This happens all the time on the red carpet! Mount Holyoke College teammates Margaret Swanson (on left) and Elizabeth Tripp model the same jacket on November 7th. During that day Tripp won in open flat while Swanson won intermediate flat and eventually earned Reserve High Point Rider honors. The host Lyons scored a season-high 46 points to win for the third time in four 2009-10 competitions.

MOUNT HOLYOKE WINS AT HOME; SCEATS TAKES LEAD IN OPEN RIDER STANDINGS

South Hadley, MA - Two seasons ago Mount Holyoke College went into their fall home show with a 12 point lead on the University of Massachusetts. On that occasion the Minutemen won by 14 to move ahead. The Lyons never did catch up and UMass sent a full team to Zones (and later to Nationals) for the first time in 12 years.

Fast forward to October 24th of this year and UMass scores a 47-41 win at the Amherst College show to move within a point of Mount Holyoke headed into the Lyons' home show. Trailing by only 121-120, the Minutemen knew from a psychological point of view that a win at Mount Holyoke (in the fourth of seven scheduled Region 3 Regular Season shows) would be huge in making the race for high point team that much more in doubt.

While the Minutemen held their own through the open and intermediate fences divisions on November 7th, the host Lyons were able to sweep the novice fences and open flat which followed. By the end of the day Mount Holyoke riders had won 14 of the 25 undergraduate classes, with open rider Lindsay Sceats earning a pair of blue ribbons. The Lyons nearly equaled UMass's total two weeks earlier, settling for a 46-35 win to climb twelve points ahead in the Region 3 hunter seat team race.

Her Father (on left) and Grandfather were on hand to see her win and point into novice. From Longmeadow, Massachusetts, University of Massachusetts at Amherst junior Sarah Dickstein (center) won the second of three sections of advanced walk-trot-canter. Dickstein's win snapped Mount Holyoke's streak of six consecutive wins in undergraduate classes at the time.

Sceats, a junior from Colorado Springs, Colorado also took over the lead in the Region 3 hunter seat open rider standings. Others to win blue ribbons for the Lyons were Elizabeth Tripp (junior; Rutland, Massachusetts, in open flat), Margaret Swanson (sophomore; Woodbridge, Connecticut, in intermediate flat), Allison O'Neill (freshman; Windsor, Connecticut, also in intermediate flat), Jordan McMullen (sophomore; Clinton, New Jersey, in novice flat), Jacqueline Knutson (class and hometown unknown, also in novice flat), Clara Tate (freshman; Piedmont, California, in novice fences), Sally Gibb (freshman; Princeton, New Jersey, also in novice fences), Tara Bliss (senior; Annapolis, Maryland, rounding out the sweep of novice fences), Amanda Ross (junior; Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, in advanced walk-trot-canter), Belinda Wenke (junior; Woodbridge, Connecticut - who went to the same high school as Swanson - in walk-trot), Paulina Erni (freshman; Cresskill, New Jersey, also in walk-trot) and Jessica Law, the daughter of Mount Holyoke Head Coach C.J. Law, earning her first-ever IHSA blue ribbon in beginner walk-trot-canter (Campus Equestrian is trying to determine if any IHSA rider has ever been able to claim their Mother has coached her team to three IHSA National Hunter Seat Team Championships, aside from Jessica Law of course - Editor). In addition Mount Holyoke riders accounted for five red ribbons, including one for Swanson in intermediate fences.

UMass riders accounted for five blue and nine red ribbons. Catherine Adams, a sophomore from Longmeadow, Massachusetts who previously attended Johnson & Wales University, won her intermediate fences while placing second in intermediate flat to join Swanson in a ride-off for reserve. Karie Searls (freshman; Coralville, Iowa, in novice flat), Bree Leyer (sophomore; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, also in novice flat), Sarah Dickstein (junior; Longmeadow, Massachusetts, in advanced walk-trot-canter) and Chelsea Guptill (freshman; Vinalhaven, Maine, in walk-trot) won the remaining blue ribbons for the Minutemen. Red ribbon winners were Kate Lawrence (in open fences), Alex Reissig (same), Lauren Kolodzinski (intermediat flat), Meaghan Laprade (novice flat and fences), Hannah Meunier (beginner walk-trot-canter), Abigail Getner (same), Sara Collins (walk-trot) and Adams. With Dickstein pointing into novice with her win UMass now has eight riders qualified for Regionals (nine rides), the most of any Region 3 school headed into the winter break.

Holy Cross narrowly earned third place honors for the day. Leading the way for the Crusaders was open rider Lauren Duffee. A senior from Stoneham, Massachusetts, Duffee won her open fences to start the day and later placed fourth in open flat. Also winning a blue ribbon for Holy Cross was Jennie Williams. A freshman from Marlborough, Massachusetts, Williams' first in advanced walk-trot-canter was also her first-ever IHSA blue ribbon. Holy Cross scored 22 points despite not having riders entered in intermediate flat or walk-trot at today's show.

