HADLEY, Mass. – The Mount Holyoke College riding team returned to its regular season show schedule on Saturday, competing at Hadley Farm for the UMass/Westfield State co-hosted show. It was an outstanding opener for the Lyons, who finished first of nine competing teams.

First in the ring for the day was first year Grace Tice with a tough draw. After a re-ride on the same horse, she placed sixth. Junior captain Bridget Finnerty immediately followed and pinned fifth, while the class rounded out with sophomore Mollie Kowalchik in fourth. 

In the large intermediate division, senior Genevieve Couldwell and junior Cam Carter put in excellent rounds, placing first and fourth, respectively.

Our novice riders were spread out over the three sections. In the first section, senior Suyin Taunton placed fifth, which qualifies her for regionals. In the second and third sections, junior Allee Platanitis and sophomore Taryn Isenburg took top honors. 

The alumni classes saw Tara Mathews and Ila Addanki take first and second over fences, respectively, then first and third on the flat.

In one of the most exciting walk trot classes we've had this season, first year Karen Dong did an amazing job handling an unruly horse, taking first place in her IHSA debut. In the next class, senior Stephanie Lewis and sophomore Katherine Marshall-Kramer placed first and fourth, respectively. 

The Lyons swept the open flat division as Finnerty and Carter were first and third in the first section, and Tice and Maddy Skrak went 1-2 in the second section.

Walk trot canter was up next and first year Maggie Stuart was fourth in the first section.  Senior Callie Schultz and first year Jordan Green were first and third, respectively, in their class. 

Intermediate flat had only one section today as Platanitis placed second and sophomore Emily Holowczak placed third.

Novice flat brought the day to a close with Isenburg finishing second. Taunton won her section and first year Emma Recchi was fourth. 

At the end of the day, Isenburg and Platanitis were tied for overall high point rider with two other riders from Westfield State.  They had to face off in a quiz bowl with Isenburg besting the group to take overall high point honors, then had to do an additional quiz bowl to break the tie for novice high point rider, which she also earned.

Mount Holyoke took home team championship honors with an incredible 15 point lead over UMass.  Team results were as follows: 

    MHC - 43

    UMass - 28

    Smith - 25

    Westfield State - 22

    Amherst - 20

    Williams - 16

    Hampshire - 13

    Springfield - 9

    Bennington - 4

Mount Holyoke returns to action next Saturday when it hosts its Spring Home Show at the MHC Equestrian Center. All the action begins at 9am.

Release and photos courtesy of the Laura Von der Porten and Carol Law.