FREDRICKSBURG, Va. - The Mount Holyoke College equestrian team returned to action on Saturday in the final stage of the Tournament of Champions. The winter event, which was held at the University of Mary Washington, saw the Lyons team finish fifth overall. In the overall tournament standings, which featured three meets, MHC was third.

Saturday's action saw the Lyons finish fifth overall. Savannah College of Art & Design finished first in the Winter Tournament of Champions, followed by Bridgewater College, Virginia Tech, Goucher College and Mount Holyoke.

In the overall standings, which were compiled via the top two scores from the Pre-Season, Holiday and Winter Tournament results, the Lyons were third behind Savannah College of Art and Design and Bridgewater College.

The Lyons, who were coming off a win at the Tournament of Champions Holiday Classic, saw junior Heather Zadra started things off with a second-place finish in Intermediate Flat, putting Mount Holyoke right into the running. Senior captain Lexie Lohrer followed with a first-place finish in her section of Open Fences on a difficult draw, while Jackie Azelby was eighth in Walk Trot Canter, finishing eighth. First year Allee Platanitis finished eighth in Novice Flat as well.

Junior Hannah Thornton added another blue ribbon to the board for Mount Holyoke in Open Flat, while sophomore Genevieve Couldwell followed with a great ride in Novice Fences, finishing third. Junior Callie Calder rounded out the team points with a sixth place finish in Walk Trot. In addition, first years Bridget Finnerty and Emily Allard advanced to the jumping phase of the medal after performing beautifully on the flat. The two rode great over fences, both with difficult draws, and finished 10th and seventh, respectively.

Mount Holyoke returns to action on February 22 when it competes at the UMass Horse Show.

Winter Classic Team Results:

1.     Savannah College of Art and Design (36)

2.     Bridgewater College (33)

3.     Virginia Tech (31)

4.     Goucher College (27)

5.     Mount Holyoke College (23)

6.     University of Mary Washington Blue (22)

7.     University of Kentucky (21)

8.     University of Findlay (20)

Tournament of Champions Series Results:

1.     Savannah College of Art and Design (67)

2.     Bridgewater College (62)

3.     Mount Holyoke College (55)

4.     Randolph College (54)

5.     Goucher College (50)

6.     Virginia Tech (49)

7.     St. Andrews University (43)

8.     Boston University, UMASS Amherst and Virginia Intermont College (50)

Show story courtesy of Lexie Lohrer, MHC Equestrian Captain. Cover photo courtesy of Frank Poulin Sports Photography.