Mill Spring, North Carolina, USA – May 15, 2021 – Schuyler Riley (USA) and Robin de Ponthual landed first place in the $30,000 Cleghorn Golf & Sports Club Grand Prix last Saturday night during the Tryon Spring Series at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC).

Climbing from her third place finish aboard Quilimbo in Thursday’s Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake, Riley (USA) and Robin de Ponthual, the 2005 Selle Francais gelding (Elf d’Or x Calypso d’Herbiers) owned by Katherine Gallagher, rose to first out of the 25 pairs on the Catsy Cruz (MEX) course. The American and the gelding registered a double clear and a jump-off time of 36.771 seconds.

Darragh Kerins (IRL) and Delight M-G C de Leuze, the 2009 Belgian Sport Horse mare (Armitage x Unknown) owned by Trefoil Farm LLC and Greg Patrick Broderick, earned second place on a jump-off time of 38.075 seconds.

Rounding out third place was Hallie Grimes (USA) with Can We Keep It? LLC’s 2008 Belgian Warmblood gelding NKH Calango (Calvados Z x Good Times) in 38.192 seconds.

“The course was good. It was hard enough. Fortunately for me, they lengthened the time allowed. I felt the time allowed sounded really tight, and I don’t think I could’ve gone much faster in the first round and gone clear. I think she did just the right amount for the level. She had a wide range of levels of horses and riders in the field, so I thought she did a lovely job,” explained Riley.

With only six teams returning for the jumpoff, Riley and Robin de Ponthual were first on course and pushed hard for the win.

“When you’re first to go in the jump-off, you just have to lay it down. You have to go your horse’s speed, do the best you can, trim every corner and hope that the chips fall in your favor. I really did feel like that was as fast as I could go on Robin. I maybe could’ve done one less to the last, but I’m really happy with where it ended up,” she said.

Riley enjoyed being back under the lights and competing before a small audience now that spectators are permitted to watch the classes again after being closed to the public for nearly a year.

“It was amazing to [be back under the lights] and see people and their faces! Everybody here is so friendly. I’ve always loved this venue. The footing is amazing. We only had a few people here tonight because we’re reopening slowly and doing it right, but to get a little of the atmosphere back is what makes this place so great. We also had a couple of younger horses in the class and it was good for their first experience under the lights with some atmosphere. I was thrilled with the class,” she added.

Final Results – $30,000 Cleghorn Golf & Sports Club Grand Prix

1) Schuyler Riley (USA) & Robin De Ponthual – 0 / 0 – 36.771

2) Darragh Kerins (IRL) & Delight M-G C de Leuze – 0 / 0 – 38.075

3) Hallie Grimes (USA) & NKH Calango – 0 / 0 – 38.192

Source: Press Release by Sarah Madden from TIEC – Tryon International Equestrian Center

Photos: © TIEC – Tryon International Equestrian Center

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