Accelerator and Fabian Herrera claim $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by The Farm House

John Brown is Three-for-Three at TIEC

For Immediate Release

Sarah Madden for TIEC

Mill Spring, NC – April 3, 2023 – Melissa Blades (Guyton, GA) and Hells Angel were the sole double-clear combination in Sunday’s $20,000 Grand Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (TIEC), taking the win in a time of 35.475 seconds in the jump off. Doug Payne (Rougemont, NC) and Chaccolate, Issy Kelly’s 2013 Warmblood gelding (Chacco Blue x Unknown), followed Blades’ trailblazing performance with a four-fault, 32.088 second round to earn reserve. In third place with the fastest four-fault first round John Brown (Mill Spring, NC) and Kazarro, LL Show Jumpers, LLC’s 2015 Dutch Warmblood gelding (A Big Boy x Rockella-S), finished the JP Godard (AIken, SC) course design in 76. 392 seconds.

Melissa Blades and Hells Angel
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography

Blades and her own 2011 Westphalian mare (Cador x Foxi) are preparing for a big summer campaign after a recent maternity leave for Blades, she shared. “I’ve had her for about a year and a half now. I just had a baby eight months ago. So, I came out last week and did that smaller class here and was happy with her; she was second. Then,” Blades continued, “I came today to do this class and hopefully leg her up for the summer. I hope to show her in some FEI stuff later this summer.”

Doug Payne and Chaccolate
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography

Knowing that she had Eventing Olympian and accomplished show jumper Payne on her heels, Blades aimed to go clear – and quickly – to put the pressure on her competitors. “I was a little worried with Doug being behind me, because I know that he’s fast. My biggest focus was to get that inside turn done early, and go fast and get her across those wider oxers to produce a clear, because like I said, I’m trying to set her up for a big summer of showing.”

John Brown and Kazarro
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography

A frequent TIEC competitor, Blades’ husband, Dennis Brown, is a critical member of the venue’s arena care team, and Blades emphasized that she travels from the Savannah area frequently to support the showgrounds and her spouse, preferring the climate and amenities of the North Carolina venue. 

Melissa Blades, family and Hells Angel in their presentation ceremony alongside JP Godard, TIEC Competition Manager.
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography

“We’re going to come back here for about two weeks in May and then in late June here as well. I think we’re going to try to do a lot here this summer, as well as October. My husband [Dennis Brown] works here, so I try to come and support him,” she concluded. “Obviously we like Tryon, and it’s close for us. It’s a four hour drive, not far, and it’s a little cooler here than it is in Savannah!”

For full results from the $20,000 Grand Prix, click here. 

Accelerator and Fabian Herrera claim $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by The Farm House

March 31, 2023 – Fabian Herrera (Charlotte, NC) and Accelerator were champions in Friday’s $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by The Farm House, scoring 181 points over two rounds to take the title. Joy Janouskovec (Whitsett, NC) was responsible for both second and third place finishes: aboard Danieli, the 2011 Warmblood gelding of unknown breeding owned by Molly Alderman, on a score of 180, and just one point behind riding AF Strategy, the 2012 Dutch Warmblood gelding of unknown breeding owned by Townsend Farm and PKP Holdings LLC. 

Fabian Herrera and Accelerator 
©Kristen Anchors for Natalie Suto Photography

Herrera and his own 2012 Warmblood gelding (Accelerator x Bazylia) claimed the highest first-round score (92) over the Skip Bailey (Palm Beach, FL) course design, protecting their lead with a second round score of 89. Competition was fierce in the handy round, with Janouskovec posting scores of 91 and 92. Herrera knew he had to be extra handy to keep his lead, and believes that his handiness plus his first round score is what earned the win:

Joy Janouskovec and Danieli
©Kristen Anchors for Natalie Suto Photography

The first round was really great, and in the second round we had a few mistakes. But, I feel like the judges were kind,” Herrera theorized. “I had to do a few turns that nobody else did, because there were really good rounds before me. Joy came right before me with great second rounds. I think I did like one extra little turn. I think that helped me stay in first place.”

Joy Janouskovec and AF Strategy
©Kristen Anchors for Natalie Suto Photography

Herrera and Accelerator have been competing in the High Performance Divisions and he was hopeful that his mount was well-prepared for the class. A frequent competitor at TIEC, Herrera shared that “the course was nice. The course designer always does a really good job with the courses. I think it was fun. It was good.

“We will be in Tryon pretty much once or twice a month from here,” Herrera concluded. “So, hopefully we get lucky again!”

Fabian Herrera and Accelerator in their presentation ceremony alongside Dylan Thomas of The Farm House.
©Kristen Anchors for Natalie Suto Photography

For full results from the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by The Farm House, click here. 

John Brown is Three-for-Three at TIEC

March 31, 2023 – John Brown (Mill Spring, NC) claimed his third consecutive victory in highlight jumper classes at TIEC Friday with his win in the $5,000 Welcome Stake in Tryon Stadium. Aboard Kazarro, the 2015 Dutch Warmblood gelding (A Big Boy x Rockella-S) owned by LL Show Jumpers, LLC, Brown cleared the JP Godard (Aiken, SC) course design in a time of 34.421 seconds in the jump off. Megan Rosenthal (Charlotte, NC) and Caliente, the 2007 Warmblood gelding (Cormint x Gota) owned by Fairy Tale Farms, had four faults in the second round in a time of 36.177 to earn the reserve check. Elizabeth Schumann (Ocala, FL) and Ivanhoe, the 2014 Warmblood gelding of unknown breeding owned by Light Speed Equestrian LLC, claimed third place by stopping the timers in 38.235 on four faults. 

John Brown and Kazarro
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography

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

Click here to view all results from Tryon Welcome 2.

The Tryon Welcome Series presented by Horse Illustrated continues through April 16, 2023, with two remaining weeks of Hunter/Jumper competition. Tryon Welcome 3 competition will be hosted Wednesday through Saturday. To learn more about the 2023 competition season at TIEC, visit www.Tryon.com/compete. To view the full calendar of equestrian and entertainment events, including dining, live music and holiday celebrations, visit www.Tryon.com/allevents. 

Photos ©Natalie Suto Photography (Kristen Anchors and Sarah Sturgis as noted). These photos may only be used once, in relation to this press release. Competitors may view and purchase competition photos at www.nataliesutophotography.shootproof.com. With questions regarding photography at TIEC, contact media@tryon.com.