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Nicola Philippaerts and H&M Harley VD Bisschop Secure the Victory
in the Highly Anticipated $380,000 Rolex CSI 5* Grand Prix at Tryon
Fall V
On a historical and spectacular evening at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) featuring a special
performance by Grammy award‐winning country music legend Lee Greenwood, Nicola Philippaerts (BEL)
guided H&M Harley VD Bisschop to victory in the $380,000 Rolex CSI 5* Grand Prix. The duo secured the win
in front of an enthusiastic crowd, stopping the timers at 40.575 seconds. Jessica Springsteen (USA) and Cynar
VA earned second place honors with a time of 41.291 seconds, while Lauren Tisbo (USA) and Coriandolo DI
Ribano rounded out the top three with a time of 42.299 seconds.
Competition at the 2016 Tryon Fall Series presented by Greenville‐Spartanburg Airport District commenced
on Thursday, September 22, and will continue through Sunday, October 30, featuring hunter and jumper
competition, alongside two weeks of FEI CSI 3* classes and the highly anticipated FEI CSI 5*.
Fans from the western region of Foothills filled the George H. Morris Arena, creating an electric atmosphere
for a class featuring Olympic veterans and many of the sport’s rising stars. Philippaerts and H&M Harley VD
Bisschop were the final pair to qualify for the jump‐off, as they were the last to go in tonight’s star‐studded
lineup. The first round track set by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) asked several technical questions, keeping
the riders on their toes with a tight time allowed of 80 seconds. The first round track only produced six
combinations that advanced to the jump‐off round.
“I think it was a really nice course. There were not so many clear as I actually thought there would be because
there were many good ones here competing tonight. Unfortunately, Mclain [Ward] and Kent [Farrington]
and a few others had one down leaving only six in the jump‐off,” Philippaerts said. “I had the advantage of
going last, and I knew Jessica was very quick, so I had to go quick. I was lucky enough the last rail stayed up,”
he detailed, explaining his strategy for the jump‐off round.Philippaerts was pleased with H&M Harley VD
Bisschop, a 2007 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Dulf Van Den Bisschop x Coronado) owned by Ludo
Philippaerts and Ben Beevers, and how the talented gelding settled into tonight’s class after having a six‐
week vacation from competition. He explained, “The first few days he was a bit nervous, but today was a lot
better. Hopefully next week he will be a good as well.”