SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Oct. 13, 2012) - The Mount Holyoke Equestrian Team continued its winning ways on Saturday with a victory at the Mount Holyoke Horse Show. The Lyons claimed the win just four points shy of a perfect score, and now hold an 18-point lead in the region over UMass, heading into next weekend's show at their venue.
It was a frigid start to the action on Saturday but Open Fences started things off in fine fashion. Junior Alexa Lohrer won her section, followed by junior Felicia Harrsch in second. Sophomore Heather Zadra and junior Allison O'Neill were both fourth overall, while sophomores Ila Addanki and Hannah Thornton were sixth.
Intermediate Fences continued this streak with sophomore Maura Zaldonis taking home the blue and junior captain Flynn Vickowski taking second, while junior Clara Tate and sophomore Erinn Lew were third and fourth, respectively.
Mount Holyoke then swept Novice Fences as sophomores Jessica Murray and Madeline Shortt, along with first years Tilar Martin and Claire Herlin all won their sections of Novice Fences. To round out the classes first year Catherine Borgnis received third, sophomore Abby Raucher was fourth, seniors Emily Coggins and Izzy McGovern took fifth, and senior Morgan Cooley finished sixth.
As the flat portion of the day came, the show remained indoors, but the Lyons continued to shine. Harrsch kicked things off, winning her section in Open Flat, while Lohrer and senior Sally Gibb received second. Thornton was third, O'Neill fourth, junior Eleanor Maynard ( pictured; courtesy of Doug Keller) was fifth and Herlin sixth.
The team's hard work continued to pay off in Advanced Walk Trot Canter where senior Jessica Law received first place and qualified for Regionals, and first years Suyin Taunton and Heather Armstrong received second and third, respectively.
The domination in Novice continued on the flat where Murray, Cooley and junior Emily Denisco all won their sections. McGovern was also second, while Martin and first year Genevieve Couldwell received thirds, and junior Ellen Lowden was fourth. With her victory, Cooley has now also qualified for Regionals in Novice Flat.
In large, competitive Intermediate Flat classes junior Ella Pittman took home second, Addanki third, Zaldonis and Coggins fifth, Vickowski sixth and Zadra was reserve.
Beginning Walk Trot Canter saw senior Paulina Erni winning her section, while senior So Jin Lee took second, and first year Jackie Azelby and sophomore Emily Bessette both received fifth. Mount Holyoke then swept Walk Trot with junior Olivia Chance and first year Maneh Kotikian both bringing home blue ribbons while sophomore Katie Knutson received second and sophomore Callie Calder took fourth.
The show ended on a high note with many Mount Holyoke riders receiving high point honors. Murray (2nd from right above) won both overall high point rider and novice high point rider, while Lohrer (left above) was reserve high point rider and, in her IHSA debut, Martin (far right above) was reserve novice high point rider. Zaldonis (2nd from left above) took home the high point intermediate rider award!
Final College Results: 1st - Mount Holyoke College: 45pts, 2nd - UMass: 36pts, 3rd - Smith College: 31pts, 4th - Williams College: 18pts, 5th tie between Amherst College and Springfield College both with 17pts, 6th - Westfield State College: 14pts, 7th - Hampshire College: 4pts
Photo courtesy of MHC Riding
