Riding Competes in Tournament of Champions Winter Classic

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (Jan. 30, 2010) – Fifteen members of the Mount Holyoke College riding team recently traveled to Fredericksburg, Va. to participate in the prestigious Tournament of Champions Winter Classic Horse Show. The event, which featured some of the best collegiate equestrian teams from around the nation, took place at the University of Mary Washington Equestrian Center. A total of 21 teams representing 16 institutions took part.

Delaware Valley College amassed 31 points to secure the High Point Championship. The Aggies edged out Virginia Tech’s Enter Sandman team, who earned Reserve High Point College honors with 30 points. Mount Holyoke’s Situation Team grabbed fourth place with 26 points. Meanwhile, its Snookie team earned ninth place overall with 23 points.

As a result of their performance at the event, the Lyons secured second place in the final Tournament of Champions standings for the year. They finished just one point shy of Virginia Tech, which took home the High Point Championship with 49 points.

A total of four Lyons earned blue ribbons at the event. First year Emily Coggins took home honors in her section of the novice flat division, while senior Jaqueline Knutson finished atop the standings in her grouping of the novice flat division. Sophomore Anne Tucker posted a first place finish in the walk-trot-canter division, and junior Belinda Wenke repeated the feat in the walk-trot division.

First year Allison O'Neill and junior Lindsay Sceats advanced to the jumping round of the medal class. Out of 22 riders, they finished ninth and eighth, respectively.

Mount Holyoke will return to action on Saturday, February 27, when it takes part in the University of Massachusetts Horse Show. The Lyons will enter the spring portion of their schedule leading UMass by 12 points in the Zone 1, Region 3 standings.