From New Haven, Connecticut, Smith freshman Laura Clampitt (on right, with Head Coach Sue Payne) won the final official class of the day, placing first in the third section of beginner walk-trot-canter. The Pioneers finished fourth for the day with 21 points while moving from fifth to fourth overall in the Region 3 team standings.

Smith College finished only one point behind the Crusaders, scoring 21 points to take fourth place. A pair of freshman earned the Pioneers' top ribbons as Caitlin Hunter (from Downingtown, Pennsylvania) won her intermediate fences while Laura Clampitt (from New Haven, Connecticut) won the section of begginer walk-trot-canter prior to the ride-off for reserve. Abigail Milnor-Sweetser (in novice flat) and Julia Shin (in walk-trot) earned red ribbons for Smith.

Though Williams College did not earn any blue ribbons on this day, the Ephs scored 19 points to earn fifth place honors for the day. Through 22 undergraduate classes Sophie Mason (in intermediate fences) and Laura Ting (in open flat) had the Ephs' best ribbon with thirds. However Vera Cecelski, a freshman from Durham, North Carolina who was making her IHSA debut was second in the first of three sections of beginner walk-trot-canter to earn Williams best ribbon of the day. Boasting a full point card the Ephs go into the winter break in sixth place overall with 89 points.

Both the Crusaders and Pioneers overtook Becker College in the team standings. However the Hawks earned 18 points and essentially had the best mixed blue/red ribbon day of anyone save for Mount Holyoke and UMass. Laurel Venoit was a red ribbon winner in novice fences before the jumps came down while Kelsey Hanrahan was second in advanced walk-trot-canter after the jumps were removed. Freshman Brittany Martin rode in her first IHSA show and placed second to Williams in a later section of advanced walk-trot-canter. Angela Bernier, a sophomore from Putnam, Connecticut finally brought home the blue with a first in intermediate flat while Jessica Banta, a junior from Winthrop, Maine competing in her first IHSA season won her second blue ribbon in four shows to edge out Cecelski in beginner walk-trot-canter. Throw in four yellow ribbons and you have the makings of a good day that didn't exactly show up on the scoreboard. Still the Hawks sit only a point behind Smith and two points behind Holy Cross in what is shaping up to be a great race for third.

From left to right are Emily Gibson, Laurel Venoit (in a jacket that says "Jen" on it), Angela Bernier and Rachel Carter of Becker College. Bernier won the first of two blue ribbons for the Hawks by virtue of placing ahead of seven other riders in the second section of intermediate flat. Becker now trails Holy Cross by two and Smith by a point for third place overall.

Amherst College was next with 13 points. The Jeffs did not place a rider in the top six until the thirteenth undergraduate class of the day, when Elan Riggs was third in the first of three sections of walk-trot. Eight classes later Rebecca Hollander earned the best ribbon of the day for Amherst. A junior from Englewood, New Jersey, Hollander was second in the third of three novice flat classes.

A pair of teams scored 12 points, with one a program enjoying their first season of IHSA competition. Assumption College, coached by former Clark University coach Greg LaPlace, actually had an equestrian club on campus since 2004 but only signed up for IHSA competition in fall 2009. Assumption scored 20 points at the Smith show on October 10th, currently their high score. So far their most consistant rider has been walk-trotter Maryellen Casey. A junior from Chumsford, Massachusetts, Casey was second to Wenke in walk-trot today, the first time she did not receive a blue ribbon. Jennie Brook had Assumption's only other top three placing, a third in novice flat. Save for an open rider, Assumption can fill the rest of their point card.

Springfield College also scored 12 points. Leading the way for the Pride was sophomore Natalie Rolince, who was accidentally printed into today's program as having already pointed into open fences. Correctly moved into section 6B of intermediate fences, the Attaboro, Massachusetts resident was second to Adams and did point into open with that red ribbon. Laurie Jenkins earned Springfields' only other top three placing, a yellow ribbon in beginner walk-trot-canter.

Westfield State College scored eight points. MacKenzie Hennessey earned a combined ten points individually, placing second in both her intermediate flat and novice fences classes. Senior and Captain Meagan Mulroy was third in advanced walk-trot-canter.

It was the final IHSA show for Westfield State senior Andrew Collier (on left). It was perhaps the fourth show for freshman teammate MacKenzie Hennessey (on right). Both competed in the same section of novice fences, with Hennessey having the better round and a second. Owls Head Coach Fran Cross poses with both afterward. Hennessey would also place second in intermediate flat a short time later.

Clark University had riders entered in three divisions and finished the day with three points. Kara MacLean earned Clark's best ribbon of the day with a third in advanced walk-trot-canter though Aidan Weeks probably earned all three team points with a fourth in novice fences.

Rounding out the scoring was Landmark College. Landmark added one point to their current total of four, with Liz Ahern sixth in walk-trot, Isabel Zellmann-Rorher sixth in beginner walk-trot-canter and Claire Dicker, a freshman from Livingston, New Jersey earning the top Landmark ribbon for the day with a fifth in beginner walk-trot-canter.

