Spring 4 Midweek Update: Tryon Spring Series presented by Fields Auto Group

Megan McDermott and Nintendo Score Big in $32,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake CSI 2* 

Isaac Leffkowitz Takes Top Two Spots in $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Andrew Welles and Dorchester Claim $6,000 Two Phase CSI 2* Victory 

Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen and Windstar Win $6,000 Speed Stake CSI 2*

For Immediate Release

Rette Solomon for Tryon International

Mill Spring, NC – 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. 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. 

“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.” 

Megan McDermott and Nintendo
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography

“He's a careful horse, but it was next level today, which I was happy about,” McDermott detailed. “I also knew I had to rideI 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 and Lyjanair
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography

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.” 

Maya Ines Denis Chambon and Callypso De La Hamente Z 
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography

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.”

Megan McDermott and Nintendo in their awards presentation ceremony.
©Natalie Suto Photography

For full results from the $32,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake CSI 2*, click here. 

Isaac Leffkowitz Takes Top Two Spots in $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby

May 23, 2025 – Isaac Leffkowitz (Ocala, FL) rode to top honors and the reserve rosette as well in Friday’s $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, earning a two-round score of 186 with Chance and 183 with Cool as Elle. Caroline Parkinson (Anderson, SC) rounded out the podium with Q Star S, the 2016 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Goldstar Shinning S x Chloe-S) owned by Parkinson Farms, scoring 178 over two rounds. 

Isaac Leffkowitz and Chance
©Laci Matthews for Natalie Suto Photography

Twenty-six horse-and-rider pairs challenged the Jasen Shelley course design, and Leffkowitz navigated the first round to scores north of 90 on both his mounts. With Chance, the 2015 Holsteiner gelding (Connect x Palomas) owned by Havens Schatt, he walked into the second round with a 92 and added a handy round score of 94 to claim the win. Riding Cool as Elle, his own 2018 American Warmblood stallion (Cool as Well x Elle), Leffkowitz added 92 points to his classic round score of 91 points to maintain his second-place spot. 

Leffkowitz assessed that his handiness and smooth track gave him the edge he needed over the competition. “I thought the course really highlighted both of their abilities pretty well. In the handy round, I felt like it was just really a spectacular course that really highlighted their handiness.”

Isaac Leffkowitz and Cool as Elle
©Laci Matthews for Natalie Suto Photography

Riding Cool as Elle, a young stallion who Leffkowitz started himself, and Chance, who he described as a “very rideable horse,” there were a few moments on the track that he felt suited his mounts: 

“I really think from jump one to two, you could really highlight a smooth rollback there. And then after the trot jump, they had this nice long gallop to an oxer.” Leffkowitz continued, “after the end jump, there was a nice area to be tidy, and then there was a nice gallop down to the final element, the two stride. Both horses jumped in, and I could just really soften, and they just kind of melted over the oxer and would land and turn towards the gate, and I loved that.”

Caroline Parkinson and Q Star S
©Laci Matthews for Natalie Suto Photography

Leffkowitz concluded by detailing his affection for showing at Tryon International. “Honestly, we just love Tryon. We're from Ocala, and we have a ton of venues down there to show at, but Tryon for us is just a facility that allows you to get the horses into a different environment. It gives the horses a lot of great experience,” he assessed.

“I think the horses, in my opinion, are just really relaxed here, coming from some of the Florida venues. I think that Tryon is just kind of a breath of fresh air, to be honest. It's nice to come here after the winter, and the weather is beautiful, and there's so much to compliment the facility on. I will say, the footing is my favorite footing of any place I show,” he concluded.

For full results from the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, click here. 

Andrew Welles and Dorchester Claim $6,000 Two Phase CSI 2* Victory 

May 21, 2025 – Kicking off FEI competition for Tryon Spring 4, Andrew Welles (USA) and his own Dorchester (London x Toulon), the 2014 Oldenburg mare, claimed the first place position in the $6,000 Two Phase CSI 2*. Welles and his equine teammate finished the class with a commanding lead, stopping jump off timers at 27.71 seconds. Michael Murphy (USA) rode South Coast’s Kaida CM (Kennan x Indoctro), the 2015 Dutch Warmblood mare to reserve honors, clocking a 28.70 second jump off time. Aboard Windstar (Carrera VDL x Heartbreaker), owned by Windstar Cruises, Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen (USA) and the 2017 Dutch Warmblood stallion took third place with a 29.22 second jump off effort. 

Andrew Welles and Dorchester
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography

For full results from the $6,000 Two Phase CSI 2*, click here. 

Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen and Windstar Win $6,000 Speed Stake CSI 2*

May 23, 2025 – Producing the only double-clear effort in Friday’s $6,000 Speed Stake CSI 2*, Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen (USA) and Windstar, the 2017 Dutch Warmblood stallion (Carrera VDL x Heartbreaker) owned by Windstar Cruises, stopped the clock in 66.68 seconds to earn the win. Andrew Welles (USA) and his own 2014 Oldenburg mare (London x Toulon), Dorchester, finished in a time of 63.61 seconds with four faults for reserve honors. In third, Fernando Cardenas (COL) and Balou’s Honora CAR, the 2017 Hanoverian mare (Balou Du Rouet x Galiani CH) owned by Fernando Cardenas Sr., also dropped a rail for four faults, finishing in 65.39 seconds. 

Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen and Windstar
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography

For full results from the $6,000 Speed Stake CSI 2*, click here.

The Tryon Spring Series presented by Fields Auto Group, BMW Asheville, Mercedes Asheville and DEFENDER continues with Tryon Spring 4 hosted May 20-25. The week marks the start of FEI competition for the spring, showcasing CSI 2* competition. See all upcoming events at www.Tryon.com/allevents. 

Photos ©Natalie Suto Photography (Laci Matthews and Sarah Sturgis, as noted) unless otherwise noted. These photos may only be used once, in relation to this press release. Competitors may view and purchase competition photos at www.nataliesutophotography.com. With questions regarding photography at TIEC, contact media@tryon.com.