Good weekend for Mealiff and Corrigan in New York

THERE were two Irish riders on the podium of the $50,000 two-star Grand Prix in Saugerties, New York last Saturday. Offaly’s Kevin Mealiff took the runner-up position behind American winner Adrienne Sternlicht, while Jonathan Corrigan slotted into third place.

From a start list of just 16 competitors, five made it through to the jump-off and all five produced a second clear round. Sternlicht was best of the lot with Cadans Z when breaking the beam in 37.18 seconds, just ahead of Mealiff who posted a time of 38.45 with the 11-year-old gelding Tupac van de Vrombautshoeve Z. He earned $10,000 for second place. Corrigan was just fractions slower in 38.87 for third place with the ISH Super Chilled (by Gelvins Clover), to earn $7,500.

The Cheryl Broderick-bred 13-year-old gelding won the $36,600 Welcome at the venue when best of five double clears in 31.71 to take home $12,000. On this occasion he turned the tables on Mealiff, who finished second with Tupac van de Vrombautshoeve Z in 32.24.