Erica Quinn and Need I Say (Flying Horse Photography)

Mill Spring, N.C. - Erica Quinn of Mainesville, OH, and Need I Say captured their first career derby win together, topping the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Mirimichi Green at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). Quinn and Need I Say received a final two round score of 369 to take the win. Kelley Farmer of Wellington, FL, guided Point Being and Baltimore to second and third place respectively, earning total scores of 368 and 359 from the judging panel. Competition at TIEC continues tomorrow with the highly anticipated $380,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 5* for the Governor's Cup beginning at 8:00 p.m. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. with free admission and free parking for all attendees.

Quinn, who recently took over the ride on the 2008 Warmblood gelding owned by Kelley Farmer, was elated with the performance of Need I Say under the lights in the George H. Morris Arena. The pair completed an effortless and athletic handy round, which ultimately pushed them to the top of the leaderboard. Andy Christison built the course, which showcased a number of airy oxers and difficult combinations, proving to be a tough test for riders throughout the evening.

"He's just an amazing animal. I can't say enough nice things about that horse. In the first round, I bobbled going into the two stride, which I was mad at myself for, but then I came back in the second round and was confident. He's just such a good handy horse. I feel like I can do anything on him," she explained.

Need I Say has an attitude and athleticism that allows him to excel in the handy round, which is one of his most notable strengths. The pair received 10 handy points from each of the judging panels to boost their score after performing an effortless, but bold second round.

"When I turn, it doesn't matter if it's one stride or three strides, he's always going to leave the ground. He gives you such a nice feeling over the fences," she added. "I'm new to doing the derbies and I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, but I also think that I just need to keep doing them and get used to the atmosphere."

Originally, tonight's class was not on Quinn's planned competition schedule, as she had arranged to stay in Kentucky, but at the last minute decided to bring Need I Say with the other group of horses traveling to the TIEC venue with Kelley Farmer and Larry Glefke.

"Kelley told me to come down here to do the $50,000 instead of staying in Kentucky and now I'm sure glad I did," she smiled. "It really worked out for us and I can't say enough nice things about Larry and Kelley. This is an amazing opportunity for me and I couldn't thank them enough."

Farmer had the initial ride on the gelding after he arrived stateside and collected two derby wins right off the bat in Pensacola, FL, establishing Need I Say as a strong derby contender. Quinn took over the ride this spring, and has been competing the gelding since, learning from Farmer and her winning ways.

"Kelley has quite a few horses in her derby string and was nice enough to let me ride this horse. He finished very well here a few weeks ago too. This is our second derby together and the other was a few weeks ago here where we finished in third," explained Quinn. "I'm just so thankful that she gave me the ride."

Quinn has worked at Lane Change Farm with Glefke and Farmer for nearly two years and focuses on many of the Pre-Green horses in the barn, but is beginning to turn more of her attention to Need I Say.

"Erica has worked with us for a while and has done a very good job. She's worked for this chance and she's definitely paid her dues. Everyone needs a chance and she's earned this," said Farmer. "I have plenty of horses in my string and I wanted her to have a horse that had no tricks and that was capable of competing with mine. In the handy rounds, when we tell her, you know, you have to go inside, she has a horse that can do it."

Farmer found Need I Say on a trip to Europe and his talent and scope drove her to cancel an original flight home and travel across Germany to try the horse for herself. She explained, "One of our agents over there showed him to me and I bought him on the same trip that I bought It's Me. It turned out to be very worthwhile," she laughed.

"He had done quite a bit in Europe and had won as a young horse. He was cut late and I got on him not too long after he was gelded. I watched him jump some pretty big courses and when I sat on him I thought that there is no way they can build anything on a Saturday night at Derby Finals that will phase this horse."

"There is no horse that can do things like he does in the handy. It's really unbelievable. He is the most beautiful and rideable horse. Anywhere you put him he's going to go. I knew that he would walk into any derby ring and win," she added.

