From left to right are Catherine Read, Jennie Lewis, Jordan Hillier, Head Coach and alumni rider Amy Kriwitsky, Sarah Coleman and Jen Swain of Trinity College. Each of these riders showed in both novice divisions on October 16th, with Swain, Coleman and Lewis each claiming at least one blue ribbon. The Bantams scored 35 points to take Reserve High Point Team honors that day.

SACRED HEART WINS TO MOVE INTO FIRST PLACE

Bethany, CT - Ten Teams. 34 Undergraduate Classes. Two Alumni Classes. A full day in the life of what has become the unpredictable Zone 2, Region 5. And on October 16th a third team in as many weekends earned the top prize.

At the first 2011-12 show on October 2nd host Connecticut College tied the University of Connecticut for high point team honors, as both schools earned 34 points. Sacred Heart University was close with 32. A week later Post University hosted, with Trinity University winning 36-35 over Central Connecticut State University. Fairfield University earned 31 while both host Post and Sacred Heart were next with 30 each.

Then came today's show at River's Edge Farm in Bethany, with Yale University and Sacred Heart University co-hosting the festivities. When the marathon was over (not to mention the Relay Race held in the middle of the day) Sacred Heart had not only won for the first time in 2011-12 the Pioneers scored the most points thus far this season of any Region 5 team (41) and moved into outright possession of first place. This marks the first time in the 20-year history of the Sacred Heart program that the Pioneers have led their region three or more shows into an IHSA season.

The Pioneers did most of their damage in the lower levels, earning six of their eight blue ribbons at the novice level and below. Allison "Allie" Buccos, a sophomore from East Moriches, New York won her novice flat while placing second in novice fences to point out of both novice divisions. Abbie Britton, a senior from Hoover, Alabama was the first Pioneer to win a class, coming in first in the final section of open flat while placing third in open fences. Alison Brosky also earned a first and a third. The freshman from Manhasset, New York proved she is human, for after winning her novice fences Brosky's third in novice flat was her first time out of the blue in five IHSA rides to date. Other Sacred Heart blue ribbon winners were Alissa Normandeau (sophomore, from Wilbraham, Massachusetts) in intermediate flat, Danielle Belson (sophomore, from Westhampton Beach, New York) in advanced walk-trot-canter, Sara Scorpa (freshman, from Lanesboro, Massachusetts) also in advanced walk-trot-canter, Cortney Sevigny (freshman, Thompson, Connecticut) in novice fences and Taylor DiBella (freshman, Holmdel, New Jersey) in novice flat. It was the first-ever IHSA blue ribbon for DiBella while both Scorpa and Sevigny won blues in their first-ever IHSA rides. In addition to Buccos both Nicole D'Agostino (in novice flat) and Brian Buchanan (in open fences) also took home red ribbons.

They slayed the green monster and used him to keep warm! Molly Tassmer (on left), Catherine Maher (center) and Victoria Stevens (holding "Sapphire") of the University of Connecticut pose after Tassmer and Maher placed one-two in the first section of intermediate fences while Stevens won a later section. Tassmer qualified for Regionals with the blue ribbon while the Huskies scored 33 points to tie Connecticut College for third at River's Edge Farm.

While high point team Sacred Heart had to wait until the eighth class of the day for Britton to win their first blue ribbon of the day it took reserve champion Trinity College ten classes to finally get into the win column. Annie Gardner, a freshman from Garden City, New York won the second section of intermediate flat to get the ball rolling for the Bantams. Sarah Coleman (freshman, Lexington, Massachusetts) and Catherine Read (freshman, Skillman, New Jersey) won back-to-back sections of novice fences while Read proceeded to win two straight classes by way of the first section of novice flat. Jennie Lewis (senior, Avon, Connecticut) was also a novice flat winner. Trinity red ribbon winners were Alix de Gramont (in beginner walk-trot-canter), Jordan Hillier (in novice flat), Brooke Moore (novice fences) and Coleman (in novice flat). Read, who had to get off of one horse to mount another for her back-to-back classes, was one of three riders to qualify for the ride-off. The Bantams missed their previous weekend total by only a point, scoring 35 to finish six behind the co-host Pioneers.

