Athens Academy sixth grader Morgan Griggs (on left) poses with coach Kristi Roberson after winning team future novice over cross-rails at IEA Nationals on April 21st. Athens Academy took the lead with Griggs' win but would finish as Reserve Champion via a tiebreaker with Storybook Farm.

EMPRESS EQUESTRIAN AND STORYBOOK FARM TAKE HOME CHAMPIONSHIPS AT 2012 IEA HUNT SEAT NATIONALS

Syracuse, NY - When the IEA started official competition in the fall of 2002 one hundred percent of the teams which competed were 'schools,' be they public, private or parochial. After several seasons the IEA began allowing 'barn teams,' or teams which were based out of a specific riding facility and not a traditional middle or high school. With this change there were a number of teams which could be described as 'barn/school hybrids' in that a facility may accomodate a specific school but also include some riders from other schools who happen to train at that facility. The 2011 upper school champion, Hopkins Academy/Biscuit Hill, was such a combination. Prior to the 2011-12 season only once had a pure 'barn team' won the upper school competition. Beckett Run Farm in the Cincinnati, Ohio area was the 2009 upper school champion.

In 2012 another Ohio 'barn team' won the top prize. Empress Equestrian, from the Columbus, Ohio area scored 24 points to win their first-ever IEA upper school team championship at IEA Nationals in Syracuse, New York April 20th through 22nd. Empress led early, then watched the Dana Hall School pull into a tie at 17-all going into the final class. Lauren Capaci of Empress, who had already won individual JV beginner on the flat then won team JV beginner to give Empress a healthy seven point victory.

Meanwhile the Middle School Championship was even closer. Athens Academy (from Athens, Georgia) led from the second team future class until the last. At that time Sophie Maverham of Storybook Farm Riding Team won future beginner on the flat to create a 17-all tie. Storybook won the tiebreaker based on the most blue ribbons (two). This appears to be the first time Storybook Farm (from John's Island, South Carolina) has won an IEA Team National Championship. Campus Equestrian is still trying to determine if this is the first season both champions were 'barn teams' and not affiliated with a specific school.

The IEA 'Leading Rider' award for 2012 Nationals went to Rebekah Chenelle of Windcrest Equestrian Team. Chenelle won the very first class of the day on Friday - individual open over fences; the final class of the day on Saturday - the varsity open championship class - and the first class of the day on Sunday - team open on the flat. A high school sophomore, Chenelle helped the Windcrest upper school team finish fifth overall (Windcrest Farm is located in Hebron, Connecticut). High school senior Lucy Hart of Select Equestrian in Kentucky, who had placed fourth in individual open over fences and seventh in individual open on the flat, was Reserve Champion behind Chenelle in Varsity Open Championship Class. The Varsity Open Championship Class determines the top IEA open rider for the season.

Other standout performances at 2012 Nationals came from high school junior Jorden Davis of Seven J's Farm (in Connecticut), who won team open over fences and finished second to Chenelle in team open flat; Jacob Pope of Greenway at Featherdown in Maryland, who was second to Chenelle in individual varsity over fences and third behind Hart and Chenelle in the varsity open championship class; and seventh grader Mackenzie Russ of Parkview Riding Center (in Patchogue, New York; on Long Island), who won both team and individual future novice on the flat while finishing second in both team and individual future novice over crossrails.

Myron Leff, the Communications Director for the IEA, received the Timothy J. Boone Lifetime Achievement Award. According to an IEA press release Leff "is credited with establishing the IEA identity through an industry-leading brand program." A co-founder of the IEA, Leff is the fifth individual to receive the award, following Wayne Ackerer, Sue Wentzel, Executive Director Roxane Lawrence and Timothy J. Boone, the first recipient for whom the award is named.

Other awards handed out included the Victor Hugo-Vidal Sportsmanship Award, which was given to Cody Wooton of Full Moon Farm (in Maryland); the Team Spirit Award, which went to the entire Full Moon Farm team; and the Leading Hunt Seat Horse, which went to "Clifford" who was provided by Cornell University. There was no leading Western Horse as the western portion of IEA Nationals will take place in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as part of the NRHA Derby this summer.

