By Lily Yampolsky for TIEC

Mill Spring, NC – October 8, 2022 – Lauren Balcomb took the win in the $75,000 John Deere Greenville Turf & Tractor Grand Prix CSI 2* astride Verdini D’Houtveld Z, owned by Balcomb herself and partner Sharn Wordley, with an impressive time of 39.95 seconds. Following close behind in second place, Sharn Wordley (NZL) riding Fernando Cardenas’ 2009 Warmblood gelding Valentine Car (Son of Juan Car x Galiani CH) who sped to a time of 40.10 seconds. David O’Brien and Chansonette Farm LLC’s 2012 Oldenburg stallion El Balou Old (Eldorado VD Zeshoek x Balou du Rouet) snagged the third place position with a time of 41.36.

Guilherme Jorge’s (BRA) course challenged 32 entries, with 13 combinations going clear and advancing to the jump-off. Wordley and Valentine Car had the leading time early on in the class, however Balcomb and the 2011 Zangersheide gelding Verdini D’Houtveld Z (Verdi TN x Caretino 2) were able to beat his time by a small margin. 

“I think I was a little bit faster to the combination. I left one stride out, and we were both pretty fast everywhere else.”

While Verdini D’Houtveld Z is known on the show circuit as a top show jumper, he actually was bought by Balcomb to do three day eventing: “I’ve owned since he was a six year old. I’ve been jumping him Grand Prix level for a long time now. He was actually a [3-day eventing] horse, that’s what I bought him to be, because I was still eventing. Then I brought him [to America]. He did a few events, and he was jumping so well that I did some show jumping as I was ready to make the change.”

Wordley and Balcomb are familiar faces at TIEC: “We love it here. We’ve been coming here for years. I think it’s a great place for families. These guys put on an amazing show. I mean, to get to compete under these lights, the music, the atmosphere, it’s amazing. Everyone’s really friendly. It doesn’t get much better than this.”

This was a memorable night for Balcomb as she had some very special visitors: “My parents are here visiting from Australia. This is the first competition that they’ve seen me jump the Grand Prix level…They’re here looking after our two babies, we’ve got our 18 month old and six week old baby here.”

Balcomb also took the Marthaler Jewelers’ Leading Lady Award as the highest placed female rider in the Grand Prix. As the winner of this award, Balcomb will take home a 14-karat gold necklace with .33 carat diamonds. “It’s such a great prize,” Balcomb exclaimed, “I was really hoping to win the award tonight!”

RESULTS: $75,000 John Deere Greenville Turf & Tractor Grand Prix CSI 2*

Horse Name, Year Breed gender (Sire x Dam Sire)

Rider (COUNTRY), Owner: Faults/Faults/Time

1. Verdini D’Houtveld Z, 2011 Zangersheide gelding (Verdi TN x Caretino 2)

Lauren Balcomb (AUS), Lauren Balcomb and Sharn Wordley: 0/0/39.95

2. Valentine Car, 2009 Warmblood gelding (Son of Juan Car x Galiani CH)

Sharn Wordley (NZL), Fernando Cardenas: 0/0/40.10

3. El Balou Old, 2012 Oldenburg stallion (Eldorado VD Zeshoek x Balou du Rouet)

David O’Brien (IRL), Chansonette Farm LLC: 0/0/41.36

4. Kinky Boy van het Gildenhof, 2010 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Nabab de Reve x Darco)

Juan Ortiz (VEN), Blue Trim LLC and Juan Ortiz: 0/0/41.92

5. Zilouet Mystic Rose, 2013 Brazilian Warmblood (Balou Du Rouet x Chin Chin)

Juan Bolanos (ESA), RM Agronegocios Eireli: 0/0/42.98

6. Cesna M, 2012 Oldenburg gelding (Check In 2 x Sandro Boy)

Margie Goldstein-Engle (USA), Virginia T. Bartholomay: 0/0/45.08

7. Happyboy van de Doornakkers, 2007 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Tinka’s Boy x Nabab De Reve)

Jordan Gilchrist (USA), Jordan Gilchrist: 0/0/45.87

8. Cyramo Z, 2011 Zangersheide mare (Clarimo x Vigo D Arsouilles STX)

Jacqueline Ruyle (USA), Jacqueline Ruyle: 0/4/41.11

9. Noble De La Chapelle, 2013 Belgian Warmblood gelding (For Passion D’Ive Z x Eros Platiere)

Scott Keach (AUS), Scott Keach and Southern Cross Equestrian, LLC: 0/4/43.19

10. Idalgo, 2013 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Catoki x Quidam de Revel)

Thomas Foley (IRL), Sher Al Farm & Donald Stewart: 0/8/43.63

11. Kometh von der Weretherbach, 2010 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Didas de L’Esperance x Perhaps VH Molenvondel)

Peter Petschenig (AUT), Petschenig Showjumping, LLC: 0/8/53.64

12. Milan 7, 2013 Hanoverian stallion (Perigueux x Lordanos)

David Blake (IRL), Pine Hollow Farm: 0/16/47.74

For full results from the $75,000 John Deere Greenville Turf & Tractor Grand Prix CSI 2*, click here.

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This Post Brought to You by: 

Whitethorne LLC

Whitethorne LLC always carries a number of high-quality Hunters, Jumpers and Equitation horses for sale or lease in Southern California. All of these horses are personally chosen by Georgy Maskrey-Segesman and her partner in Germany, and represent some of the best competition horses available in Europe for every level of competition in Hunters, Equitation, and Jumpers. Georgy travels to Europe several times per year and together with her partner in Germany, selects the best of the horses available in Germany and Holland and several other countries in Europe, and imports them to Whitethorne Ranch where they are available for sale or lease.