Two teams scored 33 points, each of which had tied for high point at the season opener. The University of Connecticut had the largest team roster of the day, with five riders earning blue ribbons. Olivia Napoli (sophomore, Plainville, Massachusetts) won her open fences while Molly Tassmer (sophomore, East Haddam, Connecticut) and Victoria Stevens (freshman, Mystic, Connecticut) both won sections of intermediate fences. Kayleigh Meyer of the Huskies entered the day riding in open flat and novice fences. However the junior from East Haddam, Connecticut won over the novice jumps to point up into intermediate fences. Bethany Sullivan won UConn's final blue ribbon of the day with a first in advanced walk-trot-canter. The freshman from Bolton, Connecticut is now two-for-two in IHSA shows (Besides staying undefeated in IHSA competition Sullivan managed a rare feat by winning an IHSA class in a town with the same name as herself, as River's Edge Farm is located in Bethany, Connecticut!). The Huskies dominated the red ribbons, with open rider Brittany Johnson one of two people at today's show to win two of them. Joining Johnson in second-place territory were teammates Angela Bernier (in open flat), Catherine Maher (in intermediate fences), Brittany LaMark (same), Kristin McLeod (novice flat), Katie Gottleib (same), Molly McGaughey (novice fences), Jessica Snell (same), Jessica Hawley (advanced walk-trot-canter), Courtney Pelletier (walk-trot) and Cristina Raymond (same) to give UConn a total of 12 red ribbons.

Originally it was going to be a photo of only Melissa Groher but so many of her Connecticut College teammates wound up in the picture it is almost hard to explain where the senior from South Glastonbury, Connecticut is. How about this: Groher is one of three riders wearing a Charles Owens helmet and she is the middle rider of the three?! Groher won her open fences, then had a five minute break to watch one class go by, and then won her open flat to become the first of three riders to make the ride-off.

Connecticut College also scored 33. The Camels were led by open rider Melissa Groher, a senior from South Glastonbury, Connecticut who won her open fences two classes before repeating in open flat. Earlier Conn College won the first class of the day, as Gabby Wang (sophomore, Wilton, Connecticut) was also an open fences winner. While Luciana Rivera (junior, from Floripanopolis, Brazil) was a winner in novice flat the Camels really cleaned up in the low levels. Casey Hagerty (freshman, Medford, Massachusetts) won the first section of beginner walk-trot-canter while Veronica Molnar (junior, Budapest, Hungary) and Caroline Ruby (sophomore, Bronxville, New York) won the walk-trot sections to end the afternoon. Conn College riders who placed second were Danielle L'Heureux (in beginner walk-trot-canter), Amanda Jones (in advanced walk-trot-canter), Jennifer Clayton (novice flat), Anna Jorgensen (novice fences), Cali Zimmerman (intermediate flat), Kim Klepacki (open fences) and Katie Lynch (same). The Camels finished the day with 97 points through three shows, placing them six behind the Pioneers and three in front of the Huskies for the time being.

Though six of their nine riders present competed at the walk-trot-canter level or below, co-host Yale University had all eight divisions covered and scored what is so far a season-high 29 points. Kaitlin McLean, a junior from Madison, Wisconsin won the first of four sections of open flat immediately after placing fourth in the final section of open fences. Near the end of the day Hyun Ji "Soy" Lee also brought home a blue ribbon for the Bulldogs. The freshman from Chicago, Illinois won her walk-trot class for the second weekend in a row.

Fairfield University was next with 27 points. The Stags were led by Catherine McIntyre, who won both of her open classes to become part of a three-way ride-off for high point rider. A senior from San Diego, California, McIntyre finished the day leading the Region 5 open rider standings. Shannon Cassidy, a senior from Cumberland, Maine won the Stag's only other blue ribbon with a first in novice fences. Samantha Normandeau, the older sister of Alissa and a senior at Fairfield was second in both her open flat and intermediate fences classes while Irene Peluso was also a red ribbon winner in open flat.

From left to right are Samantha Normandeau, Catherine McIntyre, Lillian Hamilton and Tess Mahoney of Fairfield University. McIntyre was one of three riders to win twice on October 16th, taking both of her open classes. The Stags scored 27 points on a day which started off chilly but saw temps reach the 60's.