---Steve Maxwell

They both rode more than once at 2012 IHSA Nationals. Samantha Peck of Dana Hall's middle school team (on left) had just placed sixth in individual future intermediate over fences while teammate Sarah Taft (on right) was third in individual varsity intermediate over fences one class earlier. Both would fair better in team classes, with Peck second in team future intermediate on the flat and Taft second in team varsity intermediate over fences. The Dana Hall upper school team would earn the Reserve Championship.

(Campus Equestrian will expand this story to include additional information in the middle of the month of May - Editor).

The Class-by-Class Results from 2012 IEA Hunt Seat Nationals, held in the Toyota Coliseum at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, New York, listed in the order in which they were held. The Judges for all classes were Andrea Wells, Savannah, Georgia and George "Skip" Thornbury, Goshen, Ohio.

Friday, April 20th, 2012:

Individual Varsity Open Over Fences 2'6": 1. Rebekah Chenelle, Windcrest Equestrian Team. 2. Jacob Pope, Greenway at Featherdown. 3. Charlotte Clark, Willow Way. 4. Jassa Williams, Kensington Equestrian. 5. Lucy Hart, Select Equestrian. 6. Sierra Wilson, Sylvan Equestrian. 7. Annie Walters, Storybook Farm Riding Team. 8. Nicole Ridgeway, Crossroads East Valley Team.

Individual Varsity Intermediate Over Fences 2': 1. Angela Cammarata, Red Acre Equestrian Team. 2. Savanna Hajdasz, Windcrest Equestrian Team. 3. Sarah Taft, Dana Hall School. 4. Brette Tennison, Storybook Farm Riding Team. 5. Gabrielle Baker, Smoke Tree Farm. 6. Katarina Ivanovich, Monte Vista Equestrian Team. 7. Jacey Chorlton, Windcrest Equestrian Team. 8. Alexandra Grobman, Wall Street Farm Wellington.

Individual Future Intermediate Over Fences 2'. 1. Jaime Broeker, Butler - CTS. 2. Karoline E. Hankinson, Storybook Farm Riding Team. 3. Catie Williams, Stone Bridge Farm. 4. Madison Aguilar, Wall Street Farm Wellington. 5. Ashley Sprinkle, North Woods Equestrian. 6. Samantha Peck, Dana Hall School. 7. John Porter, End of Hunt. 8. Cassidy Rowley, Lake Effect Equestrian.

Individual Junior Varsity Novice Over Fences Cross-Rails: 1. Sabrina Liuzzo - Dornau, International Equestrian Center. 2. Taylor Ziegfeld, Garrison Forest School. 3. Sabina Kariat, Woodside Equestrian Center. 4. Catherine Cardon, Phoenix Rising. 5. Stephanie Graham, Cookeville, Cavaliers. 6. Julia Gruber, Showtime Stables Equestrian Team. 7. Maggie Walters, West Licking District. 8. Olivia Skaates, Empress Equestrian Team.

Individual Future Novice Over Fences Cross-Rails: 1. Hannah Pressler, Storybook Farm Riding Team. 2. Mackenzie Russ, Parkview Riding Center. 3. Hannah Pomeranz, Hopkins Academy - Biscuit Hill Team. 4. Teresa Medeiros, Four Winds Farm. 5. Hailey Berger, North Broward Prep. 6. Danielle Zeigfeld, Garrison Forest School. 7. Natalie Muller, White Rock Ranch. 8. Julie Pignataro, Sweet Hills Equestrian.

(Editor's Note: Two 'Heats' were held for seven individual flat divisions on Friday afternoon, with eight riders called back in each division after both heats were held for that specific division. Riders who were called back competed in the official classes on Saturday afternoon).

