Mill Spring, North Carolina, United States – May 03, 2025 – Saturday Night Lights presented by Skyla Credit Union kicked off at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (Tryon International) in Tryon Stadium with the $75,000 Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Grand Prix. Fresh off an FEI World Cup Finals appearance with Bull Run’s Jireh, Kristen VanderVeen (USA) was unbeatable in the jump off to secure the win in a time of 35.979 seconds.

Rowan Willis (AUS) grabbed reserve with a time of 38.441 seconds across the Manuel Esparza course, riding For Dilando PS, the 2016 Hanoverian gelding (For Pleasure x Dilanda Cha Cha) owned by Just a Cheeky One.

Completing the podium was Campbell Brown (USA) and Colina Z, the 2014 Zangersheide mare (C-Ingmar x Calina Z) owned by MMK Equestrian LLC, for their 39.341 second performance in the jump off. 

VanderVeen and the 2014 Holsteiner gelding (Uriko x Conella) owned by Bull Run Jumpers   Inc. came to “play” in Tryon Stadium in a field of 21 competitors. She shared that her first jumps since Basel, Switzerland with Jireh were both great start to the Tryon Spring Series presented by Fields Auto Group, BMW Asheville, Mercedes Asheville and Defender as well as an opportunity to sharpen their skills. 

“This was kind of a fun start to his summer season. I’m building a new team of horses around him. But I was like, let’s go play! It was actually a great jump off for me to practice, because sometimes I can get going a little extra [fast], and that can mess up my turns a bit. Tonight’s [jump off], had quite a lot of turning. It was really good practice for the both of us, for me to stay calm and just do really tight turns.”

The Bull Run team is settling in for another five weeks of continued success and growth, VanderVeen concluded. “We plan to be here for the whole six week series. I’m developing a team of horses around [Bull Run’s Jireh]. I have students here as well.

“Tryon has always been great for us, because I can develop horses and have students that can jump at all levels, and then we get the FEI weeks at the end,” she added. “It hits all the major points, which is great for us. We love the weather in the spring, too – everyone should come to Tryon!”

Final Results – $75,000 Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Grand Prix

1) Kristen VanderVeen (USA) & Bull Run’s Jireh – 0 / 0 – 35.979

2) Rowan Willis (AUS) & For Dilando PS – 0 / 0 – 38.441

3) Campbell Brown (USA) & Colina Z – 0 / 0 – 39.341

Source: Press Release by Sarah Madden Taylor and Rette Solomon for Tryon International

Photos: © TIEC / Bailey Beck & Laci Matthews for Natalie Suto Photography

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