GREENFIELD, Mass. - The Mount Holyoke riding team kicked-off its regular spring season on Saturday, competing at the Smith College Show, hosted at Stoneleigh Burnham School. The Lyons finished in a tie for second overall, notching 36 points, while five riders qualified for the Regional Championships.
Things got underway with two sections of open over fences, the first of which saw a beautiful ride from senior Mollie Kowalchik for the first blue ribbon of the day. In the second section, sophomore Franny Eremeeva had a nice course on a tough draw to finish in reserve.
Two sections of intermediate fences entered the ring next. In the first section, senior Taryn Isenburg, junior Emma Recchi, and senior Haley Lamoureux all had lovely rides to finish in fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively. In the second split, junior Lily DeBenedictis and seniors Anna Rzchowski and Emily Holowczak also turned in stunning courses to finish in first, second, and fourth, respectively.
Action then switched back to open with two splits of flat. In the first class, senior Maddy Skrak had a lovely ride for second place. In the second section, Eremeeva and Kowalchik returned to the ring with nice rides for second and fourth place, respectively.
Mount Holyoke next saw a clean sweep of the intermediate flat division. In the first section, senior Sabrina Fox and Rzchowski finished one- two with lovely rides. In the second section, Recchi and Isenburg returned to the ring to post the same results.
Novice fences entered the ring next with three sections. In the first, rookie Libby Sams had a nice ride for third overall. In the second section, junior Jordan Green also delivered a nice ride for a fifth place finish, while in the final section, seniors Avery Hanlon and Morgan Brachfeld posted second and fifth, respectively.
Novice flat was next in the ring with three sections. In the first section, Hanlon returned to the ring with a stunning ride for another second place finish. The second section saw a beautiful ride from sophomore Emy McLaughlin for second place as well. In the final section, first year Sara Hearn and Green delivered wonderful rides for second and reserve, respectively.
Sophomore Abby Watkins was next in the ring to kick off the walk trot canter division. She delivered a lovely ride to post second. In the second section, sophomore Maya Brody also posted a lovely ride for second. The final section saw an additional stunning ride from first year Sinead O'Sullivan for a first place finish.
One section of beginner walk trot canter entered the ring next and saw a beautiful ride from first year Carol Law, who finished in second place.
The day wrapped-up with two sections of walk-trot. In the first section, first year Yixuan He and junior Jessica Feng both had lovely rides to finish in second and fourth, respectively. This marked Yixuan's IHSA debut. The final section saw two more lovely rides from sophomores Hanye Chen and Sesil Lee to post one-two.
The following riders qualified for regionals today:
Hanye Chen, Walk Trot
Emily Holowczak, Intermediate Fences
Emma Recchi, Intermeidate Fences
Mollie Kowalchik, Open Flat
Maddy Skrak, Open Flat
Mount Holyoke finished the day tied for second with UMass Amherst, both with 36 points. Hampshire College took home the high point college title with 39 points. Additionally, with two solid rides in the intermediate division, Anna Rzchowski was named the reserve high point intermediate rider.
Team Results:
1) Hampshire College- 39
2) Mount Holyoke College- 36
2) UMass Amherst- 36
3) Smith College- 23
4) Westfield State University- 20
5) Williams College- 18
6) Bennington College- 6
7) Amherst College- 4
The Lyons return to action next Saturday when they host their spring home show at the MHC Equestrian Center.
Release courtesy of MHC rider, Taryn Isenburg. Photo courtesy of MHC head coach, CJ Law.