Saturday, April 21st, 2012:

Team Varsity Open Over Fences 2'6": 1. Jorden Davis, Seven J's Farm. 2. Francesca Stufano, Dana Hall School. 3. Ragen McGowan, Heritage Stables NY. 4. Savannah Fulton, Full Moon Farm. 5. Annie Walters, Storybook Farm Riding Team. 6. Justice Filimonuk, Beckett Run Equestrian Team. 7. Kaela, Harvey, Garrison Forest School. 8. Abigail Graham, Lewis - Palmer.

Team Varsity Intermediate Over Fences 2': 1. Abbey Swimm, Empress Equestrian Team. 2. Sarah Taft, Dana Hall School. 3. Emily Schmitt, Lewis - Palmer. 4. Natalie Thorpe, Storybook Riding Team. 5. Maren Nordhoy, Linden Hall. 6. Jacey Chorlton, Windcrest Equestrian Team. 7. Emily Arches, Full Moon Farm. 8. Sarah Merritt, Evermore Farm.

Team Future Intermediate Over Fences 2': 1. Jackie Watts, Garrison Forest School. 2. Skyllar Beckel, Willow Way. 3. Grace Bridges, Athens Academy. 4. Ashley Murray, Select Equestrian. 5. Emily Thayer, Lake Effect Equestrian. 6. Ariel Leshem, Avon Valley Show Stables. 7. Riley Bonis, Wall Street Farm Wellington. 8. Samantha Peck, Dana Hall School.

Team Junior Varsity Novice Over Fences Cross-Rails: 1. Caroline Myers, Linden Hall. 2. Olivia Skaates, Empress Equestrian Team. 3. Celeste Cook, Heritage Stables NY. 4. Rachel Bird, Evermore Farm. 5. Lauren Morency, Windcrest Equestrian Team. 6. Claire Chatellier, Millpond Farm Equestrian Team. 7. Megan Darby, Full Moon Farm. 8. Matt Drummond, Storybook Farm Riding Team.

Team Future Novice Over Fences Cross-Rails: 1. Morgan Griggs, Athens Academy. 2. Mackenzie Russ, Parkview Riding Center. 3. Megan Rajecki, Lake Effect Equestrian. 4. Anna Bradley Morrow, Storybook Farm Riding Team. 5. Courtney Roddy, Milton Eagles - Northwestern. 6. Rachel Long, North Woods Equestrian. 7. Morgan Maher, Century Mill Equestrian Team. 8. Haley Taft, Dana Hall School.

Individual Varsity Open On The Flat: 1. Sierra Wilson, Sylvan Equestrian Team. 2. McKenzie Canard, Foxcroft School VA. 3. Skylar Laakso, August Farm. 4. Kimberly O'Keefe, Hunter's Run. 5. Ragen McGowan, Heritage Stables NY. 6. Emily Caron, Wachusett Equestrian. 7. Lucy Hart, Select Equestrian. 8. Caroline Schutte, Buffalo Equestrian.

Individual Varsity Intermediate On The Flat: 1. Jackie Lundsted, Friendship Field. 2. Jo Phippin, Garrison Forest School. 3. Madeline Davis, Beckett Run Equestrian Team. 4. Cleo Mueller, Fountain Valley School. 5. Brooklin Kuipers, Creekside Farm. 6. Eleanora Heindel, White Rock Ranch. 7. Taylor Aguilar, Wall Street Farm Wellington. 8. Gabrielle Baker, Smoke Tree Farm.

Individual Future Intermediate On The Flat: 1. Hannah Janson, Windswept Farm. 2. Catherine Stafford, Sylvan Equestrian Team. 3. Kayla Lott, Elvenstar. 4. Emily Perkins, Stone Bridge Farm. 5. Samantha Rothman, Stonehaven Equestrian. 6. Ashley Armstrong, Huntcliff Equestrian Team. 7. Elizabeth Ekberg, Team Holly Hill MA. 8. Juliette Silvain, Volo Equestrian Team.

