The $35,000 Horseware® Ireland Jumper Classic CSI5* welcomed a steadfast victory for Brianne Goutal (USA) and Fineman on Friday afternoon hosted on the Grass Complex at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). The duo raced to complete the short course in 42.929 seconds, prompting a final victory gallop lap for Goutal and the 2003 Swedish Warmblood gelding (Feliciano x Kotiljong II) owned by Rose Hill Farm. 

Commenting on Fineman's ride on the Grass Complex, Goutal said, "It's a big change for some of the horses because they've been in an arena so much and then they switch over to the grass. I didn't show last week on the grass, and it really is a very unique atmosphere. I think the field and the course jumped and rode very well. For Fineman, there is an added 'spook' factor to be out there with the flowers and the grass and everything. I think most riders can agree, when the footing is good, we want to be on the field as much as we can and I think this footing is excellent."

The gelding belongs to a student of Goutal's and she has been working with the pair for a few years. She explained, "His owner is studying abroad in Rome, so I am campaigning him a bit while she's away. I rode him at the Hampton Classic, and now here at TIEC. I've been keeping him going for her, so I'm trying to do right by everybody and he's really put in some great rides at this level. The idea is to just get him ready for her return."

This trip to TIEC is Goutal's third to the venue and she has been pleased with the facility thus far. She concluded, "We love it. The cabins and restaurants are lovely. It's convenient for my husband and I because we have a 9-month-old daughter, so this trip is family friendly. We are no strangers to the ESP show scene and we are really excited about this new stop on our horse show list." 

Second place in the $35,000 Horseware® Ireland Jumper Classic CSI5* was awarded to Beezie Madden (USA) aboard HH Hercules, a 2009 Irish Sport Horse, owned by John Madden Sales, after stopping the timers in 42.961 seconds.

"Today went very well," commented Madden. "He [HH Hercules] was good. The first round went really well and then in the jump-off I left out a stride in the first line. He's only eight, so I'm very happy with him." 

Madden continued, "The grass footing is great and it rides like it walks. The horses jump wonderfully off of it and the ground is excellent. This venue is one of the best."

Alberto Michan (MEX) rode Gigolo Van De Broekkant, a 2006 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Heartbreaker x Sinaeda) owned by Ilan Ferder and Tal Milstein, rounded out the class with a third place positioning after finishing the jump-off round in 43.195 seconds. 

Of his rides on the grass, Michan exclaimed, "I think it's a fantastic field, really. The horses jump so good and it's so nice. You can see after a lot of horses have gone that there's not one hole in the footing. For me, really, it's very difficult to find a venue with this kind of grass footing. It's really, really nice." 

"Twenty-one combinations pressed forward to the jump-off, so I was lucky to go kind of in the last part, so I could see the turns and the times and the strides they were doing. In the end, with so many good riders in this class, you had to go really fast to try to catch them," concluded Michan.