LONG VALLEY, N.J. (Dec. 3, 2011) – Nine members of the Mount Holyoke College riding team traveled to Long Valley, N.J. to participate in the prestigious Holiday Tournament of Champions Horse Show today. The event, which featured some of the best collegiate equestrian teams from around the nation, was hosted by Centenary College. A total of 24 teams representing 23 institutions took part.
With sophomores Eleanor Maynard and Felicia Harrsch leading the way, the Lyons finished the day as Reserve Champions with 35 points. They were just two points off the pace set by Centenary's Team White, which grabbed top honors in front of its home crowd. Delaware Valley College rounded out the top three with 31 points.
Maynard (intermediate fences) and Harrsch (intermediate flat) each earned blue ribbons in their respective divisions.
Mount Holyoke also received an outstanding performance from first year Laura Von der Porten, who secured second place in her section of the walk-trot-canter division.
Sophomore Alexa Lohrer (open fences), first year Abby Raucher (novice fences), junior Jessica Stephens (walk-trot) and first year Hannah Thornton (open flat) each collected third place ribbons.
Meanwhile senior Margaret Swanson finished sixth in the medal class.
Mount Holyoke will be off until Saturday, January 28, when it takes part in the Tournament of Champions Winter Classic at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va. The Lyons will resume their regular season schedule with a sizeable lead in their regional standings. With three shows remaining, Lohrer (2nd), Swanson (3rd) and Thornton (4th) hold three of the top four spots in the regional Cacchione Cup standings.
Photo by Sheryl Sutherby
