Mill Spring, NC - August 8, 2025 - Rekindling the competitive spirit at Tryon International, John Brown (Mill Spring, NC) piloted Ballon Bleu to victory in the $5,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake. Juan Ortiz (Loxahatchee, FL) entered the ring on his own 2016 Holsteiner gelding Cool More Hero (Casall Ask x Unknown) and earned second place with 37.684 seconds and four jumping faults in the jump off. The 2018 Selle Francais mare, Ines Shanti, (Unknown x Quinta De L'othain Z) owned by Agathe Heurteux and piloted by Florian Ferry (Wiliston, SC) received third place with a time of 38.116 seconds and four jumping faults. 

Mill Spring, NC - June 25, 2025 - the Tryon Summer Series presented by The Farm House kicked off with Tryon Summer 2 competition hosted June 20-22 at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (Tryon International). The weekend saw John Brown (Mill Spring, NC) take top honors in the feature class, the $25,000 Henri de Rivel Sunday Grand Prix, with Ballon Bleu, stopping the short course timers in 37.673 seconds to take the win. In second, Brittni Raflowitz (Palm City, FL) and Hedwina de Villee, the 2013 Warmblood mare (Nabab de Reve x Azarra de Villee) owned by Mackenzie Hirsch, cleared the jump-off timers in 39.215 seconds. David Blake (Wellington, FL) rode the Pine Hollow Farm 2014 Dutch Warmblood gelding, J.Diago (Diarado x Tara), to third place in a time of 40.293 seconds.