Individual Junior Varsity Novice On The Flat: 1. Tara Lombardi, Sandy Point Team. 2. Taylor Leigh, Showboat Equestrian Team. 3. Lauren Pippins, North Shore Equestrian Team. 4. Katie Ridge, Park Place. 5. Ariana Dibble, Alfred University Interscholastic Team. 6. Lauren Taylor, Stonehaven Equestrian. 7. Molly Gaskin, Full Moon Farm. 8. Elizabeth Douthat, Stone Bridge Farm.

Individual Future Novice On The Flat: 1. Mackenzie Russ, Parkview Riding Center. 2. Katie Hession, Red Acre Equestrian Team. 3. Eliza Rawl, Ashley Hall. 4. Abigail Bush, Avon Valley Show Stables. 5. Danielle Mcllquam, Southeastern Connecticut Equestrian. 6. Mikayla Bolonda, Herritage Stables NY. 7. Emily Moll, Childress Rodgers Stables. 8. Anna Harrison, Westminster School.

Individual Junior Varsity Beginner On The Flat: 1. Lauren Capaci, Empress Equestrian Team. 2. Emma Ellis, Somerville Stables Equestrian. 3. Juliana Kalinsky, Islandia Farms. 4. Haley Ruffner, Alfred University Interscholastic Team. 5. Bailey Villa, Double Deuce Farm Equestrian Team. 6. Lydia Liles, West Forsyth High School. 7. Alexandra Ashman, Garrison Forest School. 8. Rebecca Bueno, Slade Equestrian.

Individual Future Beginner On The Flat: 1. Caitlin Randberg, Parkview Riding Center. 2. Rory Davis, Full Moon Farm. 3. Ellie Whitehurst, Windy Oaks Farm. 4. Samantha Ross, Wall Street Farm Wellington. 5. Paxton Lewis, Empress Equestrian Team. 6. Sarah Baker, Century Mill Equestrian Team. 7. Nina Rotondo, Phoenix Rising. 8. Piper Augspurger, Beckett Run Equestrian Team.

Ten Year Anniversary IEA Alumni Championship Class: 1. Alison Joyce, Rising Star Equestrian Team. 2. Ariana Mato, Blue Water Equestrian Team. 3. Maureen Haffer, The Andrews School.

Varsity Open Championship: 1. Rebekah Chenelle, Windcrest Equestrian Team. 2. Lucy Hart, Select Equestrian. 3. Jacob Pope, Greenway At Featherdown. 4. McKenzie Canard, Foxcroft School VA. 5. Skylar Laakso, August Farm. 6. Kimberly O'Keefe, Hunter's Run. 7. Ragen McGowan, Heritage Stables NY. 8. Sierra Wilson, Sylvan Equestrian Team. 9. Charlotte Clark, Willow Way.

"Now that Jackie won I can get some sleep!" While the youngest member of the Jackie Lundsted fan club (someplace on the right-hand side of the picture) may not have said this she did doze off after Lundsted (in riding apparel) won individual varsity intermediate on the flat. A high school sophomore showing for Friendship Field (from New Hampshire), Lundsted was one of 12 riders to win an individual class at 2012 IEA Nationals. Coach Melissa Barden (back row, second on left) indicated that the Friendship Field program is in its' second season of IEA competition.

Sunday, April 22nd, 2012:

Team Varsity Open On The Flat: 1. Rebekah Chenelle, Windcrest Equestrian Team. 2. Jorden Davis, Seven J's Farm. 3. Catherine DiPietro, Garrison Forest School. 4. Annie Walters, Storybook Farm Riding Team. 5. Ragen McGowan, Heritage Stables NY. 6. Mackenzie Majeskie, Linden Hall. 7. Emily Ryan, Lewis - Palmer. 8. Zellie Wothers, Full Moon Farm.

Team Varsity Intermediate On The Flat: 1. Gabby Steinhardt, Garrison Forest School. 2. Taylor Cheeseman, West Licking District. 3. Madi Selvy, Evermore Farm. 4. Chloe Howes, Concord Equestrian Team. 5. Madeline Davis, Beckett Run Equestrian Team. 6. Savanna Hajdasz, Windcrest Equestrian Team. 7. Brette Tennison, Storybook Farm Riding Team. 8. Morgan Wooton, Full Moon Farm.

