SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – The Lyon of the Week has been announced and rider Bridget Finnerty has been selected. A sophomore, Finnerty captured multiple ribbons and show honors last weekend as the Lyons wrapped up their regular season.

A native of Baltimore, Md., Finnerty helped Mount Holyoke finish second – by one point – of seven teams in the final regular season show last Saturday. The event, which was co-hosted by Westfield State and UMass, saw her place second in Open Flat and fifth in Open Fences. As a team, the Lyons finished the regular season as the overall region championships – claiming this year’s title by a 56-point margin.

Finnerty then posted a huge effort on Sunday as eighteen members of the riding team competed at the Regional Championships at Biscuit Hill. In addition to garnering first overall in both Open Fences and Open Flat, Finnerty was also named the Reserve Cacchione Cup rider for Region 3, the Reserve High Point Open Fences rider and the High Point Open Flat rider. She also qualified for the Zone Championships with both of her rides.

A former standout at the Bryn Mawr School, Finnerty has had an outstanding season for Mount Holyoke, posting seven first place finishes on the year. She has finished sixth or better in all 12 shows she has competed, including 10 finishes in the top-three.

Among her other outstanding efforts this season was at the season-opening Smith Show, where she was first in Open Flat and fourth in Open Fences. Finnerty also posted wins at all three home shows, as well as at Regionals.

Finnerty had an outstanding rookie season for the Lyons in 2013-14. In addition to six first-place finishes, including an Open Flat and Open Fences victory during the spring Mount Holyoke Show, Finnerty finished sixth or better in eight regular season shows.

Finnerty also placed 10th in Medal Honor at the 2014 Winter Tournament of Champions and was second in the Team Open Flat and third in Individual Open Flat at the Zone Championships. She rounded out her first year campaign with a sixth-place finish in the Collegiate Cup Open Equitation on the Flat at the IHSA National Championships.

Mount Holyoke returns to action on Saturday when it hosts the Zone 1 Championships at the MHC Equestrian Center. Action begins at 8am. To watch the event live, click HERE.