From San Diego, California, Fairfield University freshman Catherine McIntyre (back row, in the middle) was the only rider to win twice at the February 22nd Nassau Community College show. The intermediate flat/novice fences rider and the entire Stags team both left Parkview Riding Center with high point ribbons.

FAIRFIELD CUTS NYU'S LEAD IN HALF

Central Islip, NY - On a chilly rainy Sunday the Fairfield Equestrian team scored 42 points, the most of any Zone 2, Region 4 school at any one show this season, to move within 16 points of defending Region Champion New York University. The Stags also garnered the most blue ribbons, as Sabrina Wirth (in walk-trot), Shannon Cassidy (advanced walk-trot-canter), Samantha Normandeau (novice flat) and Catherin McIntyre (intermediate flat and novice fences) were class winners. By virtue of being the only rider with two firsts, McIntyre was the high point rider for the day. In addition Heather Boyd and Laura Downey placed second in consecutive sections of novice fences.

Since the November 2nd Molloy show the Stags have outscored New York University by 123-121, but until that time NYU had built up an 18 point lead which Fairfield is still trying to erase in its' entirety. NYU did not have a bad day, finishing with 27 points and what would be the fifth place ribbon if prizes were awarded below reserve high point. Hanna Gelfand won her section of open flat while Alexandra Goldman won novice flat, Arina Chesnokova won beginner walk-trot-canter and Stephanie Phillips won intermediate fences. Juliana Goldlust was second to Phillips in the same section of intermediate fences while Amanda Fischer was a red ribbon winner in the previous section of intermediate jumps. Julie Kominski was second to Wirth in walk-trot while Samantha Jaffe was NYU's final red ribbon winner via a second in open flat.

From Jericho, Long Island, Nassau Community College sophomore Erika Mueller stands between teammates Angela Stallone (on left) and Jocelyn Smith after winning her section of intermediate fences. Mueller would qualify for the ride-off for reserve while Stallone would later win her section of novice flat.

Stony Brook University continued to alternate between good and sub-par efforts, coming up with a good effort and reserve high point team honors with 36 points. The Seawolves were led by Tara Devlin, who will represent Region 4 in the Cacchione Cup Competition at IHSA Nationals if no additional shows are added. The junior from Miller Place, Long Island won the first class of the day, the lone section of open fences, while placing fourth in open flat. Devlin appears to hold a 71-56 lead over Gelfand in the Region 4 open rider standings after today's show. Brittany White, a freshman from Lakewood, New York was first in advanced walk-trot-canter, pointing into novice in the process. The Seawolves managed one red ribbon via Megan Sweeney in the third of three sections of novice fences.

Considering that Nassau Community College scored only 44 points in total over their first four shows, the host school was undoubtedly pleased with their 32-point effort today. Competing without an open fences rider, Nassau was led by sophomore Erika Mueller. From Jericho, New York Mueller won her intermediate fences while placing second in intermediate flat to reach the ride-off for reserve. Angela Stallone won her novice flat class while Alexandra DiAmore (novice flat), Lindsay Wilson (intermediate flat), Hannah Geller (same) and Francesca Martinez (open flat) each won red ribbons (with Mueller, Wilson, Gellar and Martinez winning their red ribbons in succesion).

Columbia University was the fourth and final team to score in the 30's, scoring exactly 30. Like Nassau, Columbia had a rider who qualified for the reserve high point ride-off. Jill Ross, a sophomore from Chappaqua, New York, won her open flat after having finished second to Devlin in open fences to start the day. Elizabeth Whitman (walk-trot), Rachel Weinberger (advanced walk-trot-canter) and Co-Captain Diana Greenwald (intermediate flat) also won blue ribbons for the Lions. Apparently competing without an intermediate fences rider, Columbia tied their high total for the season, last achieved way back on opening day.

The alumni act as bookends as Columbia sophomore Jill Ross poses with several teammates after winning her open flat class and reaching the ride-off for reserve. From left to right are University of Southern California alumni rider Amelia Paukert (who is in grad school at Columbia), Peng Deng, Rachel Weinberger, Ross, Geneveve Jacobson, Elizabeth Whitman and Columbia alumni rider Diana Patterson. Both Paukert and Patterson won alumni fences classes earlier in the day. The Lions tied their season-high of 30 points.

Following NYU and their 27 points was Dowling College with 25. This was the second highest score of the season for the Golden Lions, who earned a pair of blue ribbons via Jackie Sassone in intermediate flat and Juliana Buckley in novice fences. Samantha Stern (in walk trot) and Lauren Morelli (in advanced walk-trot-canter) were red ribbon winners. Dowling ended the day with 134 points, 16 shy of their total for 2007-08. However that total was over ten shows, while so far the Golden Lions (who did not have an open rider at today's show) have earned 134 through through only eight contests.

C.W. Post was next with 23 points. It was Post's highest score since the Pioneers posted 27 on opening day. Lauren Bertrand, a sophomore from North Woodmere, New York won her section of beginner walk-trot-canter while Amy Rocco was second to Stallone in novice flat. While Samantha Ruttera was fourth in intermediate fences and Brittany Burreece was third in novice fences both should receive a mention here as each of their jumping classes were marred by riders failing to either stay on course or to stay on! In each case there were at least eight rides and only four ribbons awarded.

Hofstra scored 16 points, with senior open rider Jamie Graham winning the final section of open flat in the late afternoon to provide the Pride with their only blue ribbon of the day. Rachel Heisler was second in her beginner walk-trot-canter while Molly Collins was second to Gelfand in the section of open flat before Graham's.

