Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili impressed once again in the international spotlight at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), taking top honors in the $130,000 Asheville/Greenville BMW Centers’ Grand Prix CSI 3* in front of an electric crowd. Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili stopped the jump-off timers in 39.05 seconds to edge Deborah Stephens (USA) and Condor C, who secured second place as the only other double clear effort in the jump-off, finishing in 42.864 seconds. Eric Navet (FRA) and Catypso earned third place with a jump-off time of 37.122 seconds, but added four faults to their final score. Competition at TIEC continues tomorrow, which concludes the first week of the 2017 Tryon Summer Series and features a $10,000 High Junior/Amateur Owner Classic and $20,000 Under 25 Grand Prix in the George H. Morris Arena. Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili managed to secure the last spot in the jump-off, as the final pair on course in the first round. Michel Vaillancourt (CAN) set a flowing, but technical track, which saw rails fall throughout the evening. Thirty horse and rider combinations contested the first round track, while seven pairs returned to try and secure a victory in the jump-off round. “We love it here. He felt great from this morning on. He was in a great mood all day and it felt like it was going to be a good class,” smiled Vanderveen. “When I walked the course I thought it was really nice. It was one of those courses where it was set so nice, that you can easily make silly errors because you’re floating around, so I knew I had to pay attention.” The duo have secured a number of FEI wins at the venue, with a highlight victory last season in the $380,000 Horseware® Ireland Grand Prix CSI 5*, the first FEI CSI 5* competition ever hosted at TIEC. The pair also secured a second CSI 3* win earlier this week, taking the $35,000 1.45m Suncast® Commercial Welcome CSI 3* on Thursday. TIEC also holds a special place in Vanderveen’s heart, as she earned her first-ever international grand prix win, which came aboard Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili, in the $127,000 Kingsland Grand Prix CSI 3* in July of 2015. Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili has amassed an impressive record with Vanderveen and the duo is still only in the early stages of their career and partnership together. The 2005 Belgian Warmblood stallion (Berlin x Darco) owned by Bull Run Jumper’s Five LLC, is transitioning back to the larger grand prix classes, after Vanderveen studied and worked on their speed and agility this winter in Wellington, FL. According to Vanderveen, their training has paid off, as she now feels that he has strengthened his awareness and agility in the ring. Vanderveen also received the Leading Lady Jumper Rider Award presented by Meg Atkinson of Town and Country Realtors, while her groom, Luis Salvaras, was awarded with the Absorbine FEI Groom’s Award, for his care and dedication to the evening’s grand prix winner. Click here to view results for the $130,000 Asheville/Greenville BMW Centers’ Grand Prix CSI 3*.