Farmer also commented on her second and third place rides, noting that both horses performed well, while Baltimore's third place finish makes him the fastest earning hunter to reach $100,000 in prize money.

"Baltimore was a really good boy and I made a little bit of a mistake, which pushed down our score and it was my fault, but Point Being was great. He still can get a little bit green, especially at night," she elaborated. "He wants to try so hard and he's such a careful horse. He's an overachiever and he gets a little overwhelmed at night, but that's just him and that's what I love. He just has an intensity that you don't typically feel and is what makes him so special."

Karl Cook Bests the Competition Aboard Caillou 24 to Secure a Win in the $35,000 1.45m Horseware Ireland Speed Stake CSI 5* at TIEC

Karl Cook (USA) quickly crossed through the timers to secure victory in the $35,000 1.45m Horseware Ireland Speed Stake CSI 5* aboard Caillou 24 at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). Cook rose to the top of the leaderboard with an efficient time of 65.10 seconds to secure the win. Richie Moloney (IRL) trailed closely behind with a time of 65.80 seconds with his mount Slieveanorra, while Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Cyklon 1083 rounded out the top three with a time of 67.31 seconds.

Cook and Caillou 24 tackled Alan Wade's (IRL) track with a smooth and quick effort, as the pair used the opportunity to gain valuable experience at the 1.45m height. Wade has built competitive and educational courses throughout the week and Cook noted that the design was very suitable for the strengths of his horse.

He elaborated, "The way Alan [Wade] set the course made for the riders to take exciting turns instead of having to protect the front rails. It allowed us to flow down the lines and it was very nice to ride."

Caillou 24 is a talented and young mount for Cook, as the pair has just started to regularly compete at the FEI level together. Caillou 24, a 2007 Holsteiner gelding (Casall x Corrado I), previously campaigned to the FEI CSI 3* level in Europe before Cook took over the ride early in 2014. Taking his time training the gelding at home, the pair have built confidence and a stronger relationship over the past year. After concluding a successful winter campaign, Cook felt it was time to gain more experience in a major FEI competition atmosphere.

"We have been protecting him a little bit and trying to teach him how to jump the way we want. But, at the same time, they also need to learn how to go fast and the only way to do that is by competing," he explained. "He's very good because he turns extraordinarily tight yet has a huge stride to leave out in a lot of the lines too. Normally you never get those two together in a single horse, so it's a great feeling to have in the ring."

Cook is based year-round out of Woodside, CA, and spoke about what motivated his team to travel to TIEC for the venue's first ever FEI CSI 5* week. Eric Navet (FRA), who Cook trains with year-round, also made the trip east with several horses.

"I had heard rumors about the place and wanted to see it for myself. My first impression of the venue was just wow, to be honest," said Cook. "It has taken an incredible and obvious amount of foresight and investment to bring this facility to where it is. The thing is, this area is closer than people on the back home would think. You're only five hours from Kentucky and it's in a really great location for travel."

"You also have to acknowledge the huge amount of prize money available at this venue. It is modern jumping. You are jumping on consistently good footing and the jumps are great," he added. "Everything is really convenient for everyone and that's what is important. It's not just rings and barns; it's so much more. Nothing about this venue is bad for our sport, it's only going to do great things for it."

Cook and his team will head back to California once the week concludes on Sunday, but will make arrangements to return to the venue in 2017 for next season's competitive spring series. Once his string is back and settled, the team will look to finish a very strong summer and fall season, which will include several FEI World Cup Qualifiers, which will now be hosted on the West Coast.

"We are going to head home and work with the horses because you can't really train them at the show the best you would like to." Cook commented. "We might come back to do Central Park and possibly loop that in with the Million in Saugerties. I felt like we needed to come out here and feel it out. We will be back for the Spring Series here next season for sure," he added.

