Traverse City, MI – June 7, 2025—With one horse left to jump behind her, Delaney Flynn of Park City, UT, was all business as she stepped into the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring aboard Namamia to win the $30,000 Traverse City National Grand Prix on Saturday of Traverse City Horse Shows opening week.
The Spring Series, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, continues through June 29 and features three weeks of FEI jumper competition, weekly hunter derbies, including the International Hunter Derby Regional Championships, in addition to the USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships and the Markel/USHJA Platinum & Zone Jumper Team Championships.
Six pairs advanced to the jump-off over course designer Guilherme Jorge’s (BRA) track, but no one could catch Flynn and Namamia, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Fantomas de Muze x Berlin). Their time of 41.176 seconds bumped Ireland’s David Blake to second on Conblue, owned by Pine Hollow Farm, in 43.408 seconds. Hunter Holloway took third in the irons of Koblenz for owner Sophie Heron by stopping the clock at 44.397 seconds.
When asked about her plan for the short course, Flynn noted, “I was questioning the inside turn to number six because the left lead can be weak, but John and I went over the plan and we stayed right in the air with my eye over number six and she jumped it amazingly. She was definitely tuned in today.
“Namamia’s biggest strength is that she’s dead brave,” continued Flynn, who rides full time for Johnathan and Christine McCrea’s Windsor Show Stables out of East Windsor, CT. “You could point her at anything, and she will jump it. We have a big grass field at home with natural obstacles that she loves popping around—she has a big heart.”
Mia—as the mare is known around the barn—campaigned to four- and five-star level in Europe. After jumping the CSIO5* Dublin Horse Show with Jessica Burke (IRL) in the tack, the mare found her way to Windsor Show Stables through a connection with Jonathan McCrea’s brother. Two years ago, she debuted in America as part of Christine McCrea’s string at the Traverse City Horse Shows.
“I love this horse. She’s my type; I like a smaller, quick ride,” explained Delaney, who took over the ride on Namamia just over a year ago. “She’s very scopey, so this was a nice class for her. I think it was good for her to take a breath and have fun before next week’s four-star.
“This is my favorite horse show,” continued Flynn of her summers spent at Flintfields Horse Park. “Every time we come here the horses feel amazing, they jump amazing and you can do two weeks in a row and they still feel just as good at the end. We are happy to be back—this was a good start for the first week.”
The Traverse City Spring Series opening week concludes on Sunday with the $117,000 Four G Surfaces CSI3* Grand Prix. To see complete results from the $30,000 Traverse City National Grand Prix, click here.
Qualifying Now Underway for TCHS Equitation Championships
The chase is now on for the $50,000 Cherry Capital 3’3” Equitation Championship and the $100,000 Dudley and Barb Smith 3’6” Equitation Championship, both taking place during the Tournament of Champions at Flintfields Horse Park in September. Qualifying got underway on Friday of the Traverse City Spring Series, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel.
Luke Rinehart of Carmel, IN, topped the first $10,000 TCHS 3’6” Equitation Championship Qualifier riding Curb Service, owned by Don Stewart. Rinehart had never sat on Curb Service before Friday but made quick work of getting to know the mount.
“I just met him today, so I don’t know him well at all,” explained Rinehart, 17. “Don asked if I could ride the horse [in this] today, so that’s what we did. I got on a little early and we schooled him up nicely, but he was really good. I could tell he was game; he walked in for the first round with a new rider, landed every lead, and then followed me around in the handy.”
Luke’s sister Elizabeth Rinehart took second riding Jinter van het Hagehof, and Caitlyn Gidley of College Station, TX, rounded out the top three riding Klutch.
Looking ahead to the year-end finals, Stewart noted, “This will be an exciting equitation extravaganza to prepare all our riders for the fall circuit. Traverse City has always provided us with a great facility and strong competition so I’m excited to see it further support the up-and-coming talents of the sport.”
For full results from the $10,000 TCHS 3’6” Equitation Championship Qualifier, click here.
In the $5,000 TCHS 3’3” Equitation Championship Qualifier, Ella Jane Howard of Temperance, MI, topped the list riding Enzo for owner Fox Meadow Farm. Continuing the theme of siblings in the winner’s circle, Lydia Rae Howard finished second aboard Dempsey V. Ava Garvin of Empire, MI, was third in the irons of Igor Chavannais. For full results from the $5,000 TCHS 3’3” Equitation Championship Qualifier, click here.
These all-new championships highlight TCHS’s commitment to fostering top-tier competition and rider development while delivering a world-class equestrian experience.
“We take pride in offering innovative opportunities to athletes at all levels across all disciplines,” said Matt Morrissey, Event Director at Traverse City Horse Shows. “We’ve already multiplied derby and prize money opportunities for hunters along with unmatched summer offerings for international jumpers. It was time for us to welcome equitation riders to share in the spotlight.”
Qualifying for both the $50,000 Cherry Capital 3’3” Equitation Championship and the $100,000 Dudley and Barb Smith 3’6” Equitation Championship will occur at participating events throughout the 2025 competition season. Each championship will feature the top 50 qualified riders and consist of two rounds, each judged by one panel of two judges. Venues interested in hosting a qualifier can sign up with Ryegate Show Services.
About Traverse City Horse Shows (TCHS)
Traverse City Horse Shows (TCHS) is a premier destination for summer equestrian events in North America, hosting 13 weeks of world-class competitions, including 12 weeks of FEI-ranked events. Nestled in the scenic landscape of Williamsburg, Michigan—just 15 minutes from downtown Traverse City—TCHS attracts elite equestrian talent from around the globe to Flintfields Horse Park—a venue that seamlessly blends top-tier sport with the natural beauty and vibrant culture of Northern Michigan.
For more information on the season, visit TraverseCityHorseShows.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
