with the Green Creek Hounds, and complimented the experience as well as the portions of the competition hosted at TIEC on Saturday. “We got to hunt at Green Creek Hounds, and it was fabulous! It was such beautiful country – just lovely. I always like the gallops and halts because Princeton is really responsive. They’re his favorites! The mock hunt is always fun, too. It’s such a great opportunity, and TIEC is a beautiful facility! It’s such a treat to get to come here.”

Tryon Fall Festival 2 Sees John Angus and W. Tonix Hero Claim $15,000 Jumper Classic

John Angus in his presentation ceremony alongside JP Godard, TIEC.
©TIEC

John Angus (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) and W. Tonix Hero, Stephanie E. Angus’ 2003 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Ogano Sitte x Itaquine de Roll), dominated Sunday’s $15,000 Jumper Classic at TIEC, clearing the short course in a time of 39.528 seconds for the win. Christina Kelly (Aiken, SC) and Shining de Reve, a 2006 Selle Francais gelding (Zandor Z x Akinella) owned by Vick Russell, claimed second on a time of 39.912 seconds, while Kate Gluckman (Arlington, VA) and her own Uncle Ad W Z, a 2006 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Untouchable Z x Annie Z), received third on a time of 43.772 seconds.

Savannah Unger and Fabio Fly to $5,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake

Savannah Nicole Unger and Fabio
©TIEC

Savannah Nicole Unger (Morriston, FL) and her own Fabio, a Dutch Warmblood gelding (Tangelo van de Zutthoeve x Ullah), sped around the jump-off in a time of 37.746 seconds to win the $5,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake on Friday, ahead of John Angus and Stephanie E. Angus’ W. Tonix Hero’s second-place effort in a time of 37.893 seconds. Chasen Boggio (Canton, GA) and mount Co Pilot, a Westphalian gelding (Coney Obellnsty x Pauline), took third with 38.595 seconds.

Merideth Bryans and Jaguar Champion the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Merideth Bryans and Jaguar
©TIEC

Merideth Bryans (Newborn, GA) and Jaguar, a 2010 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Vickie Bryans, championed the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby on Saturday, with a two-round score totaling 166. Tommi Clark (Tryon, NC) and Appointed, a 2011 Mecklenburg gelding (Cassilas x Rosali) owned by Chosenbrook Show Stables, earned a total score of 162 to receive second. Suzanna Treske (Waxhaw, NC) and her own Conella I, a 2010 Holsteiner mare (Connor x Geste), were awarded third after their efforts totaled 159 points.

For full results from the $15,000 Jumper Classic, click here.

For full results from the $5,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake, click here.

For full results from the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, click here.

Photos ©TIEC. These photos may only be used once in relation to this press release with proper credit. Contact media@tryon.com with questions.