University of Delaware wins narrowly
Readington, NJ - Defending region champion University of Delaware prevailed
today at Briarwood Farm by a narrow 38-36 margin over Delaware Valley College.
Both schools won ten blue ribbons (if you don't count alumni, in which case
Del Val would have twelve) and most of the accolades would actually go to
todays' runner-up. Intermediate rider Erin Adams of Delaware Valley was high
point rider, winning a ride-off versus novice rider and teammate Genna
Weissner (pictured on left, with aggies head coach Corey Herald). Today marked
the first time in three shows this season that Del Val
had the high point and reserve high point riders. The aggies have had the
reserve high point rider at each of the three shows, with Delaware blue hens
having been high point rider at the previous two shows.
For the University of Delaware, blue ribbons were awarded to Karin Wood
(open fences), Sara Holland (intermediate flat), Kristen Sentoff (novice
fences), Brittany Hitz (same), Kristin Ricciardone (novice flat), Jen Carr
(same), Page Hodgson (same), Amy Maurice (advanced walk-trot-canter),
Lauren Stille (walk-trot) and Kelly Ross, whose victory in open flat gave
her four blue ribbons in six open classes so far this season. Ross is fifteen
points ahead of Gettysburg freshman Kathleen Osgood in the race to be high
point open rider and secure a trip to IHSA Nationals in the Cacchione Cup
competition. For Delaware Valley College, first place ribbons were
awarded to Adams (intermediate flat and fences), Weissner (novice flat
and fences), Jackie Vander Ploeg (intermediate fences), Mariah Weir (novice
fences), Ali Levine (novice flat), Colleen Rowland (same), Lauren Mulligan
(advanced walk-trot-canter) and Sara Breishaft (walk-trot). Though point
cards are not posted in this region, one gets the impression that this might
have been one of the classic see-saw battles of the year.
While the University of Delaware had approximately 70 rides, and Delaware
Valley had approximately 50, Gettysburg College quietly scored 31 points,
easily having the best day of any team other than Delaware and Del Val so far
this season. Jackie Nash (novice fences), Christine Alberto (intermediate
flat) and Osgood (open flat) all placed first for the bullets. Had Osgood not
missed the season opener at Timberedge, she may be much closer to Ross in the
open rider standings. Still, if Osgood keeps averaging ten points per show
she will likely qualify for regionals in both disciplines after her seventh
show (contingent on four Spring shows coming to fruition). Head coach Rachel
Heffner-Mains may not have had the arsenal of entrees that Delaware and
Delaware Valley had at their disposal, but Gettysburg certainly made the most
of their 19 rides.
We won, we won!: Other undergraduate riders with blue ribbons at todays'
show were Lauren Hehn of Rider (intermediate fences), Rebekah Hardy of
Washington College (novice fences), Kelsey Beers (beginner walk-trot-canter)
and Matt Mauceri (walk-trot) of Bucks County Community College and Laurie
Gilman of Bryn Mawr College, one of only three Bryn Mawr riders present and
the only one to ride after the early morning, eventually winning her section
of advanced walk-trot-canter.
Blessington still owns the alumni fences: Bucks County graduate Ron
Blessington won the alumni fences for the third time in as many tries this
season. With one more blue ribbon over the jumps, Blessington will qualify
for regionals in the alumni fences for a fourth consecutive season.
Blessington has topped the region 2 alumni fences standings each of the past
two seasons, and was second to Lori Heybach three seasons ago. Though
Blessington is perfect over fences, his ten points on the flat do not even
place him in the top six under that category. In fact none of the top three
alumni fences riders are in the top five on the flat, and vice-versa. The
alumni flat is currently led by former Temple rider Kim Cousins (known as
Kim Brookreson back in the day), with 19 points. Recent Delaware Valley
College graduate Kristen Milano is second with 16, while Cousins' younger
sister Sayre Brookreson is third with 14 through three shows. Those closest
to Blessington over fences are Joanne Coniglio, Delaware Valley '94, with 16
and Kerrin Wetzel, Bucknell '00, with 15. Coniglio and Milano won classes
today (Coniglio over fences, Milano on the flat), technically giving Del Val
two more blue ribbons than the blue hens. Former Bucks County rider Allison
Ball has been the most consistant in both, currently with 13 points on the
alumni flat and 14 over alumni fences. Former Beaver College rider Lisa
Marsh has been almost as consistant, with 11 on the flat and 13 over fences.
With almost everyone back from week-to-week, the largest group of alumni
coast-to-coast this season will likely produce quite a class at regionals,
assuming there are roughly eight shows.
Don't assume anything!: Last season, zone 3, region 2 held nine hunter
seat shows, with six of them held in the Spring. This season four shows
were held in the Fall, and so far only two more are officially scheduled for
the Spring (February 23rd and March 22nd, with Bryn Mawr and Gettysburg
co-hosting the former and Delaware Valley the latter). Washington College
is exploring the possiblity of hosting on the eastern shore, while Franklin
& Marshall, who were not present today for reasons that were not immediately
clear, did host a Spring show last season and could possibly do so again
this Spring. If only six regular season hunter seat shows take place within
region 2 it would mark the smallest number of hunter seat shows for a full
season anywhere in the northeast in at least six years. If no more shows
are added by December 1st (the self-impossed region 2 deadline for
scheduling Spring shows) then region 2 regionals (scheduled for Friday
afternoon on April 4th at Timberedge Farm) will be a rather short affair
indeed.
Show Incidentals: Cloudy, with rain most of the day. Temperatures in the
mid 40's. Classes at the novice level and below held indoors. Start time: 8:56AM.
Finish: 4:32PM - includes 38 minute lunch break/coaches and captains meeting and
separate 15 minute schooling break. Point cards posted in this region? No. Alumni
classes held in this Region? Yes. Judge: Mr. Scott Burkhart, Manheim, PA.
Stewards: Morrone/Rider University, Heffner-Mains/Gettysburg College and Beth
Jewell/Parent of member of Arcadia team.
Team Totals: University of Delaware (High Point Team) 38; Delaware Valley College
(Reserve) 36; Gettysburg College 31; Bucks County Community College 21; Rider
University 21; Arcadia University 15; Washington College 14; Bryn Mawr College 12 and
University of Pennsylvania 11.
High Point Rider - Erin Adams, Delaware Valley College
Reserve High Point Rider - Genna Weissner, Delaware Valley College
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