HADLEY, Mass. – Powered by a number of solid rides, the Mount Holyoke College equestrian team posted a huge victory at the UMass Horse Show at Hadley Farm on Saturday. The victory, which saw the Lyons post 39 points to host UMass's 34 to earn High Point College honors, was the third straight win for MHC. The Lyons previously won at Smith and at their own home show on October 12.
Senior Nell Maynard was up first and posted a fourth place finish in Open Fences. Classmate Felicia Harrsch came in third in her section of Open Fences, while senior Lexie Lohrer was fifth aboard a tough draw. Junior Hannah Thornton placed second after being granted a re-ride when she and her previous partner decided to part ways mid-course.
In Intermediate Fences, juniors Anne Waldo and Abby Raucher took seconnd in their sections. Wrapping up the jumping with Novice Fences, first-year Allee Platanitis and sophomore Genevieve Couldwell won their sections and first-year Cam Carter and sophomore Sam Stone put in solid rounds aboard difficult horses for sixth place each.
Moving onto the flat, Mount Holyoke swept Walk-Trot with junior Toria Bobbit and sophomore Jordan Qiao each winning their sections; this was also Qiao's IHSA debut. Junior Katie Knutson rode to third place as well in the class.
In Open Flat, Lohrer and Maynard won their sections, while Harrsch and Thornton came in second. Senior Robin Barson won the Beginner Walk-Trot-Canter class, and the Lyons went 1-2-3 in the advanced Walk-Trot-Canter with sophomore Jackie Azelby winning, senior Catherine Geeslin placing second, and sophomore Suyin Taunton coming in third.
The Lyons swept Intermediate Flat with junior Maddi Shortt and Waldo winning their sections, Carter placing third, and first-year Emily Allard riding to sixth place. In the last division of the day, Novice Flat, Stone and junior Jess Murray won their sections, Platanitis came in second, and first-year Simi Singh-Smith placing third.
With their first and second place finishes, Waldo took home Intermediate High Point Rider and Platanitis claimed Novice High Point Rider. In addition, Platanitis bested Waldo in a quiz bowl for overall Reserve High Point Rider honors.
Mount Holyoke earned High Point College with 39 points, increasing their lead to 41 over UMass in the region. The Lyons head to Biscuit Hill Farm next Saturday to compete at the Amherst College Horse Show.
The final team standings are:
High Point College - Mount Holyoke College, 39 points
Reserve High Point College - University of Massachusetts Amherst, 34 points
3rd Place (Tie) - Springfield College and Westfield State University, 24 points
5th Place - Smith College, 17 points
6th Place - Amherst College, 16 points
7th Place - Williams College, 11 points
8th Place - Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, 6 points
Story and photos courtesy of the MHC Equestrian Team
