Laura Chapot Takes Home the Blue in the $10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome
Saugerties, NY (May 27, 2016): HITS Saugerties at HITS-on-the-Hudson is back in action as the first week of the series kicked off with the $10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome.
The team to beat was Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, New Jersey, aboard Thornhill Kate, co-owned by Mary Chapot. A clear jump-off round had yet to be seen in the course designed by Marina Azevedo of Campinas, Brazil, until Chapot proved that it could indeed be conquered. Remaining in the ring for the jump-off, Chapot and Thornhill Kate put down a blazing-fast round in 34.816—a time that none would surpass.
Following Chapot was Sarah Segal of Flemington, New Jersey, and Zelda, owned by T.K. Farm. With a clean first round under their belt, they sped through the jump-off. The clock was ticking, and just as it appeared that Segal would edge out Chapot, a heart-breaking rail at the last fence kept them out of the top-five for the eventual seventh-place.
Next to contend the shortened course was Mark Jungherr of Amesbury, Massachusetts, piloting Conte Couleur, owned by Ronald Francoeur. They made it through the timers fault-free, but their time of 39.268 was not enough to top the leaderboard, ultimately earning them the fourth-place spot.
Yet another clear round immediately followed by Patterson, New York, equestrian Debbie McCarthy Connor. She and Zim, owned by Connor & Ebetino Jumpers, LLC., moved on to challenge the jump-off course. They too clocked in fault-free but with a time of 44.346, sealing the final spot in the top five.
Matthew Williams and Valinski S, owned by Wyndmont, Inc., were next to advance to the jump-off. The Fort Lauderdale, Florida, equestrian and his mount valiantly tested the shortened course as they moved efficiently through the timers without fault. Their time of 36.217 would be a few seconds shy of Chapot, earning them the second-place prize.
The next clear jump-off round belonged to Christine McCrea of East Windsor, Connecticut, aboard Wannick WH, owned by Candy Tribble & Windsor Show Stables Inc. McCrea and Wannick WH cleared fence after fence, clocking in clear in 38.893 for third.
The remaining field would not advance to the jump-off, sealing the win for Chapot. To add to the sweet victory, Chapot also took home sixth-place honors with ISHD Dual Star, owned by Mary Chapot, earning her two spots in the ribbons to close out the first day of HITS-on-the-Hudson I.
Place
Horse
Owner
Rider
Prize
Rd. 1 Faults
JO Faults
JO Time
1
Thornhill Kate
Mary & Laura Chapot
Laura Chapot
2,800
0
0
34.816
2
Valinski S
Wyndmont, Inc.
Matthew Williams
$1,800
0
0
36.217
3
Wannick WH
Candy Tribble & Windsor Show Stables, Inc.
Christine McCrea
$1,250
0
0
38.893
4
Conte Couleaur
Ronald Francoeur
Mark Jungherr
$900
0
0
39.268
5
Zim
Connor & Ebetino Jumpers, LLC
Debbie McCarthy Connor
$800
0
0
44.346
6
ISHD Dual Star
Mary Chapot
Laura Chapot
$700
0
4
33.613
7
Zelda
T.K. Farm
Sarah Segal
$600
0
4
34.905
8
Aries
Noel Gross
Jonathan Corrigan
$400
0
4
39.721
9
Pyrenes De Louzes
Fortune Equine
Cassandra Kahle
$375
0
8
35.154
10
Catango
Candy Tribble
Christine McCrea
$375
0
8
42.628
11
EF Eline
Edition Farm
Debbie McCarthy Connor
-
2
-
-
12
Cecotto's AS
Jennifer Rowland
Kevin Mealiff
-
2
-
-
(C) ESI Photography Laura Chapot and Thornhill Kate on their way to a $10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome win.
About HITS, Inc. HITS, Inc. produces high-quality, international-level hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the Village of Saugerties, HITS has been producing shows since 1982 and is now a nationwide company with world-class circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York, and Virginia.
While hosting the richest weekend in show jumping at HITS-on-the-Hudson, HITS also formed the Triple Crown of Show Jumping. This includes the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by MortgageCall, in Thermal, California, the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix in Ocala, Florida and Saugerties $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Wells Fargo, in Saugerties, New York.