Tryon Summer 3 Midweek Update: Tryon Summer Series presented by The Farm House
Kristen VanderVeen and Bull Run’s Jireh Triumphant in Thursday’s $32,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake CSI 2*
Kelly Mullen Rides Checkmark to Victory in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
$6,000 Two Phase CSI 2* Championed by John Angus aboard W. Tonix Hero
For Immediate Release
Leyla Caynak for Tryon International
June 26, 2025 – Mill Spring, NC – Kristen VanderVeen (USA) and the 2014 Holsteiner gelding Bull Run's Jireh (Uriko x Colman) were triumphant in the $32,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake CSI 2*. This pair had a recent successful week during Tryon Spring 6 series, winning both the $32,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake CSI 3* and the $120,000 Vogel Grand Prix CSI 3*. John Brown (GRB) aboard Ponce Tidwell Jr’s 2013 Belgian Warmblood gelding, Ballon Bleu (Amaretto D'Arco x Ariadus) took the reserve honors title. With a time of 39.11 seconds, Francesca Bolfo (USA) and Jadalco (Nabab De Reve x For Pleasure), the 2009 Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Duterra, claimed third place.
Kristen VanderVeen and Bull Run’s Jireh
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
The class had 22 trips with only nine pairs qualifying for the jump off, and the Bull Run Jumpers Inc entry Bull Run’s Jireh and rider VanderVeen had the fastest second-round time. She shared, “I still did the jump off just to school a little bit, and I really tried to work on my tight turns and not run with him.”
John Brown and Ballon Bleu
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Not many people know that the secret to success is a happy horse, and that can be accomplished with “Lots of cookies!”, according to VanderVeen. “He had a little break from showing, so I thought he was going to be wild today, but he was really relaxed and he loves this ring.”
Francesa Bolfo and Jadalco
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
This pair will have another chance to compete this week under the lights during Saturday’s $70,000 CSI 2* Grand Prix presented by the Silver Spoon Saloon. VanderVeen and her team will be back next week for Summer 4, and then she added, “We'll see if the team still has a little juice in them for the final week.”
For full results from the $32,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake CSI 2*, click here.
Kelly Mullen Rides Checkmark to Victory in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
June 27, 2025 - Friday’s Hunt & Go $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby saw a total of 16 trips on the green with Kelly Mullen (Franklin, TN) emerging victorious on Khloe McSwain’s 2018 Oldenburg gelding Checkmark (Hickstead White x Unknown). Receiving a total score of 169 and the reserve honors title was Jason Schnelle (Collierville, TN) riding Chacario PS (Chacoon Blue x Santa Canaria), the 2019 Oldenburg gelding owned by Sarah Morris. Joy Janouskovec (Whitsett, NC) received a score of 84 in both the first and second round while riding Robin (Je T'aime Flamenco x Kilcarna Ruby) the 2015 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Townsend Farm & PKP Holdings LLC.
Kelly Mullen and Checkmark
©Laci Matthews for Natalie Suto Photography
The winning pair only had a short partnership of two and a half months, but were able to secure the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby win with a total score of 178. Mullen shared, “It was his first derby, so we were going the conservative route, but he managed it all very well and I felt like he got braver and more confident as we went. All in all, he was better than we ever expected!”
Jason Schnelle and Chacario PS
©Laci Matthews for Natalie Suto Photography
Mullen and Checkmark earned the highest first and second round scores of the class. With a score of 90 in the handy round, Mullen detailed, “By the time I got to the handy, we did some inside turns, and had a really good, strong handy route to the last jump.”
Joy Janouskovec and Robin
©Laci Matthews for Natalie Suto Photography
Noting that their stay at Tryon International will wrap up this week, she mentioned, “this horse show worked hard [to keep up cool]: they started rings early, they staggered the times, and then of course we love all the restaurants!”
Kelly Mullen and Checkmark in their presentation ceremony.
©Laci Matthews for Natalie Suto Photography
Mullen concluded with a congratulations to Jason Schnelle and Joy Janouskovec, the winners of second and third place.
For full results from the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, click here.
$6,000 Two Phase CSI 2* Championed by John Angus aboard W. Tonix Hero
June 25, 2025 - There were eight double-clear rounds in Wednesday’s $6,000 Two Phase CSI 2*, but John Angus (USA) aboard Stephanie Angus’ 22 year old Dutch Warmblood gelding, W. Tonix Hero (Ogano Sitte x Major De La Cour), posted the fastest second round time after clearing the first phase. Stopping the clock at 31.56 seconds for their second phase earned Ty Simpson (USA) and Cashgirl 7 (Chaccato x Quidam’s Rubin) the 2015 Oldenburg mare owned by Riffle Hitch, LLC reserve honors. Diego Bedoya Yanez (BOL), and NRG Farm LLC’s entry Baglioni (Spartacus TN x Baloussini) the 2014 Warmblood mare secured third place in a time of 31.57.
John Angus and W. Tonix Hero
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the $6,000 Two Phase CSI 2*, click here.
The Tryon Summer Series presented by The Farm House will continue through July 20, and Prize Lists and entry information can be found at www.Tryon.com/compete. Saturday Night Lights resumes June 28, with details available at www.Tryon.com/snl.
Photos ©Natalie Suto Photography (Bailey Beck and Laci Matthews as noted) unless otherwise noted. These photos may only be used once, in relation to this press release. Competitors may view and purchase competition photos at www.nataliesutophotography.com. With questions regarding photography at TIEC, contact media@tryon.com.