SHELBURNE FARMS, Mass. – Perfection was the name of the game on Saturday as the Mount Holyoke College equestrian team recorded a perfect score of 49 points to capture High Point College honors at the Amherst Horse Show. It was the fourth straight show victory of the season for the Lyons, who now hold a 56-point lead over UMass-Amherst in the region.
The team began its journey toward a perfect score with two wins in Open Fences for seniors Felicia Harrsch and Lexie Lohrer. Seniors Ella Pittman, Nell Maynard and junior Hannah Thornton each took home third, and first-year Bridget Finnerty placed sixth.
Mount Holyoke then swept Intermediate Fences where senior Flynn Vickowski and junior Anne Waldo each won their sections. In Novice Fences, junior Jess Murray won her section, junior Laura Von der Porten and sophomore Claire Herlin each placed second, sophomore Colbie Chinowsky came in third, and junior Sam Stone was sixth.
Sophomore Heather Armstrong led the flat classes with a second place ride in Advanced Walk-Trot-Canter, while in Beginner Walk-Trot-Canter senior Robin Barson came in first, first-year Liana Ghiron placed fourth, and first-year Haley Lucian was fifth.
In the Walk-Trot division, juniors Callie Calder and Katie Knutson each won their sections, sophomore Jordan Qiao was fourth, and junior Christine Choo came in fifth in her IHSA debut. The Lyons later swept Novice Flat with Stone and first-years Allee Platanitis and Sarah Felman each winning their section, while Von der Porten and sophomore Elizabeth Brija each placed fifth. Juniors Maddi Shortt and Heather Zadra won their sections of Intermediate Flat to sweep the division, first-year Emily Allard placed fourth, and Waldo came in fifth. In the final division of the day, Open Flat, Thornton placed second, Harrsch and Lohrer each came in third, and Maynard took home fifth.
With their wins over fences and third place rides on the flat, Lohrer and Harrsch, along with a rider from UMass, competed in a ride-off for Reserve High Point rider. Lohrer took home the honors, while Stone was named Reserve High Point Novice rider and Waldo claimed Reserve Intermediate High Point.
Several riders qualified for Regionals today:
Callie Calder - Walk-Trot
Claire Herlin - Novice Fences
Katie Knutson - Walk-Trot
Jess Murray - Novice Fences
Flynn Vickowski - Intermediate Fences
In addition, Robin Barson pointed out of Beginner Walk-Trot-Canter into Advanced Walk-Trot-Canter.
The final team standings were:
High Point College - Mount Holyoke College, 49 points
Reserve High Point College - University of Massachusetts, 34 points
3rd Place - Smith College, 28 points
4th Place - Springfield College, 24 points
5th Place - Amherst College, 22 points
6th Place - Westfield State University, 20 points
7th Place - Williams College, 19 points
8th Place - Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Design, 7 points
The Lyons host the final regular season show of the fall semester in two weeks on Saturday, November 16th.
Story courtesy of Anne Waldo, Mount Holyoke Equestrian team. Photos courtesy of the Mount Holyoke Equestrian team.
