Mill Spring, North Carolina, USA – October 23, 2021 – Daniel Coyle (IRL) and Legacy danced across the Tryon Stadium to a victory in the $137,000 ESI Footing Grand Prix CSI 3* at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (TIEC).

Thirty-nine riders tackled the Olaf Petersen Jr. (GER) course design, with 11 riders qualifying for the shortened second round. Coyle and the 2010 Zangersheide mare (Chippendale Z x Bon Ami) co-owned by Coyle and Ariel Grange stopped the second-round clock at 34.684 seconds to earn their win.

As one of the last riders to compete in the jump-off, Coyle knew he had to be speedy to top Wolff’s leading time. 

Following close behind in second place with a jump-off time of 35.676 seconds was Ali Wolff (USA) and Casall, the 2005 Holsteiner gelding (Casall x Capitol l) owned by Blacklick Bend Farm.

Santiago Lambre (BRA) and Comtess 202, his own 2011 Westphalian mare (Comme II Faut 5 x Pilot), finished with third place honors with a clear round and a time of 35.956 seconds in the second round.

He noted, “Ali was fast, and when I saw Santiago didn’t beat her, I thought, ‘She’s very fast!’ My plan was to try and do all the numbers correctly without going wild. From the first line, everything showed up really well for me. If there was a big risk tonight [to win], I wasn’t going to take it, so thankfully everything came up smoothly for me.”

Two years ago, Coyle and Legacy won the $73,000 Lugano Diamonds Grand Prix 2* at TIEC while the mare was still quite green to international competition, and they have only improved since then. “Legacy has done a lot since we were last here,” Coyle recapped. “I always thought she was a championship horse, [even when we were here] the last time and she was a little green.” 

After competing in Europe over the summer, the duo was prepared to take on the stiff competition during the 2021 Tryon Fall Series. “Sure, this is a step down from the Europeans, but tonight wasn’t easy, and the jump-off was pretty fast,” he acknowledged. 

Coyle will stay at TIEC for the Washington International Horse Show presented by MARS Equestrian next week to close out his competition season. Ending his show year on a high note, Coyle expressed his gratitude to his team and to TIEC. “It’s a great facility and a great place,” he said with a smile. “It’s also a good place to finish the year.”

Final Results –  $137,000 ESI Footing Grand Prix CSI 3*

1) Daniel Coyle (IRL) & Legacy – 0 / 0 – 34.684

2) Ali Wollf (USA) & Casall – 0 / 0 – 35.676

3) Santiago Lambre (BRA) & Comtess – 0 / 0 – 35.956

Source: Press Release by Allie Hay & Emily Carpenter for TIEC– Tryon International Equestrian Center

Photos: © Natalie Suto

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