Mill Spring, North Carolina, United States – May 31, 2025 – To cap off an evening of Saturday Night Lights festivities presented by Skyla Credit Union, Kristen VanderVeen (USA) led the victory gallop in Tryon Stadium to celebrate a $120,000 Vogel Grand Prix CSI 3* win. With equine teammate Bull Run’s Jireh (Uriko x Colman), VanderVeen dominated the four-horse jump off, stopping the short track timers in 35.13 seconds.
VanderVeen and the 2014 Holsteiner gelding owned by Bull Run Jumpers Inc. were “in sync” to win their second Grand Prix win of the Tryon Spring Series presented by Fields Auto Group, she shared.
“It was great. Honestly, this is probably the best feeling I’ve had on him, and he jumped so good, I thought. I was very happy with his first round. Winning is always really fun, obviously, that tops it off! But in the first round, we just felt so in sync tonight. He listened really well, and jumped great.”
Luis Fernando Larrazabal (VEN) claimed the second place spot on the podium, riding Condara, the 2012 Mecklenburg mare (Conthargos x Catapult 7) owned by Victoria Heurtematte, to a jump off time of 35.26 seconds.
Paired with Nintendo (Nintender x Chacco Blue), the 2014 Oldenburg gelding owned by Counter, Megan McDermott (USA) marked a 37.09 second jump off, securing third.
VanderVeen felt like Bull Run’s Jireh wasn’t the only one who came to the arena ready to win, she revealed. “I felt like I was on my A game, so we both showed up on it. He was so proud of himself!”
Facing a four-horse jump off with the intimidating first slot in the order, VanderVeen planned to produce a fast but clear round that would put just enough pressure on her competitors to force mistakes.
“I wanted to go fast, because they were all fast horses in the jump off. But at the same time, I tried to not go overboard…Occasionally I get a little excited! Richard Spooner had my time, so it definitely wasn’t uncatchable, but I think for the number one spot, I did what I wanted to do: put enough pressure on that they had to really try, and maybe make a mistake. It worked out for us tonight.”
VanderVeen and the Bull Run Jumpers team can be seen competing at Tryon International throughout the year, and she’s currently on a winning streak after winning the $32,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake CSI 3* on Thursday.
Final Results – $120,000 Vogel Grand Prix CSI 3*
1) Kristen VanderVeen (USA) & Bull Run’s Jireh – 0 / 0 – 35.13
2) Luis Fernando Larrazabal (VEN) & Condara – 0 / 0 – 35.26
3) Megan McDermott (USA) & Nintendo – 0 / 0 – 37.09
Source: Press Release by Sarah Madden Taylor and Rette Solomon for Tryon International
Photos: © TIEC / Natalie Suto & Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography
