From left to right are assistant coach Eileen McNamara, Meghan Kaupp, Carly Corbacho, Leal Morehouse and Sarah Broadbent of Boston University following the Wheaton/Tufts/Curry show on October 6th. As high point team the Terriers received some DVD's (McNamara is holding "Grease" while Kaupp has "Mean Girls") and some snacks to watch the movies with. And after two days of showing BU was in first place overall as a bonus.

BOSTON UNIVERSITY CLAIMS HIGH POINT TEAM, RIDER HONORS AT WALNUT HILL

Plainville, MA - It was a soggy day as Walnut Hill Farm played host to an IHSA show for the first time on October 6th. All the flat classes were held indoors while riders took to a well-groomed jumping ring outdoors though as luck would have it some rode in better conditions than others. When it was over Boston University won the second show in two days, edging Tufts University 40-39.

Though the program listed the open fences class as the first of the day the weather forced major changes to the order of classes. Instead open flat started the morning, with Carly Corbacho (junior, from Boston, Massachusetts) winning the first section for Boston University. Three classes later Leal Morehouse (sophomore, Westport, Connecticut) would win the second section of intermediate flat for the Terriers. Daniel Herbick (junior, Washington, DC) won section 3C of novice flat to keep BU in the blue ribbons through each division held so far. Nicole Vee was a winner in advanced walk-trot-canter as the divisions went from open flat down through walk-trot. After the lunch break Morehouse won her intermediate fences to qualify for what turned out to be a question-and-answer session with Judge Joe Dotoli instead of a ride-off for high point. Meghan Kaupp (in open fences), Corbacho (same), Claire Bornstein (in novice fences), Herbick (same) and Kaitlyn Jones (in walk-trot) added red ribbons to the pile as the Terriers finished the weekend in first place overall. Corbacho's 12 points for the day gave her 20 for the weekend, leaving her tied for first place in the Zone 1, Region 4 open rider standings.

Co-host Tufts University received as many blue ribbons as BU but missed out by a smidgen on the top prize. Tufts was especially strong in novice flat, winning three of the five sections. Emily Zhang (sophomore, Bejing, China), Dorothy Kafka and Allison Aronson were the novice flat winners, with Aronson achieving this in her first-ever IHSA ride. Daryl Cooley (senior, Amherst, Massachusetts) had provided the Jumbos with their first blue ribbon of the day in intermediate flat while Lucy Gerhart (freshman, Albuquerque, New Mexico) won the third and final section of open fences which concluded the riding at today's show. Ann Bellinger (in novice fences), Ally Boxer (in intermediate fences) and Gerhart (in open flat) were red ribbon winners for Tufts. Gerhart also scored 20 points over two days and thus tied Corbacho for the lead in the Region 4 open rider standings.

From Montclair, New Jersey, Tufts University freshman Allison Aronson poses with her parents after her novice fences ride. Earlier Aronson won her IHSA debut, which was in novice flat. Tufts finished the day with 39 points and reserve high point team honors a point behind the Terriers.

Brandeis University brought ten riders yet three of them covered six divisions. Of these three Tori Allen (junior, Haydenville, Massachusetts) won both of her intermediate classes to account for 14 of third-place Brandeis' 34 points. Grace Kwon (sophomore, Ridgewood, New Jersey) was a winner in walk-trot for the Judge's only other blue ribbon of the day. Michelle Oberman and Karina Patino were second in their sections of advanced walk-trot-canter, a division in which Brandeis had five riders entered across four sections.

Just as Tufts finished a point behind Boston University, Wellesley College finished a point behind Brandeis with 33. Rebecca Schwartz of the Blue was printed into the program as a beginner walk-trot-canter entry but by pointing up the previous day Schwartz was instead part of the first advanced walk-trot-canter class. Schwartz won her advanced debut while Lily Kim won the third section of walk-trot. Callan Roberts was second in intermediate flat while Shira Bleicher was second in novice fences.

The final team to score 30 or more points on October 6th was Boston College. A highlight of the Eagles 31 point output was their beginner and advanced walk-trot-canter riders ability to go undefeated for the day. Michelle Kornak won her advanced WTC while Elise Bailey won her beginner WTC while no other BC riders were entered over the other four combined walk-trot-canter sections. Katie Nowak (junior, Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan) won her open flat earlier while Kate Stento (junior, Wellesley, Massachusetts) won her open fences later. Liz Doherty was second to Morehouse in intermediate flat for the Eagles only red ribbon of the day. Unlike the four schools which outscored them Boston College did not have a full point card, showing today with a rider in intermediate fences.

