Saugerties’ own Heather Caristo-Williams wins the $10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome
Saugerties, NY (June 3, 2016): HITS-on-the-Hudson Week II kicked off with the $10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome. Thirty horses and riders tested the course designed by Oscar Soberon, but only one team would take home the blue-ribbon title.
It was Saugerties, New York, equestrian Heather Caristo-Williams who stole the show on her own turf aboard Cosmopolitan 30, owned by Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Caristo.
“I’m overjoyed with this win, we are always happy to back at HITS,” said Caristo-Williams. “Of course, I’m always thankful to have the support of my family, friends and sponsors; when I win, it’s really a win for everyone.”
Nine advanced to the immediate jump-off to compete for the top spot. First to go clear in the jump-off was Debbie McCarthy Connor of Patterson, New York, and EF Eline, owned by Edition Farm. With a few top five victories under her belt in Week I, they confidently took to the jump-off course, clocking in fault-free in 43.398. They would eventually earn fifth for their efforts.
Two trips later, Anne Kursinski of Frenchtown, New Jersey, would shave a full three seconds off Connor’s time with a clear jump-off round in 40.530 aboard Caspar’s Lasino, owned by Market Street, Inc. The round would ultimately earn them the third-place prize.
The lead did not stay in the hands of any one rider long, until the victors, Caristo-Williams and Cosmopolitan 30, arrived to contest the shortened course.
“The course was nice. It had a couple of roll-back turns and a tricky long approach to a vertical—it was a good challenge at parts, and you had to slow down to make your turns,” said Caristo-Williams. “My plan for the jump-off was not to go too fast and focus on navigating the ground efficiently.”
They powered through the jump-off, opting for the tight approach in a mid-course roll-back turn. The crowd cheered as they crossed the timers in a speedy 38.581, where the lead would remain.
“He’s a lovely horse to ride,” said Caristo-Williams of Cosmopolitan 30. “He’s handy, and very fast without me having to push him, which helps keep me level-headed in the course.”
Matthew Williams, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, followed to try his hand at the course. After a clear first round, he piloted Cuchica, owned by Wyndmont, Inc. through the jump-off. The seconds were winding down as they stopped the clock at 39.684 for second-place.
Following Williams, Southampton, New York, equestrian Jonathan Corrigan and Beechfields Astra Zeneca, owned by Colm McGuckian, put down a valiant ride. They would pass the timers without any rails, but their time of 43.683 was just a hair short of the top five, settling them in sixth.
Debbie McCarthy Connor re-entered the ring as the last trip with a jump-off. This time, she piloted Zim, owned by Connor & Ebetino Jumpers, LLC. They stopped the clock at 41.971, a full two seconds ahead of Connor’s previous time on EF Eline four fourth-place, sealing two spots in the top five.
Place
Horse
Owner
Rider
Prize
Rd. 1 Faults
JO Faults
JO Time
1
Cosmopolitan 30
Mr & Mrs Ralph Caristo
Heather Caristo-Williams
2,800
0
0
38.581
2
Cuchica
Wyndmont, Inc.
Matthew Williams
$1,800
0
0
39.684
3
Caspar's Lasino
Market Street, Inc.
Anne Kursinski
$1,250
0
0
40.530
4
Zim
Connor & Ebetino Jumpers, LLC
Debbie McCarthy Connor
$900
0
0
41.971
5
EF Eline
Edition Farm
Debbie McCarthy Connor
$800
0
0
43.398
6
Beechfields Astra Zeneca
Colm McGuckian
Jonathan Corrigan
$700
0
0
43.683
7
Temptation
Tranqullity Farm
Michael Desiderio
$600
0
4
37.443
8
KM Whatever RV
Bayaert Farm Inc.
Mattias Tromp
$400
0
4
37.881
9
Twan
Stephex Stables / Missy Clark
Cormac Hanley
$375
0
4
39.476
10
Aminka
Tranquillity Farm
Michael Desiderio
$375
4
-
-
11
Conte Couleur
Ronald Francoeur
Mark Jungherr
-
4
-
-
12
Captain Caruso
Cormac Hanley
Cormac Hanley
-
4
-
-
(C) ESI Photography Heather Caristo-Williams and Cosmopolitan 30 on their way to a $10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome win.
(C) ESI Photography Heather Caristo-Williams and Cosmopolitan 30 winning the $10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome.
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.
