Traverse City, Michigan, USA. – July 21, 2019 – 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 CSI 2*, the first FEI-rated grand prix of the series.

Presenting athletes with a track fit for a CSI 2* 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 Michael Morrissey (USA) 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 CSI 2* 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.

Willie Tynan (IRL) & Fancy Girl during the awards ceremony

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 http://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.

Winner’s Circle – Willie Tynan (IRL) – $71,200 North Face Farm Grand Prix CS I 2* 

On Fancy Girl:
“Fancy Girl is a 9-year-old who belongs to a really good owner of mine, Michelle Guardino-Dettelbach. We bought her as a 5-year-old so we have had her all of her career basically. She has been second in maybe six grand prix, so it is nice that she finally got a win. I’m happy with her.”

On his jump-off strategy:
“With the guys that were in front of me and Lauren [Tisbo] after me, they are always quick and they have some quick horses, especially Hardin [Towell]. He had me for time — he took the risk as he was before me. My plan was to get eight strides done down the first line then tight back to the third oxer as quickly as I could. I added one stride as I was a little bit extra careful to the double because she is so big, and then seven strides to the next vertical. I wanted to do eight strides home but just couldn’t come up off the corner, so I ended up doing nine. It was enough today, but another day it might not have been.”

On the $25,000 CaptiveOne Open Jumper Rider Bonus:
“The boys have been talking about it pretty hard. I have to try to catch up to Wilhelm [Genn] and Hardin [Towell]. It’s our first week here, so it’s nice to get on there so they aren’t just talking all about themselves.”

On GLEF:
“I love this show. I came 10 years ago and then last year was my first time back since then. It gets better every year. For the horses, the footing is probably the best in the country in all the rings. It’s amazing that they have it to that standard. Everybody here takes care of everybody, and the hospitality is super. Owners like it and horses like it. It’s a great place to come.”

Results – $71,200 North Face Farm Grand Prix CS I 2* 

Place / Horse / Rider / Country / Owner / R1 Faults / R2 Faults / Time

1. Willie Tynan (IRL) & Fancy Girl – 0 / 0 / 38.930

2. Michael Morrissey (USA) & Sam 1091 – 0 / 0 / 39.290

3. Lauren Tisbo (USA) & Casco 11 – 0 / 0 / 39.520

4. Jack Hardin Towell (USA) & Tupac Van De Vrombautshoeve Z – 0 / 4 / 37.020

5. Andrew Welles (USA) & Serpico – 0 / 4 / 39.240

6. Kristen Berian (USA) & Fantast Van Het Vinckenhof – 1 / 80.440

7. Andrew Welles (USA) & Primo Troy /  / Itasca Group LLC / 4 / 73.660

8. Lauren Tisbo (USA) & Jeleena De Muze – 4 / 77.190

9. Wilhelm Genn (GER) & Van Gogh – 4 / 78.360

10. Samantha Alexis Mackenzie (USA) & WBS Fenise – 4 / 79.330

11. Jack Hardin Towell (USA) & Carlo – 4 / 79.650

12. Kirsten Ostling (USA) & HH Zipper – 5 / 80.080

Source: Press release by Elaine Wessel / Phelps Media Group for GLEF – Great Lakes Equestrian Festival

Photos: © Andrew Ryback Photography