Though she is seen here after her open flat ride, Kate Stento of Boston College (on left, with Eagles coach Beth Gold) won her open fences classes on both October 5th and 6th and therefore is halfway to Regionals in the division at a very early date. BC scored 31 points for fifth place on October 6th without an intermediate fences rider.

A change in the points following the October 5th Brandeis show temporarily put Stonehill College in first. The Sky Hawks were only sixth on the 6th with 28 points through the school from Easton, Massachusetts was no stranger to the top two that day. Kayleigh McDonnell (junior, Rutland, Vermont) won Stonehill's only blue ribbon of the day with a first in novice fences while open rider Danielle Franchi was second on two occasions. Sara Kelly (in intermediate flat), Rachel Fox (intermediate fences) and Caitlin Wright (beginner walk-trot-canter) also placed second in their respective divisions.

Mount Ida College waited until the 24th class of the day for their first blue ribbon. Deanne Beaulieu won the third section of novice fences while teammate Kayla Perry (junior, Townsend, Massachusetts) won section 4D a short time later. Taylor Chamberlain (advanced walk-trot-canter) and Chalanda Mendez (walk-trot) won red ribbons as Mount Ida scored 25 points without an intermediate flat rider.

Co-host Curry College was the last team into the 20's, scoring 21 for eighth place. Emma Ripatrazone (junior, Pembroke, Massachusetts) won her open fences and finished the weekend second in the Region 4 open rider standings with 18 points. The Colonals managed three red ribbons, thanks to Kaitlyn Longchamp (novice flat), Jamie DeBenedictis (beginner walk-trot-canter) and Lindsey Porter (walk-trot). Like so many other schools Curry was just shy of a full card, needing only an intermediate flat rider.

From Medfield, Massachusetts, Deanne "D" Beaulieu (third on left) isn't sure if her credits make her a sophomore or a junior. The former Otterbein University rider was a blue ribbon winner for Mount Ida College on October 6th, with her first in novice fences also Mount Ida's first time winning a class that day. In the next section of novice fences teammate Kayla Perry (third on right) also won.

Northeastern University was one of two teams to make their IHSA debut this weekend. In what will go down as one of the greatest debuts in IHSA history the Huskies had a full card at August Farm on October 5th. After a few adjustments were made to the points overnight it turned out that Northeastern was Reserve High Point Team in their very first IHSA hunter seat show! According to Northeastern junior Lauren Keogh (who rode for Fairfield University a few seasons back and because of this pointed out of advanced walk-trot-canter on the 5th) there were two separate proposals sent in to club sports. One proposal came from walk-trot-canter rider Jamie Longo while the other came from Shannon Kaupp, whose sister Meghan rides for Boston University. Someone at club sports then put both parties together and the team was officially born.

While we are unsure what the points totals were for any of the teams on October 5th we can tell you that Northeastern was human on the 6th. The Huskies were without a rider in open flat and Keogh in fact was their only rider to place inside the top two. Keogh was second in her debut at the novice flat level while teammate Kaupp was third in open fences. This marked the first time that Shannon Kaupp and Meghan Kaupp rode head-to-head in the same section of a class at an IHSA show. Meghan, a year older, placed second. Northeastern finished the day with 17 points.

Though Worcester State University did field a team at some point prior to 1996 their first appearance at an IHSA show in the 21st century was last October. A year later Worcester State has a new head coach (John Lindstedt), a new assistant coach (Tamara Johnston) and riders in each division from novice down. The Lancers can claim even more blue ribbons on October 6th than Stonehill. Emily Fee (in walk-trot), Shannon Keith (in beginner walk-trot-canter) and Katelyn Chevalier (in advanced walk-trot-canter) were all blue ribbon winners for Worcester State. A junior from Belchertown, Massachusetts Chevalier won on Saturday as well, keeping her undefeated so far in 2013-14. Senior and co-captain Megean Mulcahy's fifth in novice fences made her another of the early season Region 4 regional qualifiers. Worcester State finished the day with 16 points.

Seen here with coach Kate Bobola, Tori Allen of Brandeis University (on right) won both of her intermediate classes to become one of only two riders at today's show to qualify for a ride-off. However the tie was broken with a question-and-answer session rather than any riding.

