Press release from Phelps Media Group

The largest payout to date of the 2019 Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors, LLC, took place Sunday at Flintfields Horse Park, with Willie Tynan (IRL) and Fancy Girl capturing the lead spot in the victory gallop in the $71,200 North Face Farm Grand Prix CSI2*, the first FEI-rated grand prix of the series. 

Presenting athletes with a track fit for a CSI2* grand prix, expert course designer Guilherme Jorge (BRA) challenged the 27 starters with a fair but technical pattern, with only five partnerships successfully finishing fault-free. Returning for the second round of riding, the jump-off field was comprised of Michael Morrissey (USA) on Sam 1091, Hardin Towell (USA) aboard Tupac Van De Vrombautshoeve Z, Tynan with Fancy Girl, Lauren Tisbo (USA) riding Casco 11 and Andrew Welles (USA) on Serpico, each with one final opportunity to ride for the prize.

Up against an all-American field, Tynan was the third to take to the ring in the jump-off and navigated Michelle Guardino-Dettelbach’s Fancy Girl to a quick and clear effort in 38.930 seconds, bettering the time of 39.290 seconds set forth by the early clear front-runners Morrissey and Sam 1091, owned by QBS Equestrian, LLC. The final two challengers, Tisbo and Welles, each attempted to usurp the Irishman from the top of the standings aboard their respective mounts, but neither were successful, solidifying Tynan and Fancy Girl as the $71,200 North Face Farm Grand Prix CSI2* victors. Morrissey and Sam 1091 finished the class in second place, and Tisbo and Tequestrian Farms LLC’s Casco 11 nabbed third place as the final double-clear pair in 39.520 seconds.

New in 2019, the $25,000 CaptiveOne Open Jumper Rider Bonus will be awarded at the conclusion of the circuit in August, and athletes have now had three weeks of chances to earn valuable points towards the big prize. Points are calculated based on prize money earned throughout the six-week festival in Open Jumper classes 1.45m and above, and fans and athletes can follow along and check the $25,000 CaptiveOne Open Jumper Rider Bonus leaderboard, posted on www.greatlakesequestrianfestival.com, to track their favorite riders and see who is leading in the standings. Tynan’s victory in Sunday’s grand prix earned him points towards the final bonus, however Wilhelm Genn (GER) currently still sits atop the rankings thanks to multiple victories in earlier welcome stake and grand prix competitions during Weeks I and II.