A Dominant Win by David Blake & Cornwall BH in $70,000 The Farm House Grand Prix CSI 2*

By Jumper News on 2025-07-16

Mill Spring, North Carolina, United States – July 12, 2025 – David Blake (IRL) and Cornwall BH flew through the Tryon Stadium at Saturday Night Lights presented by Skyla Credit Union to take home the win in the $70,000 The Farm House Grand Prix CSI 2*, stopping the clock at 40.21 seconds.

Of 32 entries to tour the Andy Christiansen (ECU) track, five entries returned for the jump off. Blake and the 2008 Holsteiner gelding (Con Air x Unknown) owned by Gochman Sport Horse were last to go in the jump-off that saw no double-clear efforts until the final duo. For Blake, who also toured the course on one time fault with Conblue, the Pine Hollow Farm 2014 Oldenburg gelding (Conthargos x Chacco-Blue), the final slot in the order was an advantageous one.

**Audrey Muscari** (USA) & **Chester du Roset**

Audrey Muscari (USA) navigated the short course in a time of 38.5 to take home second place with Chester du Roset, her own 2015 Swiss Warmblood gelding (Chief V x Tlaloc M), on four faults.

**Nicolette Hirt** (USA) & **Dalton van de Lindehoeve Z**

Rounding out the podium in a time of 41.89 seconds, Nicolette Hirt (USA) rode Dalton van de Lindehoeve Z (Dagano Vdw Z x Walme Z), the Chatwood Farms owned 2015 Zangersheide gelding, to third place.

“He was good,” Blake recapped. “He’s obviously 17, so he’s very experienced. And I’ve only been riding him for a few months. Obviously, normally Amanda Derbyshire is the rider, but I know the horse well, and he knows me well. We know his striding and everything, so we always know our plan well with him.”

The first round proved to be no trouble for Blake and Cornwall BH, and Blake had the advantage of going last. Focusing on beating the time, he was unsure of his pace towards the end of the round, and focused on keeping his jump off round clear, he shared.

**Ella Derbyshire** was presented the Groom’s Award presented by Regal Downs for her care and dedication to Cornwall BH alongside Tryon International’s Drew Page.

“Obviously, I got to see Audrey go before me, so that was the challenge. I didn’t know if I could be quicker than [38.5]. Before she went, it was kind of wide open, but she put the pressure on a little bit,” he detailed. “I knew turning down the last line that maybe I wasn’t quicker, so I didn’t do the leave-out there. I decided at that point, I might as well be clear.”

Blake revealed that his temporary partnership with Cornwall BH is due to an exciting new addition to the Pine Hollow Farm family. “Amanda is pregnant, so that’s the only reason I got the ride on him. He’s been a prolific winner for her.”

*Podium: 2) **Audrey Muscari** (USA), 1) **David Blake** (IRL), 3) **Nicolette Hirt** (USA)*

Blake reflected that Derbyshire’s longtime success with Cornwall BH has transferred to his own rides aboard the gelding, but that Summer 5 marked their first Grand Prix win together.

“It’s great to have already won a couple of qualifiers on him, but this is the first Grand Prix I’ve won on him. So, it’s really nice that we’ve both won on the horse!”

Frequent competitors at Tryon International, and splitting time between Wellington and Tryon, Blake and the Pine Hollow Farm team are strong supporters of the venue. “We’ve been coming here from the very start,” he concluded, “and I suppose we’re locals now, since we have a farm here. These classes are always fun. The atmosphere is always good in [Tryon Stadium]. It’s always enjoyable to jump here, and it’s really nice.”