Saugerties, New York, USA – August 01, 2024 – The featured class of the day on Thursday, August 1, 2024, at Hits Hudson Valley in Saugerties, New York, was the $62,480 Welcome CSI 3*. The event marks the third week of international show jumping during the venue’s sold-out Hudson Valley Showjumping Tour®. With exhibitors and spectators alike gathered around the Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Stadium, Irishman Conor Swail (IRL) put on a show and galloped away with the win aboard My Lady Lavista.
Esteemed FEI Level 4 Course Designer Marina Azevedo (BRA) was the mastermind behind the challenging 1.50m track, which featured 16 efforts over 13 obstacles. From the talented field of 38 horse-and-rider combinations, 14 duos managed to navigate through the timers fault-free to advance to the jump-off.
Swail qualified both of his mounts for the short course, but as the pathfinder with his first ride, Gamble, he incurred four faults in 38.11 seconds to sit at the bottom of the pack. A few rides later, it was Hits-on-the-Hudson V’s speed queen Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and Bull Run’s Jireh, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Uriko x Colman) owned by Bull Run Jumpers, Inc., that raced into the lead once again in 34.36 seconds.
It looked like Vanderveen was going to collect yet another winning check, but Swail was a man with a plan. Knowing what he had to do, he sped around the track with My Lady Lavista, crossing the timers clear in 33.55 seconds. Ultimately, Swail’s time held for the victory, with Vanderveen finishing in second this time around.
Fellow Irish rider, Jonathan Corrigan (IRL), completed the top three with Darius de Kerglenn, an 11-year-old Selle Français gelding (Mylord Carthago HN x Diamant de Semilly) owned by Maarten Huygens and Twin Oaks Ventures LLC, after stopping the clock in 34.73 seconds.
“The course was good, very fair, and a nice start for us this week,” noted Swail. “When I went in for the jump-off, I knew Kristen [Vanderveen] was in the lead, and she’s always extremely quick. I had been in already with Gamble, so I had a good idea about how quick I needed to go and what were the right striding numbers. I thought that I had to go as quick as I could, and it worked out great for me, I must say.”
My Lady Lavista is a fairly new ride for Swail, who took over the reins on the 10-year-old Holsteiner mare (Mylord Carthago HN x Levisto), owned by Cherokee Show Horses, Inc., just a few months ago. They tackled their first show together at the end of May, and after competing around Canada, came to Hits Hudson Valley for Hits-on-the-Hudson V and VI. While they were just pipped off the win in the $62,480 Welcome CSI 3* during HITS-on-the-Hudson V, now a week later, the pair earned the top call, making for a successful beginning to their developing partnership.
Final Results – $62,480 Welcome CSI 3*
1) Conor Swail (IRL) & My Lady Lavista – 0 / 0 – 33.55
2) Kristen Vanderveen (USA) & Bull Run’s Jireh – 0 / 0 – 34.36
3) Jonathan Corrigan (IRL) & Darius de Kerglenn – 0 / 0 – 34.73
Source: Press Release from Hits Horse Shows
Photos: © Hits Horse Shows / ESI Photography
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Categories: CSI 3*, English, Jumper News Ireland