Team Future Intermediate On The Flat: 1. Darby Pease, Storybook Farm Riding Team. 2. Samantha Peck, Dana Hall School. 3. Catherine Stafford, Sylvan Equestrian Team. 4. Grace Bridges, Athens Academy. 5. Francis Lamas, Wall Street Farm Wellington. 6. Ashley Murray, Select Equestrian. 7. Gabi Sorrentino, Garrison Forest School. 8. Kendra Duggleby, TAPS Equestrians.

Team Junior Varsity Novice On The Flat: 1. Alexa Casale, Dana Hall School. 2. Madeline Pierce, Empress Equestrian Team. 3. Molly Gaskin, Full Moon Farm. 4. Taylor Leigh, Showboat Equestrian Team. 5. Danielle Kay, Stanford Red Barn. 6. Tessa James, Concord Equestrian Team. 7. Stephanie Consoli, Seven J's Farm. 8. Reagan Lent, West Licking District.

Team Future Novice On The Flat: 1. Mackenzie Russ, Parkview Riding Center. 2. Judith Ross, Sylvan Equestrian Team. 3. Emily Gilbert, Concord Equestrian Team. 4. Rebecca Ragan, Wall Street Farm Wellington. 5. Brooke Lawrence, Carolina Country Acres. 6. Madison Hockersmith, TAPS Equestrians. 7. Mattie Harden, Birmingham Interscholastic Team. 8. Hannah Pressler, Storybook Farm Riding Team.

Team Junior Varsity Beginner On The Flat: 1. Lauren Capaci, Empress Equestrian Team. 2. Olivia Chen, Concord Equestrian Team. 3. Laura Straus, Garrison Forest School. 4. Charlotte Pinckney, Storybook Farm Riding Team. 5. Alexandra Doran, West Licking District. 6. Courtney Ann Broderick, Stanford Red Barn. 7. Lauren Stringer, Evermore Farm. 8. Alyssa Kelly, Full Moon Farm.

Team Future Beginner On The Flat: 1. Sophie Maverham, Storybook Farm Riding Team. 2. Abigail (Abey) Klotz, White Rock Ranch. 3. Sarah Ebell, Dana Hall School. 4. Katie Phillips, Athens Academy. 5. Sarah Baker, Century Mill Equestrian Team. 6. Hannah Casey, Sylvan Equestrian Team. 7. Lauren Gierlak, Lake Effect Equestrian Team. 8. Hannah Slone, Select Equestrian.

Final Hunt Seat Upper School Team Totals: Empress Equestrian Team (National Champion) 24; Dana Hall School (Reserve National Champion) 17; Garrison Forest School 15; Seven J's Farm 12; Windcrest Equestrian Team 11; Storybook Farm Riding Team 11; Linden Hall 10; Heritage Stables NY 10; Concord Equestrian Team 9; West Licking District 7; Full Moon Farm 7; Evermore Farm 7; Lewis - Palmer 4; Showboat Equestrian Team 3; Beckett Run Equestrian Team 3; Stanford Red Barn 3; Millpond Farm Equestrian Team 1; Ackerer Equestrian Team 0 and Alfred University Interscholastic Team 0.

Final Hunt Seat Middle School Team Totals: Storybook Farm Riding Team (National Champion - won tiebreaker which is the most blue ribbons) 17; Athens Academy (Reserve National Champion) 17; Parkview Riding Center 12; Sylvan Equestrian Team 10; Dana Hall School 9; Garrison Forest School 7; Lake Effect Equestrian 6; Willow Way 5; White Rock Ranch 5; Wall Street Farm Wellington 5; Concord Equestrian Team 4; Select Equestrian 4; Northwestern - Milton Eagles 2; Carolina Country Acres 2; Century Mill Equestrian Team 2; Avon Valley Show Stables 1; North Woods Equestrian 1; TAPS Equestrian 1 and Birmingham Interscholastic Team 0.