Only one week removed from reserve high point team honors, Central Connecticut State University slipped back a bit with 25 points. Ashley Miniucci (senior, Andover, Connecticut) won her intermediate fences while Megan Talbot (freshman, Cromwell, Connecticut) won her beginner walk-trot-canter which was coincidentally her first IHSA ride. Freshman Jennifer Clayton, who rode for the Mount Holyoke College IEA team, was second in novice flat for CCSU's only red ribbon of the day.

Despite having only five riders present and no one entered in the open divisions Wesleyan University still tied CCSU with 25 points. Rebecca Levit, a senior from Amherst, Massachusetts won her intermediate flat while placing second in intermediate fences. Madalena Henning, a freshman from Palo Alto, California provided the Cardinals with a second blue ribbon in her novice flat. Wesleyan had scored 25 points over the first two shows combined prior to what was one of their best days in the short 13 show history of Region 5.

Post University, which hosted the most recent show and which agreed to add a second fall show on October 29th, scored 20 points for the second week in a row. Leading the way for Post was sophomore Carly Puzacke, who was second in novice fences and third in intermediate flat. Also earning red ribbons were Lauren Donohue (in intermediate flat) and Brittany Hagedorn (in advanced walk-trot-canter). Post was hampered in that they were without riders in the open divisions or walk-trot on this day.

It might have been parent's weekend back at the base, which is why the United States Coast Guard Academy's team was made up of only two riders on October 16th. Novice flat rider Sarah Troch (on left) and walk-trot rider Carrie Bigos (pronounced "Big-us," on right) pose with Head Coach Tina Bove, who won the alumni fences while placing second in alumni flat earlier in the day.

Rounding out the scoring was the United States Coast Guard Academy with three points. The Coast Guard had only two riders entered, with junior Carrie Bigos fifth in walk-trot and senior Sarah Troch sixth in novice flat. The USCGA scored ten points on opening day and will fair better when the roster grows. The Coast Guard's appeareance today was only their fourth at an official IHSA show since the program was launched midway through the 2010-11 season.

Same Alumni, Different Day: For the third week in a row the same four alumni riders turned up. Coast Guard coach Tina Bove, who was Tina Struble when she competed for both Navy and Army as an undergraduate, won the alumni fences while placing second in alumni flat (Bove started both the USNA IHSA team as an undergraduate and the USCGA IHSA team). University of Delaware graduate Kristina Christiansen won the alumni flat while placing third in alumni fences. Debbie Kaufman (who rode for the University of Connecticut for at least one semester) was second in alumni fences and third in alumni flat. Current Trinity College coach and former UConn Huskie Amy Kriwitsky was fourth in both alumni divisions. Kriwitsky may have had an off-day today (at least as a rider) but she won both of the Alumni classes two weeks earlier. The balance of the alumni talent in Region 5 truly reminds one of the old "on any given day" addage. It would not surprise this writer if all four riders go to Regionals in both divisions. Once that happens good luck prognosticating who goes on to Zones!

The Ride-Off: Initially Judge Patty Hyyppa asked for the usual walk-trot-walk during the ride-off. Then came the request for a counter-canter to break from the ordinary. Some time later McIntyre, Groher and Read were lined up and Groher took the top prize ahead of McIntyre. It was only the second IHSA ride-off for Groher. "I won one freshman year," said the senior, who remains undefeated in ride-offs.

Raising money for a good cause: Perhaps one of the most unusual fundraisers across the entire IHSA took place in roughly the middle of the day. In an effort to raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness, Sacred Heart staged relay races involving four members of a given team. Because only four people can be involved per team there were not one but two races and a 'race-off' between the two winners. Each team ponies up $10.00 to take part in a race. Members of four teams stand behind a rail at the in-gate. When the "Go" part of the 'Ready - Set - Go' is spoken each of the four had to 'run at the canter' to the next rail one-quarter around the arena from the first to hand off the batan to another team member. Then at the halfway mark the batan (are we spelling that correctly? It may have been a crop anyway!) changes hands again. Then at the three-quarter mark it changes hands for the final time before it is off to the finish line. Buchanan was the final leg of the Sacred Heart team and he was so far ahead closing out the first race that he did a summer-sault (are we spelling that correctly? It was more of a backflip anyway). The co-hosts had it down to a science in that they were initially behind but when Buchanan got going they were a mile out in front. Connecticut College won the second race (much closer) to go head-to-head with the Pioneers. The second race was nearly identical, with Buchanan again like Secretariot in the lead at the end (one leg of this race included Pioneers Head Coach Tiffany Hajdasz while another included her daughter Savanna, a high school freshman who has received considerable recent media coverage due to her IEA efforts. Several other relay teams either had coaches or individuals guilty-by-association but not necessarily riding for a given school taking part). Sacred Heart also raised funds though a 50/50 raffle throughout the day.