Competition heats up again tomorrow at TIEC as the highly anticipated $380,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 5* for the Governor's Cup takes center stage at 8:00 p.m. Gates open to the general public at 6:00 p.m. and spectators will not want to miss The Warbirds Flyover Team, and Grammy-award winning country music artist Lee Greenwood performing "God Bless the U.S.A." accompanied by The Ryan-Perry band throughout the night. The TIEC Craft Beer Festival will provide private viewing of the class and only a few tickets remain - click here to purchase now!

The evening will also host an assortment of family-friendly activities and entertainment that individuals of all ages can enjoy, including rides on the Venetian carousel, pony rides, face painting, magicians, performers, t-shirt tosses, and more! For more information on the events and activities at TIEC this weekend please visit www.tryon.com.

Final Results $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Mirimichi Green
Place, Horse, Rider, Owner, Round 1 Score, Round 2 Score, Total Score

1. NEED I SAY, ERICA QUINN, Kelley Farmer: 164/205/369

2. POINT BEING, KELLEY FARMER, David Glefke: 183/185/368

3. BALTIMORE, KELLEY FARMER, Jane Gaston: 178/181/359

4. THE GOVERNOR, HUNTER HOLLOWAY, Hays Investment Corp.: 170/174/344

5. LITTLE MANHATTAN, MEGAN ROSENTHAL, Fairy Tale Farms: 159/178/337

6. EOS M, DAVID BEISEL, Patrice Schreiber: 154/180/334

7. OLYMPIC FIRE, JENNIFER HANNAN, Roger Smith: 139/194/333

8. CORVINE, PIPER BENJAMIN, Piper Benjamin: 153.5/179/332.5

9. LIKE I SAID, LIZA BOYD, Pony Lane Farm: 168/101/270

10. FERRON, KRISTEN HOLWICK, Bellissimo LLC: 148/96/244

11. ALLAWISHUS, DONALD SHEEHAN, Kathryn Mittauer: 134/79/213

12. CALANDRA, MEGAN KERPSACK, Megan Kerpsack: 131/0/131


Final Results $35,000 1.45m Horseware Ireland Speed Stake
           
1. CAILLOU 24, 2007 Holsteiner gelding by Casall x Corrado I
KARL COOK (USA), Signe Ostby: 0/65.10

2. SLIEVEANORRA, 2002 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Voltaire x Flagmount Diamond
RICHIE MOLONEY (IRL), Equinimity LLC: 0/65.80

3. CYKLON 1083, 2001 Swedish Warmblood stallion by Cardento x Cortus
SHANE SWEETNAM (IRL), Spy Coast Farm, LLC: 0/67.31

4. VDL BRAVO S, 2006 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Ephepe For Ever x Chellano Z
HUNTER HOLLOWAY (USA), Hays Investment Corp.: 0/71.45

5. BUCKLE UP, 2006 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Colandro x Caretino
SHANE SWEETNAM (IRL), Shane Sweetnam and The Blue Buckle Group: 0/76.29

6. SERPICO, 2008 Irish Sport Horse gelding by ARS Vivendi x Aldatus Z
ANDREW WELLES (USA), Serpico Group LLC 0/83.35

7. ECHO D, 2004 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Orlando x Skippy II
LACEY GILBERTSON (USA), Seabrook LLC: 4/71.22

8. NOKIA DE BREKKA, 2001 Selle Francais gelding by Quick Star x Apache D'Adriers
EMANUEL ANDRADE (VEN), Emanuel Andrade: 4/72.98

9. BARON, 2006 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Ukato x Equador
DAVID BLAKE (IRL), Pine Hollow Farm: 4/75.05

10. ECKHAM VAN HET STEENTJE, 2004 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Berlin x Kannan MARGIE ENGLE (USA), Elm Rock LLC: 4/76.04

11. FIGEAC DE REVE, 2005 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Malito De Reves x Narcos II
BLYTHE MARANO (USA), Virginia Ingram: 4/77.90

12. HH DONNATELLA, 2003 Belgian Warmblood mare by Toulon x Mr. Blue
DANIELA STRANSKY (VEN), Stransky's Mission Farms, Inc: 5/85.77