United States Eventing Association

The second and final CCI4*-L of 2020 will be taking place this weekend at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Mill Spring, North Carolina at the MARS Tryon International Three-Day Event. After the cancellation of the Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event, TIEC announced that they would be hosting a CCI4*-L alongside CCI4*-S, CCI3*-L, CCI2*-L, Intermediate, and Preliminary divisions. The MARS Tryon International Three-Day Event will also be the site for the Buckeye Nutrition USEF CCI4*-L National Championship. Get ready for the weekend by listening to the USEA Official Podcast's preview show.

The Field

• 225 horses are entered to compete across the six divisions being offered at Tryon. There are 50 entries in the CCI2*-L, 37 entries in the CCI3*-L, 20 entries in the CCI4*-S, and 83 in the CCI4*-L, which is also serving as the USEF National Championships this weekend.
• Tryon’s CCI4*-L is only the second event of its level to be offered this year. Galway Downs hosted a CCI4*-L on the West Coast two weeks ago which drew 11 starters. In 2019, Fair Hill International and the Ocala Jockey Club’s CCI4*-L divisions only drew 78 starters combined, five fewer than we will see in Tryon this weekend.
• Erin Kanara (née Sylvester) won both the Fair Hill International CCI4*-L and the Ocala Jockey Club CCI4*-L last year aboard Paddy the Caddy and Campground, respectively. Both are entered in the CCI4*-S this weekend, so neither will win back-to-back CCI4*-L titles this year.
• The other three CCI4*-L winners from 2019 are entered to compete this weekend: Fylicia Barr and Galloway Sunrise won the CCI4*-L at Jersey Fresh; Jennie Brannigan and Stella Artois won the CCI4*-L at Rebecca Farm; and Sara Mittleider and La Paz won the CCI4*-L at Galway Downs.
• Three of the four members of the gold medal-winning team from the 2019 Pan American Games are entered this weekend: Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg; Lynn Symansky and RF Cool Play; Doug Payne and Starr Witness. Tamie Smith, the fourth member of the team, is entered with two horses in the CCI4*-L: Danito and En Vogue.
• Z, Tsetserleg, and Cecelia all made appearances at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games
• Five riders have three horses each entered in the CCI4*-L: Jennie Brannigan will ride Stella Artois, FE Lifestyle, and Twilightslastgleam; Buck Davidson will ride Carlevo, Erroll Gobey, and Jak My Style; Boyd Martin will ride Tsetserleg, On Cue, and Blackfoot Mystery; and Doug Payne will ride Vandiver, Quantum Leap, and Starr Witness.
• Ten horses in the field have won at the Advanced or four-star level in the last 12 months: Carlevo, Danito, Deniro Z, FE Stormtrooper, Palm Crescent, RF Scandalous, Starr Witness, Vandiver, Wizzerd, and Z.
• Seventeen percent of the CCI4*-L field have previously completed the CCI5*-L at the Kentucky Three-Day Event: Harbour Pilot (15^th in 2014 and 2016 and 11^th in 2019), Master Frisky (7th in 2015 with Boyd Martin), Blackfoot Mystery (6^th in 2016), Landmark’s Monte Carlo (18^th in 2016), Vandiver (22^nd in 2016 and 5^th in 2019), Cecelia (28^th in 2016), Steady Eddie (42^nd in 2016 with Boyd Martin), Indy 500 (31^st in 2017 and 2018 and 18^th in 2019), Z (4^th in 2018 and 7^th in 2019), Carlevo (20^th in 2018), Tsetserleg (11^th in 2018 and 2^nd in 2019), Paramount Importance (8^th in 2019), Voltaire de Tre’ (10^th in 2019), Leamore Master Plan (12^th on 2019), and Wizzerd (21^st in 2019).
• Another 42 percent of the field (35 horses) will be looking for their first CCI4*-L completion this weekend: Dutch Times, C'est La Vie 135, Miks Master C, Quality Time, Direct Advance, FE Lifestyle, Twilightslastgleam, Cashmere, Victor Z, Reddy or Not, TKS Cooley, Don Dante, Rock Phantom, Daytona Beach 8, Cooley O, Mama's Magic Way, FRH Ramona, 5o1 Mischief Managed, FE Capricino, Fedarman B, Clarissa Purisima, Candy King, Calicia Z, Fantastique, QC First Class, Emporium, Fortuna, Quinn, Quantum Leap, Starr Witness, Wabbit, Millfield Lancando, Danito, Sweet Rebellion, and Classic's Mojah.
  
• United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Great Britain, New Zealand, and Australia are all represented by riders competing in the CCI4*-L this weekend.
• Tamie Smith has traveled the furthest distance to compete at Tryon this weekend, coming all the way from her home base in Southern California with her three horses.
• The award for busiest rider of the weekend goes to Doug Payne, who has five horses competing this weekend: Vandiver, Quantum Leap, and Starr Witness in the CCI4*-L, Baymax in the CCI3*-L, and Camarillo in the CCI2*-L.
• This is the first time since the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2018 that a CCI4*-L has been held at Tryon. The Fork in April hosts international divisions at the CCI4*-S, CCI3*-S, and CCI2*-S level, and the highest level of horse trials offered at the Blue Ridge Mountain Horse Trials in September is Advanced.

The Facts

• Andy Bowles (NZL) and Sharyn Antico (USA) will serve as the Technical Delegates at Tryon.
• Gretchen Butts (USA) is the president of the ground jury for the CCI4*-L, alongside ground jury members Helen Brettel (GBR) and Robert Stevenson (USA). The CCI3*-L/CCI4*-S ground jury consists of Peter Gray (CAN) and Amanda Miller (USA). Mark Weissbecker (USA) and Wayne Quarles (USA) make up the ground jury for the CCI2*-L.
• Captain Mark Phillips is the cross-country course designer for all levels. All riders will compete on the White Oak course, the same one used for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games.
• Chris Barnard will design the show jumping tracks for all levels.
• $35,000 in prize money is up for grabs for the competitors in the four FEI divisions.
• Live streaming of portions of the event will be provided by USEF Network.
• TIEC will be observing the USEF COVID-19 Action Plan guidelines and procedures. All attendees on-site are asked to wear a mask at all times.

The Competition Schedule

Wednesday, November 11

• 1:30 p.m. - First Horse Inspection (CCI4*-L, CCI3*-L, CCI2*-L)

Thursday, November 12

• 10:00 a.m. - Dressage (CCI4*-L, CCI3*-L, CCI2*-L)
• 12:00 p.m. - Dressage (Intermediate, Preliminary)

Friday, November 13

• 8:00 a.m. - Dressage (CCI4*-L, CCI4*-S, CCI2*-L)
• 10:00 a.m. - Cross-Country (Intermediate, Preliminary)
• 12:30 p.m. - Cross-country (CCI3*-L, CCI4*-S)

Saturday, November 14

• 7:00 a.m. - Final Horse Inspection (CCI3*-L, CCI4*-S)
• 8:30 a.m. - Show Jumping (Intermediate, Preliminary)
• 9:40 a.m. - Cross-Country (CCI2*-L)
• 11:00 a.m. - Show Jumping (CCI3*-L, CCI4*-S)
• 12:00 p.m. - Cross-Country (CCI4*-L)

Sunday, November 15

• 8:00 a.m. - Final Horse Inspection (CCI4*-L, CCI2*-L)
• 10:45 a.m. - Show Jumping (CCI4*-L, CCI2*-L)

Helpful Links

• TIEC Website
  
• USEA Prize List
• Schedule of Events
• Entry Status
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