We caught Sacred Heart's Brian Buchanan in mid-sentence when we snapped this photo of the relay-race winners. From left are Abbie Britton, Buchanan, Sacred Heart Head Coach Tiffany Hajdasz and her daughter Savanna (a high school freshman and a member of the Windcrest Farm IEA Team). Not only were the Pioneers high point team with 41 points their relay-races prior to the novice fences raised at least $80.00 to benefit Breast Cancer Awareness.

Remarkable Weather, then a Remarkable Score: Thirteen days after the Yale/Sacred Heart show Region 5 was to show at Lee's Riding Stable in Litchfield for a second time in the month of October. However as many know the show was cancelled as a freak October snowstorm (at least in this part of New England) dumped a half foot of snow and more importantly knocked out power to much of the state of Connecticut (an IHSA show at Centenary College in New Jersey went on as planned and was completed though there was a total power outage there towards the end of the competition). As a result nearly four full weeks passed before Region 5 reconviened at Windcrest Farm for the Wesleyan show on November 12th. Just as unexpected as an October snowstorm was the Sacred Heart point total. Riding outdoors the Pioneers not only won their second show in a row they did so while scoring 49 points, the maximum total a hunter seat team can receive during a regular season IHSA show. This marked the first time in the 20 year history of the Sacred Heart program that the Pioneers earned a perfect score. Taking place only days after the Pioneers accepted an offer to compete at the Holiday Tournament of Champions Invitational (at Centenary College in Long Valley, New Jersey on December 3rd), Sacred Heart earned nine blue ribbons and put distance between themselves and the University of Connecticut. Though the Huskies re-took second place UConn trails SHU by 152-124 while Conn College is a point back with 123. CCSU had a big day at Windcrest, scoring 34 points to earn reserve high point honors while overtaking Trinity for fourth overall, 107-105.

Just my opinion: Having seen 13 different IHSA regions in person through November 13th (all located in the Northeast for the record), this writer feels Zone 2, Region 5 is easily the most improved of the group. Even though much of this improvement can be attributed to Sacred Heart's sudden rise (the Pioneers were sixth overall in Region 5 last season, 110 points behind UConn) several other schools have made strides to stay with the defending region champion Huskies. Compared to three seasons ago the fact that Trinity and CCSU can field a full card week in and week out says something while Connecticut College is perhaps the 'brightest enigma' of the whole group. The Camels are very good, but are they so good that they might beat out the Huskies for second? Are they so good that they could chase down Sacred Heart over six more shows? It could go many ways for the Camels, but right now they look as good as any number three team in all of New England. And the other five teams not mentioned have not taken one step backward! Several are probably even better than in 2010-11. And please don't rule out the Huskies making a run at Sacred Heart. The University of Connecticut (which will also be at the Holiday Tournament) will have at least four shows to whittle away at the lead. UConn has the most depth in Region 5, bar none. However at the moment this is Sacred Heart's region to lose. Yes they have never been this far in front in program history. Yes they have never won a Region Title or placed a full hunter seat team into the post-season. But are they capable of accomplishing what the University of New Hampshire pulled off last season? The Pioneers' progress - and Region 5 in general - will be the most interesting aspect of the Northeastern-based IHSA to watch between now and late March.

---Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Sunny skies, with temperatures reaching the mid '60's. Start time: 9:38AM. Finish: 4:16PM - Includes 27 minute schooling/Relay Race 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: Patty Hyyppa. Stewards: Blanchette/Central Connecticut State Universitiy; Luckhardt/Connecticut College and Johnson/Post University.

Team Totals: Sacred Heart University (High Point Team) 41; Trinity College (CT) (Reserve) 35; Connecticut College 33; University of Connecticut 33; Yale University 29; Fairfield University 27; Wesleyan University 25; Central Connecticut State University 25; Post University 20 and United States Coast Guard Academy 3.

High Point Rider - Melissa Groher, Connecticut College
Reserve High Point Rider - Catherine McIntyre, Fairfield University