Recap courtesy of Sierra Dunn '22
Blacksburg, Va. - September 25, 2021 - On Saturday, riders of the Mount Holyoke hunt seat team competed against top teams across the country at the Pre Season Classic, the first of the four Tournament of Champions (ToC) series, hosted by the Virginia Polytechnic Institute equestrian team in Blacksburg, Virginia. Mount Holyoke brought two teams of riders to compete at this show, team Lyons and team Paws.
Leading off the day, junior Georgia Fish (Baltimore, Md.) opened action for MHC team Paws with a beautiful ride in the first section of Open Fences, finishing just out of the ribbons. Next in the ring was senior and captain Sara Hearn (Tallahassee, Fla.) in the second split of Open Fences, where she had a stunning ride, winning the class, this time for team Lyons.
Two sections of Intermediate Fences followed, first of which saw first year Chloe Truett (Owensboro, Ky.) making her ToC debut. She had a very lovely round, earning sixth place for team Lyons. Shortly after, senior Tori Fletcher (Branford, Conn.) made her ToC debut, entering the ring for team Paws and putting in a beautiful trip to finish just out of the ribbons.
Next in the ring was the first of the two flat phases of the ToC High Medal. Hearn returned to the ring to deliver a stunning ride, progressing to the jumping phase of the Medal. In the next class, Hearn entered the ring again, this time with a lovely ride in the first split of Open Flat, securing third place for team Lyons. Shortly after, Truett returned to the ring for the second flat section of the ToC High Medal, where she had an absolutely beautiful ride but was unfortunately not called back to the jumping phase.
The first section of Intermediate Flat followed, which saw senior Kristina Honour (Lake Forest, Ill.) of team Lyons have a strong ride, finishing just out of the ribbons. Next in the ring was the final section of Open Flat, where senior and manager Sierra Dunn (Florence, Mass.) secured sixth place for team Paws. Wrapping up the morning classes, junior Caroline Sullivan (Groton, Mass.) of team Paws had a beautiful ride in Intermediate Flat, unfortunately placing just out of the ribbons.
After a schooling break, classes resumed with two sections of Limit Fences. Sophomore Hayley Halloran (Lewes, Del.) made their ToC debut for team Paws, putting in a stunning ride to finish just out of the ribbons. In the second split, sophomore Emmie Mirarchi (Harvard, Mass.) entered the ring for team Lyons, making her ToC debut with a lovely ride to place third. Mirarchi returned to the ring for the first flat phase of the Low Medal, where she had an absolutely beautiful ride but was unfortunately not called back to the jumping phase.
First year Mara Downie (Holyoke, Mass.) entered the ring for her ToC debut. She put in a stunning ride, placing fourth for team Paws in Novice Flat. Next in the ring for team Paws was senior Hannah Brown (Portland, Ore.). She had a gorgeous ride for team Paws, placing fifth. First year Annastazia Zhang (Bradenton, Fla.) was next in the first section of Introductory Flat, also riding for team Paws. She made a beautiful ToC debut with a stunning ride, but unfortunately finished just out of the ribbons. In the second split of the Low Medal flat phase, Sullivan returned to the ring with a lovely ride, but was unfortunately not called back to the jumping phase.
Next in the ring was the second section of Introductory Flat, with two Mount Holyoke riders. Senior Hope Coss (Shoreline, Wash.) had a beautiful ride, with a fourth-place finish for team Lyons. Junior Shannon Feng (Beijing, China) had a stunning ride to finish first in her ToC debut, where she was filling in a spot for the University of South Carolina's team.
Junior Kristen Adolf (Moore, S.C.) was next in the ring for the second split of Limit Flat, with a lovely ride to finish in sixth-place for team Lyons. Also riding for team Lyons, sophomore Sunita Pearson-Siegel (Brooklyn, N.Y.) made her ToC debut in the last section of Novice Flat, riding beautifully to secure third place.
In the final class of the day, Hearn returned in the jumping phase of the High Medal. She had a wonderful round in a very competitive class. At the end of the day, Hearn was announced second place in the High Medal.
After losing the tie breaker, Mount Holyoke team Lyons finished up in eighth place out of 16 teams.
Final Team Results:
- Champion: Emory and Henry College
- Reserve Champion: Savannah College of Art and Design Team Gold
- 3rd: Miami University of Ohio
- 4th: Savannah College of Art and Design Team Black
- 5th: Hollins University
- 6th: Virginia Polytechnic Team Hokie Nation
- 7th: Goucher College
- 8th: Mount Holyoke College Team Lyons
High Medal Results:
- Champion: Courtney Wilson, Hollins University
- Reserve Champion: Sara Hearn, MHC
- 3rd: Camryn Lubner, University of South Carolina
- 4th: Miranda Leibstein, UMass Amherst
- 5th: Nina Eglund, St. Mary-of-the-Woods
- 6th: Cole Jackson, Goucher College
- 7th: Marcelene Leverett, Berry College
- 8th: Sarah Yandell, SCAD
Low Medal Results:
- Champion: Anna Royal, SCAD
- Reserve Champion: Brynn Hurley, SCAD
- 3rd: Natalie Desdow, Hollins University
- 4th: Maddie Rahe, Berry College
- 5th: Alexandria Russell, University of Lynchburg
- 6th: Elli Wilson, Miami University of Ohio
- 7th: Amelia Shook, University of South Carolina
- 8th: Sarah Schultheis, Goucher College
The MHC Hunt Seat team will kick off the regular season on Saturday, October 2 at Muddy Brook Farm, hosted by the Smith College equestrian team. Right now spectators are not allowed at our shows, but we are hoping that we will be permitted to have parents come to shows later this year.
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