O'Shea Flies to First Place in $130,000 Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport Grand Prix CSI 3*

Paul O’Shea (IRL) and Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu flew through the short-course timers to claim top honors at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in the $130,000 Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport Grand Prix CSI 3* in what served as the final Saturday Night Lights (SNL) of the season, and also the first Test Event prior to the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 for the discipline of Jumping.

Shawn Casady (USA) and Valinski S, a 2002 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Nijinski x Rockina), owned by Wyndmont Inc., stole second place with their jump-off time of 35.105 seconds, while third place honors went to Margie Engle (USA) and Dicas, a 2009 Rheinlander gelding (Diardo x Cassini I), owned by Gladewinds Partners, LLC, for their 35.25 second finish.

The Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) designed course saw thirty-six entries test the first-round track, while ten pairs returned for the jump-off. Five entries finished double-clear on the evening and O’Shea commented on the course’s appropriate level of difficulty.“It was the perfect course for the three star and Anthony [D’Ambrosio] did a super job building. We had a nice amount of clears and I thought it was a good result,” he smiled. “Obviously, it rode great. I’m really happy with it.”

O’Shea and the 2007 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Silverstone x Verona H) owned by Skara Glen Stables have been together for three years, said O’Shea. “This horse was on the winning Nations Cup team in Florida this year and went double clear. He’s a fantastic horse, great mind, great to ride, and just a lovely horse.”

With a tough track and competitive riders in the hunt for the victory, O’Shea explained that there were some elements he had to consider carefully. “The triple to the water rode differently than I expected. I thought it was going to ride a little short, but it actually rode long, so that took me a little bit by surprise, but it worked out well,” he said.

Tracy Fenney (USA) was honored with the FEI Leading Lady Jumper Rider Award presented by Meg Atkinson of Town & Country Realtors for her consistent performances in FEI classes throughout the week. Paul O’Shea’s grooms Collie Valvidia, Diego Valvidia, and Jose Louis Castro were awarded with the Absorbine FEI Grooms’ Award for their dedicated care of the winning Grand Prix mount Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu.