Press release from Leyla Caynak and Sarah Madden Taylor for Tryon International 

Despite a brief rain delay in the first round of competition showcased at Saturday Night Lights presented by Skyla Credit Union, 24 competitors contested the $70,000 Main Street Insurance Grand Prix CSI2*, with Kristen VanderVeen (USA) and Bull Run’s Celestial (Cicero Z van Paemel x Numero Uno) jumping to victory in 32.35 seconds. Reserve honors went to Luis Fernando Larrazabal (VEN) aboard Belle De Muze, the Driss Ngadi-owned 2010 Warmblood mare (Ponsee V x Lando), with a time of 33.38 seconds in the jump off round. Stopping the jump off timers at 34.36 seconds, Kristen VanderVeen claimed third place aboard Bull Run’s Jireh, the 2014 Holsteiner gelding (Uriko x Colman) owned by Bull Run Jumpers Inc.

Of the 24 competitors who tested the first-round track set by Bernardo Costa Cabral (POR), ten pairs advanced to the jump off, and VanderVeen was thrilled with her junior mount’s performance. Coming off her win with Bull Run’s Jireh last week, VanderVeen was thrilled to let her younger horse, the 2015 Zangersheide stallion, take a swing at the top prize.

VanderVeen called the jump off one of her favorite rounds to date, saying, “That might be one of my favorite jump offs I've ever done in my career. Luis set the bar high, going in with that smaller type of horse, and he was really fast!

“This is actually a newer horse for me,” VanderVeen continued, “and it's only the second time he's ever jumped under the lights.”

“I thought there was no time like the present to see what this guy's made of. He answered all the questions, and he was so quick and careful,” VanderVeen shared. “It’s only one of his first few FEI Grands Prix, so it was a really exciting night for our team!”

The brief rain delay during the first round proved to be no issue for the pair, VanderVeen shared. “I actually went and had some dinner; it was great. I got to refuel, the horses got a little extra break, so the horses were happy and we were happy!”