Doug Payne and Vandiver Double Up on CCI 4*-S Wins at The Fork at TIEC

The twentieth edition of the The Fork, hosted at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (TIEC) since 2017, featured an exciting repeat win for Doug Payne and Vandiver in the CCI 4*-S Division, with optimum time breaking a tie between Payne and his USA Eventing teammate Phillip Dutton aboard Z. The weekend was full of personal bests and celebrations across all levels, with 225 entries kicking off the first Eventing competition of the season at TIEC. Read below to hear from competitors and view results.

Repeating their 2021 win at The Fork, Doug Payne (USA) and Vandiver climbed from seventh to top of the pack, producing the fastest Cross-Country round of the day in the CCI 4*-S Division to clinch the win on a score of 30.8. Meanwhile, Phillip Dutton (USA) and Z, the 2008 Zangersheide gelding (ASCA x Babouche VH Gehucht Z) owned by Evie Dutton, Ann Jones, Suzanne Lacy, Caroline Moran, Thomas Tierney, and David and Patricia Vos, added just 2.8 points to their previous score of 28 to also achieve a score of 30.8. With Payne’s more optimum time across the Captain Mark Phillips (GBR) course design, he won the tie-breaker. Will Coleman (USA) and Off the Record, 2009 Irish Sport Horse Gelding (VDL Arkansas x Ard Ohio) owned by Off The Record Syndicate, claimed third place honors on a score of 31.2 to round out the podium.

Photo - Doug Payne and Vandiver (©Shannon Brinkman Photography)

Payne and the 2004 Trakhener gelding (Windfall 2 x Mystic Replica XX) owned by Debi Crowley, Doug and Jessica Payne, are longtime partners, knowing each other “inside and out,” Payne shared. Using the weekend as a prep for spring competitions and as a fitness test, “the conditions were just about perfect,” he raved. “The ground was awesome, big course and everything. It was the perfect opportunity to move along a bit and use [the run] not only to sharpen up a bit, but use it as a fitness round as well. He was excellent.”

Click here to read more from Payne.

Morgan Batton and I’m Sew Ready Sweep CCI 3*-S Division

The only CCI 3*-S Division duo to post a double clear round, Morgan Batton (USA) and I’m Sew Ready jumped from eighth place to the win on a score of 33.2. Liz Halliday-Sharp and Shanroe Cooley kept their reserve placing, adding 3.6 time faults for a total score of 34.4 with the 2015 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Dallas VDL x Unknown) owned by Ocala Horse Properties, while Samantha Tinney (USA) achieved third place with her own Glenbrook Cooley, the 2010 Irish Sport Horse mare (Cassidee x Prospect Pride), on a score of 40.8.

Batton and her own 2004 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Lupicor x Elcaro) had a foot-perfect day on the Cross-Country course set by Captain Mark Phillips, and she was “truly surprised” by the win, she revealed. “The course was so awesome. The footing is always perfect here at Tryon! I was really able to get galloping and going. It rode so well. The jumps were beautifully appointed and it was tons of fun. He jumped [from eighth] into first, which was truly a surprise for me.”

Click here to read more from Batton.

For full results from The Fork at TIEC, click here. 

Eventing will return to TIEC with CCI 4*-1*-L competition hosted May 11-15, with more information available shortly at www.Tryon.com/eventing. 

Photos ©Shannon Brinkman. 

View all scores here