Tryon Fall 4: Hunter Update
Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen Outscores the Bunch in $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
Alexia Rule Pilots Bull Run’s Luminous to Win $2,500 USHJA Jr/Am National Hunter Derby
$5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby Proves Successful for Austin Cumming
For immediate release
Leyla Caynak and Rette Solomon for Tryon International
October 10, 2025 – Mill Spring, NC – Hunter action returned to the lights of Tryon Stadium on Friday evening with the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby taking centerstage. Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen (USA) partnered with Ratino KN Ter Beuken (Gino H x Extreme From The Breeder D 09) to put 361 points on the board to take the win. Classic round high scorer Ethan Maye (USA) piloted his own Uno Dinero (Unknown x Unknown), the 2011 Holsteiner gelding, to second place on a total of 340 points. Past derby winner Victoria Free (USA) and Andrea Block’s 2016 Hanoverian gelding Step Up (Cabana x Speak Up) collected 339 points to slot into third place.
Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen and Ratino KN Ter Beuken
©Paris Lockhart for Natalie Suto Photography
In an elevated evening atmosphere, the night derby provided a fresh environment for Hunter riders. “I thought it was a great experience, and great that the show made it a priority for us to show under the lights,” winner Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen noted, following her victory gallop.
Ethan Maye and Uno Dinero
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography
Coming off of their classic round score of 166, it was all left to the handy round. “The handy is his strong suit, so I know I had something to prove, which I like doing! I thought ‘try to do everything to the most extreme’, and see what happens.”
“[The course] was a lot of fun. I really liked the handy – I loved the rollback turns and the hand gallop incorporated into it. It gave you some places to stand out and shine.” Shine they did, as they trotted out of the stadium with a handy round score of 195.
Victoria Free and Step Up
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography
The 2017 Belgian Warmblood gelding, a “derby specialist,” has a special place in Vanderveen’s heart, she concluded, “He knows the job, and it’s cool to feel him learn to do it, because I was the first one to show his first derby with him!”
For full results from the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, click here.
Alexia Rule Pilots Bull Run’s Luminous to Win $2,500 USHJA Jr/Am National Hunter Derby
October 10, 2025 – Following the Open Derby was the USHJA $2,500 Junior/Amateur National Hunter Derby, which saw twelve trips around the green. Last in the order of go but first in the standings was Alexia Rule (Marietta, GA) aboard Bull Run’s Luminous (Valentino x Cleophatra). A pair of 84s landed Andriana Pappas (Charlotte, NC) and her own 2014 Swedish Warmblood gelding, Kinetic Quest, (Boss x Summer Quest) in second place. Just a point behind, placing third with a total score of 167 points was Madelyn Godard (Aiken, SC) competing on Heaven’s Dream (Arko III x Onze Dame), the 2010 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Isabella Griffin.
Alexia Rule and Bull Run’s Luminous
©Madison Coleman for Natalie Suto Photography
Bull Run’s Luminous, The Bull Run’s Jumpers Inc. 2017 Warmblood mare put in the best effort of the class with the highest total score of 173. It was rider Alexia Rule’s first week competing with the mare and she happily shared, “she's [Bull Run’s Luminous] an amazing horse, and I just really trusted her. Going in, I took a deep breath and knew we would have fun out there!”
Andriana Pappas and Kinetic Quest
©Madison Coleman for Natalie Suto Photography
Pleased with her mount’s performance in the first round, Rule elaborated, “This was my first time jumping her on the grass, and she jumped great over the first jump and from there was really confident and forward - I thought she did an amazing job on the grass.”
“In the Go portion, there were a good bit of nice turns where you could really show off the rideability, and it was really fun!” Rule praised the Emily Heine designed course, sharing, “I loved some of the long rides, allowing the horses to just gallop across the grass.”
Madelyn Godard and Heaven’s Dream
©Madison Coleman for Natalie Suto Photography
“My horse was amazing today, I love this show, and I’m super grateful to be here!” Concluding with her Tryon International experience, “It's like a home show of mine, and it's just so special to jump here - I love Tryon!”
For full results from the $2,500 USHJA Jr/Am National Hunter Derby, click here.
$5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby Proves Successful for Austin Cumming
Friday morning began with the USHJA $5,000 National Hunter Derby Hunt & Go taking place across the dewey derby field. Austin Cumming (Bishop, GA) piloted his two mounts into the top three after their efforts over the Emily Heine course. Top honors with the untouchable score of 178 was awarded to Liddy Strickland's Bugatti (Balou x W-Xiamen), the 2016 Holsteiner gelding. Sneaking in between on their score of 167, for the reserve title was Joy Janouskovec (Whitsett, NC) riding Brick City (Arizona ODF x Jolita ODF) the 2016 American Warmblood gelding owned by Townsend Farm and PKP Holdings LLC. On a total score of 166, Finch (Fortepiano x Moonlight's Melody) the 2018 Warmblood gelding owned by Lilian Wilcox was awarded the third place title with rider Austin Cumming.
Austin Cumming and Bugatti
©Madison Coleman for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, click here.
Photos ©Natalie Suto Photography (Madison Coleman, Paris Lockhart, and Sarah Sturgis as noted). These photos may only be used once, in relation to this press release. Competitors may view and purchase competition photos at www.nataliesutophotography.shootproof.com. With questions regarding photography at Tryon International, contact media@tryon.com.