Sacred Heart University also scored 16, with the other group of Pioneers even advancing a rider to the reserve ride-off. Coleen Booth, a freshman from Portland, Connecticut, won her novice fences while placing second to Normandeau in novice flat.

While two teams scored 16 points, both Yale University and Molloy College both earned 10 apiece. The Bulldogs were led by freshman Mary Atlonji, who was second to Weinberger in advanced walk-trot-canter. For Molloy their lone red ribbon went to Cynthia Sollin, who was second in her section of novice flat.

Stephanie Phillips (on right) and Juliana Goldlust of New York University are photographed near the rider's entrance to the Parkview Riding Center indoor around the time they placed first and second, respectively, in intermediate fences. NYU Head Coach Ashton Phillips (in back of both, not related to Stephanie) saw Fairfield shave their overall lead to only 16 points. NYU is trying to become the first team in the region to win back-to-back Region Titles since Fairfield did it as a member of Zone 3, Region 1 in 2002 and 2003.

Rounding out the scoring was St. Joseph's College with nine points. Surprisingly St. Joseph's earned some good ribbons but did not see their individual points show up on the team scoreboard. Gilynn Cromartie, a sophomore from Islip Terrace, New York won her section of novice flat while freshman Allison Diehl was second in her section of advanced walk-trot-canter, pointing up in the process.

The IHSA's largest group of alumni was divided into two sections each of flat and fences, with at least eight riders in each section. So far 31 different alumni riders have mounted up at least once during the 2008-09 season, with 2008 Columbia graduate Diana Patterson the first rider to qualify for Regionals in both alumni divisions. Patterson's fifth in alumni flat brought her total to 29 while former Columbia teammate Jessica Nichols won a section of alumni flat to reach exactly 28 points and a trip to Regionals. Stony Brook graduate Alexandra Schauble was third in her alumni flat section to also qualify. Chirstine Manz-Wolski, a former Molloy College rider who is married to C.W. Post Assistant Coach Dan Wolski, won the other section of alumni flat and now needs five points to qualify for Regionals in the division. 2008 University of Delaware graduate (and Zone 3, Region 2 Cacchione Entry) Kristina Christiansen was second to Manz, snapping a streak of three straight first place ribbons in alumni flat. Christiansen now needs two points to join Patterson, Nichols, Schauble, Sacred Heart alum Kristine Brackenridge (second in the other alumni flat section today) and Fairfield graduate Valerie Achkhanian at Regionals in alumni flat.

So far only three riders have pointed out of alumni fences, with Patterson currently with the most points after adding seven to her previous combined total of 30. Salve Regina graduate and Yale Coach Amanda Gerdts (fifth today) is at 34 points while Nassau graduate Joelle Siegal (fourth today) is between Patterson and Gerdts with 35. Three other riders have a chance to point up (provided there is only one more show), as Achkhanian was second to Patterson today and now has 23 while St. Joseph's grad Amanda Marsh was fourth and now has 24. Schauble did not pin over fences and still needs four points to get to 28. 2008 NYU graduate Stacy Schwartz earned her highest alumni ribbon thus far, finishing second in alumni fences while 2006 University of Southern California graduate Amelia Paukert, who is in graduate school at Columbia, won her first alumni class by taking the second section of fences (Paukert's alma matter captured their first region title since she graduated later that week, finishing four points ahead of the University of San Diego - Editor).

From left to right are Samantha Ruttura, Brittany Burreece, Lauren Bertrand, Amy Rocco and Amanda Tappin of C.W. Post College. Bertrand won Post's only blue ribbon of the day with a first in beginner walk-trot-canter. Though she is not pictured with it, Rocco won Post's only red ribbon of the day, placing second in her section of novice flat.

The ride-off: Booth, Ross and Mueller took part in the ride-off, and at the end judge Christine Dwyer prefered Mueller. The annoucement was made over the PA at 3:28PM, making today's show one of the shortest of the season in Region 4 if not the shortest. Begun at 8:28AM there was only a 10 minute break at lunch time to move the jumps, and in unusual fashion the alumni fences took place while some of the Coaches and Captains meeting was going on. Considering that many Region 4 shows run past 5:00PM and that there were horse and rider issues during the jumping which appeared to slow down the show at the time, many were probably overjoyed at the early conclusion.

Strange but true: Stephanie Phillips of NYU is from Portland, Oregon. Colleen Booth of Sacred Heart is from Portland, Connecticut. Phillips and Booth combined to win two of the first five classes. If anyone from Portland, Maine won a class at today's show please let us know!

What's Next?: At one point Columbia was to have held a show on March 1st but this was cancelled some time ago. On February 22nd the only remaining Region 4 show before Regionals was the Dowling/Alumni show scheduled for March 8th. However after the Nassau show was completed there may have been discussion about trying to add one more show before Regionals, which would raise the total to ten for the season. As of March 1st Campus Equestrian could not confirm one way or the other if an additional show would be added.

--Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Cloudy Skies and ocassional rain, with temperatures in the upper 40's. Start time: 8:28AM. Finish: 3:28PM - includes 10 minute lunch break/Coaches & Captains meeting. Point cards posted in this region? Yes. Alumni classes held in this Region? Yes. Judge: Christine Dwyer. Stewards: Kinnally/Columbia University, Kowalski/Hofstra University and Phillips/New York University.

Team Totals: Fairfield University (High Point Team) 42; Stony Brook University (Reserve) 36; Nassau Community College 32; Columbia University 30; New York University 27; Dowling College 25; Long Island University - C.W. Post College 23; Hofstra University 16; Sacred Heart University 16; Molloy College 10; Yale University 10 and St. Joseph's College 9.

High Point Rider - Catherine McIntyre, Fairfield University
Reserve High Point Rider - Erika Mueller, Nassau Community College