Traverse City, MI – July 27, 2025—Ireland’s Darragh Kenny closed out the fourth week of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by B&D Builders, aboard Collibelle Hero Z on Sunday with a win in the $30,000 Traverse City National Grand Prix.
Riding for owner and his Oakland Stables student Elena Haas, Kenny was one of only four double-clear efforts in a competitive jump-off field of 18. In the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring, Nick Granat (USA) designed the two-round grand prix track for 47 original contenders.
Colibelle Hero Z crossed the final timers in 38.083 seconds to bring home the win for Oakland, based out of Wellington FL, and Darien, CT. Martien Van Der Hoeven of Pinehurst, TX, piloted Chance Encounter to the runner-up position in 41.206 seconds. Rounding out the top three, Morgan Parasher of Houston, TX, and Chess stopped the clock at 41.263 seconds for a podium finish.
Kenny is focused on preparing Colibelle Hero Z, a 10-year-old Zangersheide mare (Comme Il Faut 5 X Rubens Du Ry d’Asse) for Haas. The 22-year-old rider has already stepped the mount into international competition with big plans ahead.
“She’s a really exceptional horse,” said Kenny, a 2024 Olympian for Ireland and currently ranked no. 17 in the world. “She’s one that is going to be able to jump at the highest level with Elena. We are really looking forward to the future with her, what she and Elena can do together.”
Complete results from the $30,000 Traverse City National Grand Prix can be found here.
Jumper action also took place in the Polk Family Jumper Ring on Sunday with the $2,500 East Wind Farms NAL/WIHS Junior Jumper Classic. Of 37 entries, Cecilia Chatterjee of New York, NY, and her own Corylor KDW Z took the win.
The 11th season of GLEF now moves into its fifth week at Flintfields Horse Park, highlighted by the coveted FEI North American Youth Championships for dressage and show jumping, which runs through August 3.
Adult and Amateur Hunters Crown GLEF IV Champions
The Thomas & Milliken Amateur-Owner 35+ Hunter division crowned its GLEF IV champion on Sunday with John Ingram of Nashville, TN, and his own Odette taking the tricolor title. Ingram and the seven-year-old Oldenburg mare won three of the four over-fences—scoring highest at a 90—as well as taking the win under saddle. Reserve champion went to Rachael Herkowitz of Bloomfield Hills, MI, riding Harmony with a score of 88 winning them an over fences section and finishing second in two more.
Hunter action concluded with the Great Lakes Golf Carts Low Adult Hunter where Laurie Stevens of Boca Raton, FL, and her own Sky Blue Diamond took the championship. Stevens and the seven-year-old gelding won three of the four over-fences events as well as the under saddle. Laurie De Luca of Overland, KS, and her own Sandro took the reserve after earning a first and second over fences.
Complete results from the GLEF four can be found here.
About Traverse City Horse Shows
Traverse City Horse Shows (TCHS) offers 13 weeks of top equestrian competition each summer at Flintfields Horse Park in Williamsburg, Michigan—just 15 minutes from downtown Traverse City. The venue blends world-class sport with the natural beauty of Northern Michigan and features 12 weeks of FEI-ranked events, including three five-stars and an FEI Nations Cup CSIO3*.
The season culminates in the three-week Tournament of Champions, highlighted by the $340,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ CSI5*-W—Traverse City and $340,000 American Gold Cup CSI5*. New this year, the $100,000 Dudley and Barb Smith 3’6” Equitation Championship and $50,000 Cherry Capital 3’3” Equitation Championship deliver big prize money and prestige to the equitation ranks.
For more information on the season, visit TraverseCityHorseShows.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