Layne on the road to first place: 2009 Johnson & Wales graduate Nikki Layne won both of the alumni classes at today's show, taking the overall lead in alumni fences with 19 points. 1989 Mount Holyoke graduate and Becker Head Coach Trina Baker leads the alumni flat overall by 18-17 over 2002 Smith graduate Claire Hey. Baker was third on the flat and second over fences while Hey was fifth on the flat and fourth over fences. 2008 Smith graduate Elizabeth "Lizzy" Jacobson is now also a Smith Assistant Coach! Jacobson was fourth on the flat and third over fences and sits in second place over the jumps three points behind Layne. Tyler Hotchkiss, who rode for St. Lawrence University 2000-2002 competed in only her second set of alumni classes and placed second on the flat and fifth over fences. 2005 Moravian College graduate Ashley Garrett was sixth in both divisions. 2009 Springfield alum Heather Kelly flatted only and received the reserve ribbon.

The Ride-Off: With Sceats the only rider with two firsts Adams and Swanson took part in a ride-off for the reserve ribbon. When both were finished competing Judge Patti Harnois asked both riders what they thought were the strenths and weeknesses of their rides. It is not clear if this question-and-answer portion of the ride-off changed the result, but when it was truly over Swanson was awarded the reserve ribbon.

Though Lindsay Sceats (not pictured) of Mount Holyoke passed her in the open rider standings today, Holy Cross senior Lauren Duffee (on left) trails by only three points with three spring shows still to come. Head Coach Frank Perla (on right) has the Crusaders ahead at the break in a close race for third place.

The class between section 2aC of beginner walk-trot-canter and the Ride-Off: Many may not know it, but Zone 1 has three teams which officially show Western. Though the University of Connecticut is in a different region, the Huskies compete against Mount Holyoke and UMass in a small western region. Several shows took place last season, and at least one western show has taken place in 2009-10. At today's hunter seat show there was an exhibition class to show everyone what Intermediate Western Horsemanship looks like. Five riders (three from Mount Holyoke and two from Becker, the latter of which has yet to officially show western) made up the division, which was held before the ride-off. Several schools which had no incentive to stay for the division did in fact have a look. The results were announced in reverse order (as was the case throughout the day): Elissa Evans of Becker in fifth, Julie Keating of Becker in fourth, Sarah Zabek of Mount Holyoke third, Jacqueline Knutson of Mount Holyoke second and Amanda Ross, like Knutson a blue ribbon winner earlier in hunter seat, the individual intermediate western horsemanship champion.

Thanks for the mention: She won the individual walk-trot at 2004 IHSA Nationals in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Since then Mount Holyoke graduate Sara Royston has returned to serve as the Public Address Announcer at many Mount Holyoke shows including today's. While she reads the results in a fairly serious manner (and will leave no stone unturned when telling an audience to hold their applause in the presence of certain skittish horses), Royston's banter over the PA during schooling and other breaks should be taped for posterity. It is amazing people don't fall off their horses laughing at some of the things Royston ad-libs. She was kind enough to mention Campus Equestrian over the PA at one point, implying that the site is not only great but that several riders (whom she named) check it five or six times a day, even getting up in the middle of the night to do so! We might do a separate story on Royston's announcing at a future show as it might be better than the story on the horse show itself!

A Great Open Rider Race: You almost feel sorry for whomever does not advance to the Cacchione class at Nationals from the current group of Region 3 open riders because they are so good! Sceats leads Duffee by a 46-43 margin, while 2008 Cacchione qualifier Lawrence is third with 37. Her UMass teammate Amanda D'Entremont is fourth with 34, while Tracy Mack of Mount Holyoke has 29 and Nicole Haseltine of Smith 28. All six of these riders could capture high point open rider honors in half the IHSA regions. However geography and fate put them all together in Central & Western Massachusetts (and yes Landmark, southernmost Vermont). Unlike her first two seasons in the IHSA Duffee has yet to miss an IHSA show this season (New England Finals fell on a weekend without a Region 3 show this October), which is also helping Holy Cross make a run at their finest season ever. Hopefully the race for the Cacchione goes down to the final open class, as it would almost be a shame if someone broke away from the pack.

---Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Sunny skies with temperatures eventually reaching the low '50's. Entire show held indoors. Start time: 8:58AM. Finish: 3:42PM - includes a 27 minute break to remove jumps from the middle of the ring (Coaches and Captains meeting held prior to start of show). Point Cards posted in this region? No. Alumni Classes held in this region? Yes. Judge: Patti Harnois, Marstons Mills, MA. Stewards: Baker/Becker College, Perla/College of the Holy Cross and Payne/Smith College.

Team Totals: Mount Holyoke College (High Point Team) 46; University of Massachusetts at Amherst (Reserve High Point Team) 35; College of the Holy Cross 22; Smith College 21; Williams College 19; Becker College 18; Amherst College 13; Assumption College 12; Springfield College 12; Hampshire College 10; Westfield State College 8; Clark University 3 and Landmark College 1.

High Point Rider - Lindsay Sceats, Mount Holyoke College
Reserve High Point Rider - Margaret Swanson, Mount Holyoke College