Mill Spring, North Carolina, United States – May 22, 2025 – With the Tryon Spring Series presented by Fields Auto Group continuing with Tryon Spring 4, there was no shortage of action in Tryon Stadium on Thursday afternoon. In a fast paced short round that saw five double clear performances, Megan McDermott (USA) and Nintendo finished the $32,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake CSI 2* on top, blazing through the jump off timers in 35.45 seconds to take the win.

“Nintendo is, firstly, an incredible horse. I love him so much!” Megan McDermott said of her mount, owned by Counter Balance LLC. “He hadn’t jumped a big class in a while, since the middle of March. He came in today, and the first round was just very amped – he was really careful about the jumps, and studying all the fences.” 

“He’s a careful horse, but it was next level today, which I was happy about,” McDermott detailed. “I also knew I had to ride a little strong in the first round – in the second round, I changed my spurs and rode the same and he was perfect.”

Richard Spooner (USA) took second on the podium, marking a jump off time of 36.92 seconds aboard Lyjanair (Lyjanero x Coriano), the 2014 Holsteiner gelding owned by  Show Jumping Syndications International.

Maya Ines Denis Chambon (MEX) and her own 2016 Zangersheide gelding, Callypso de La Hamente Z (Chellsini Z x Kashmir van Schuttershof) rounded out the top three with 38.13 seconds in the jump off. 

With the 2014 Oldenburg gelding using footspeed to his advantage across the short track, built by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA), McDermott analyzed her jump off strategy. “[Nintendo is] very fast. He does have a big stride, but when he opens up his stride too much, sometimes you lose the brain a little bit. I tried to ride the normal strides, but be quick in between the jumps, trust that he’s fast in the air, and stay as smooth as possible.” 

In addition to scoring big wins in the show ring, McDermott is using her time at Tryon International to enjoy the venue to its fullest. “I show on both the east coast and west coast throughout the year, and Tryon is the best show for the horses,” she noted. “The stables are the best, there are fans at every stall, everything’s matted, the pathways are all footing so that you’re not walking on concrete all the time, and you have the cross country field you can ride on. I have horses here that aren’t even showing, just to be here for the horse’s experience. They can build fitness, and they can utilize the facility to become better horses.”

Final Results – $32,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake CSI 2*

1) Megan McDermott (USA) & Nintendo – 0 / 0 – 35.45

2) Richard Spooner (USA) & Lyjanair – 0 / 0 – 36.92

3) Maya Ines Denis Chambon (MEX) & Callypso de La Hamente Z – 0 / 0 – 38.13

Source: Press Release from Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort

Photos: © TIEC / Laci Matthews / Sarah Sturgis & Natalie Suto for Natalie Suto Photography

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