The 83rd Tryon Riding & Hunt Club Charity Horse Show held the $25,000 Equestrian Sport Productions Grand Prix on Saturday June 11th. Course designer Doug Russell presented a technical course that whittled down the field of 25 to only 2 riders, each with 2 rides in the jumpoff. A familiar sight for shows in the Southeast, it was Tryon’s own Vick Russell and Aiken’s Daniel Geitner left to duel it out for the win.
Vick made it through the first round clear with Lily Hahn’s Lucky One and his own Here’s the Deal. Daniel brought Fit to Print Farm’s Camera Ready and Karen Kerby’s T/Salemon to the second round. Vick laid down the only clear round with Lucky One, who both he and owner Lily Hahn have had great success with in the Grand Prix. Vick has had the reins for the last year, as Lily recently gave birth to her first son with husband Ben Rosichan.
Katherine and Mark Bellisimo of Equestrian Sport Productions were on hand to present the Agerdoorn trophy to the winner and watched their daughter Nicole make her Grand Prix debut. She finished 12th and 13th with her two mounts. Roger Smith, Vice President of TR&HC, and his wife Jennifer Smith, show chairwoman, were also present, as was Chuck Lingerfelt President of TR&HC. Always a family affair, Vick’s sons Lincoln, Shawn, and Clayton joined in the awards presentation as did proud owners Lily Hahn and Ben Rosichan.
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Show manager JP Godard perfectly timed a 10 minute break in the middle of the class so that exhibitors and spectators could pause to watch the Belmont Stakes, which was aired in the hospitality tent. The show was sold out this year, with familiar faces and some newcomers added into the mix.
The Tryon Riding & Hunt Club has two more A rated shows at FENCE this year, July 6-10 and July 14-17, and also has an A rated Junior/Amateur show at Harmon Field July 23 & 24. For more information about the shows please visit www.trhcevents.org.
