NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – The Mount Holyoke College riding team kicked-off its regular season schedule on Saturday at the Smith College Show. Despite the rain, the Lyons posted a one-point margin victory over UMass-Amherst to take the win. There were a number of excellent rides on the day as four qualified for Regionals.
Starting off the day, first-year Mollie Kowalchik won her section of Open Fences in her IHSA debut, senior Maura Zaldonis placed second, senior Heather Zadra was third, and sophomore Bridget Finnerty received fourth place.
In Intermediate Fences, the Lyons placed 1-2 with senior Anne Waldo winning and senior Abby Raucher coming in second. Rounding out the jumping, junior Genevieve Couldwell won her section of Novice Fences, sophomore Cam Carter placed third, and first-year Emily Holowczak rode very well in her IHSA debut.
Switching to the flat, senior Jess Murray placed first in Novice Flat, senior Sam Stone was second, senior Laura Von der Porten third, first-year Taryn Isenburg was fifth in her IHSA debut, and Holowczak finished sixth. Open Flat followed, where Finnerty won her section, Raucher and first-year Maddy Skrak placed third with Skrak showing in her regular season IHSA debut, and Zaldonis coming in sixth on a tough draw.
The Lyons swept Beginner Walk-Trot-Canter with juniors Callie Schultz and Jordan Lassonde each winning their sections and sophomore Regina Brecha placing second just behind them. In Intermediate Flat, Zadra received first, Kowalchik second, and first-year Juliana Ronn was fifth in her IHSA debut.
Walk-Trot followed, where sophomore Flora Fei won her section; first-year Illianna Termuehlen and junior Alexis Holliday each placed third with both riding in their IHSA debuts. The Lyons again swept the final division of the day, Walk-Trot-Canter, with first-year Brina Fox and senior Emily Bessette both winning their respective sections; Fox was also riding in her regular season IHSA debut.
Following the regular classes, Kowalchik competed in a quiz bowl to determine overall Reserve High Point rider. After a lengthy series of questions, Kowachik was named the winner and received the honors.
Several riders qualified for Regionals today, which will be held in March at Biscuit Hill Farm:
Emily Bessette - Walk-Trot-Canter
Genevieve Couldwell - Novice Fences
Jess Murray - Novice Flat
Heather Zadra - Intermediate Flat
The final college standings are:
High Point - Mount Holyoke College, 44 points
Reserve High Point - University of Massachusetts Amherst, 43 points
3rd Place - Smith College, 35 points
4th Place - Westfield State University, 29 points
5th Place - Williams College, 16 points
6th Place - Springfield College, 14 points
7th Place - Amherst College, 13 points
The next show for Mount Holyoke will be on October 18 as the Lyons travel to Williams College.
Story courtesy of Anne Waldo, MHC riding team member.
