SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (March 3, 2012) – With senior Margaret Swanson leading the way, the Mount Holyoke College riding team rolled to a resounding victory in front of its home crowd today. The Lyons piled up 17 blue ribbons en route to their seventh High Point Championship of the season.
The competition took place at the Equestrian Center and featured eight teams from around the region. Mount Holyoke recorded 41 points. The Lyons were followed by the University of Massachusetts (32), Westfield State University (17), Amherst College (16), Springfield College (14), Smith College (6), Hampshire College (5) and Williams College (4).
With two regular season shows remaining, they lead UMass by 42 points in the Zone 1, Region 3 standings.
Swanson was named High Point Rider after taking first place in her sections of the open flat and open fences divisions. Meanwhile, classmate Rebecca Hicks secured Intermediate High Point Rider accolades after grabbing first place in her section of the intermediate flat division.
Sophomore Flynn Vickowski came up with a blue ribbon in intermediate fences en route to earning Reserve Intermediate High Point honors. The Lyons also received an outstanding performance from senior Laura Tolosa, who claimed Reserve Novice High Point Rider honors after a first place showing in novice fences.
Mount Holyoke's remaining blue ribbons came from senior Brenna Cogswell (novice fences), junior Allison Guiliano (beginner walk-trot-canter), junior So Jin Lee (walk-trot), sophomore Alexa Lohrer (open fences), sophomore Lexi Marek (walk-trot), first year Jessica Murray (novice flat), sophomore Ella Pittman (novice flat), sophomore Ruby Rodell (novice fences), first year Samantha Stone (walk-trot-canter), first year Laura Von der Porten (walk-trot-canter), junior Brooke Wodrig (walk-trot-canter) and first year Maura Zaldonis (intermediate flat).
With their performances today, Swanson (open fences) and Pittman (novice flat) each qualified for the Zone 1, Region 3 Regional Championships.
During the event, Cogswell, Hicks, Swanson, Tolosa, Julia Graham, Jasmine Haddad, Hadley King, Jordan McMullen, Courtney O'Connell, Madeline Starbranch and Haley Streibich were honored for their contributions to the program over the last four years.
The Lyons are slated to visit King Oak Farm in Southampton for a show hosted by Westfield State and Hampshire next Saturday.
Action Photos by Doug Keller