Bentley University was competing in their second-ever IHSA show. With only four riders present the Falcons scored 13 points, more than two teams with a few years of IHSA showing under their belts. Cassidie Cade, a junior from Middlefield, Connecticut, was second in advanced walk-trot-canter to lead Bentley. The Falcons had at least one rider in every division except intermediate fences and the open divisions.

Bridgewater State University scored 11 points. Geena Biodi and Andrea Demeo were second in consecutive sections of novice flat. A junior from Pembroke, Massachusetts, Biodi qualified for Regionals in the division. BSU (who until recently were BSC) had riders in all but the open and intermediate divisions.

Rounding out the points totals was one of the three co-hosts, Wheaton College. The Lyons scored ten points and even won two classes. Emilie Rose, a junior from Harpswell, Maine won her novice fences while Allegra Kurtz-Rossi (junior, Medford, Massachusetts) was a winner in novice flat. Like many of the schools Wheaton had a rider in every division from novice down.

From Pittsford, New York come the Kaupp sisters. Meghan (on left) is a junior at Boston University while Shannon is a sophomore on the brand-new Northeastern University team. Shannon's team had no IHSA history of any kind when Northeastern showed for the first time on October 5th but incredibly the Huskies outscored the Terriers on opening day. A day later when this photo was taken Meghan was second while Shannon was third in the same section of open fences. And Boston University won the show and leads not only Northeastern but the entire region headed into the October 26th show co-hosted by the Terriers.

Through two days of showing seven alumni have come out to compete in Zone 1, Region 4. The most consistant of these riders has been Tufts graduate and current Jumbos coach Katie Schaaf. Schaaf placed second in all four of her classes this weekend which does not give her an outright lead in either the alumni flat or alumni fences totals. Former University of Connecticut rider Brittany McLaughlin won her alumni fences on October 6th and holds an 11-10 lead over Schaaf in the division. Former Mount Ida College rider Allison Schaitman won the alumni flat on the 6th and moved into a three-way tie atop the Region 4 alumni flat standings. Lebanon Valley College graduate Sarah Bechtel was driving from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania and New Jersey to show alumni in her old region last season. This season Bechtel is showing alumni near her current residence and is tied with Schaitman and Schaaf at ten points each in alumni flat (footnote: Both Bechtel and Keogh of Northeastern have trained with Schaaf at some point prior to the start of this season). Other alumni showing so far are 2013 Curry graduate Katelyn O'Toole, 2012 Lebanon Valley College graduate (and former teammate of Bechtel) Katherine Cusick and Bridgewater State alum Colleen Reid. Reid was the only member of this group not to show on the 6th but she was a winner in alumni fences on the 5th.

The Ride-Off: The over fences classes took part in the rain for the most part, with some riders having to compete in more of it than others. By the time the final jumping class was over it was logical not to head back into the indoor for a ride-off but instead do a question-and-answer with judge Joe Dotoli (who filled in for Fred Hunt at the last minute). Morehouse apparently had better answers than Allen and was choosen as the high point rider for the day.

A really nice place: When the weather is good at some future IHSA show Walnut Hill Farm will be appreciated even more, as anyone who sits on the hill looking down upon the outdoor rings can see beyond down into the valley and up the rolling hills in the distance. There was considerable room on one end of the indoor for all 13 teams to set up shop (by that I mean set up chairs, get out food, leave riding clothes strewn about, etc) and it was certainly a good arena in which to watch a show.

Everybody's doing it!: Region 4 now has the most actual teams of any New England-based IHSA region with 13. It was not all that long ago that UMass-Lowell, MIT and Harvard fielded teams, indicating that the Boston area continues to be a hotbed for IHSA growth even without those programs.

--Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Cloudy skies with rain most of the day. Temperatures in the low '60's. Flat classes held indoors. Start time: 9:13AM. Finish: 3:57PM - includes 52 minute lunch/schooling break. Coaches and Captains meeting held prior to start of show. Point cards posted in this region?: Yes. Alumni Classes held in this region? Yes. Judge: Joe Dottoli. Stewards: Bobola/Brandeis University, Mitchell/Wellesley College and Redquest/Stonehill College.

Team Totals: Boston University (High Point Team) 40; Tufts University (Reserve) 39; Brandeis University 34; Wellesley College 33; Boston College 31; Stonehill College 28; Mount Ida College 25; Curry College 21; Northeastern University 17; Worcester State University 16; Bentley University 13; Bridgewater State University 11 and Wheaton College 10.

High Point Rider - Leal Morehouse, Boston University
Reserve High Point Rider - Tori Allen, Brandeis University