Ironically she is from the town of Bridgewater, Virginia! Hollins University freshman Cecelia Parks (on right, with Head Coach Nancy Peterson) won her advanced walk-trot-canter class on October 29th which was also her IHSA debut. Hollins won narrowly at the Bridgewater College Equestrian Center, 41-40 over Lynchburg College.

HOLLINS WINS BY A POINT BUT LYNCHBURG TAKES THE OVERALL LEAD

Weyer's Cave, VA - Though Friday afternoon shows are not a strange sight within Zone 4, Region 2 (Randolph College has hosted Friday afternoon shows for ages), they are not common when Bridgewater College is the host school. Nevertheless the Eagles were the host school on October 29th, and after five hours and eight minutes of competition the hosts fell by a 41-38 score to Hollins University. In between these two schools was Lynchburg College. Though the Hornets scored 40 points to earn reserve high point team honors it marked the first known time that Lynchburg has ever held first place overall through at least two regular season shows.

Yet we digress. Today ultimatly belonged to Hollins, the defending region champions. Lindsley Fletcher, a sophomore from Sykesville, Maryland and Emma Lane Poole, a sophomore from Blue Bell, Pennsylvania each won open flat classes, sweeping the division for Hollins. Meredith McDonnell, a junior from Culpepper, Virginia won her novice flat while Cecelia Parks, a freshman from Bridgewater, Virginia won her IHSA debut in advanced walk-trot-canter. Michelle King, a sophomore from Roanoke, Virginia won the final novice fences class it gave Hollins the one-point edge needed to take home the blue ribbon. Nadra Mujkic (in walk-trot), Catherine Hensley (in advanced walk-trot-canter), Blair St. Ledger-Olson (in intermediate flat) and Poole (in open fences) added red ribbons to the Hollins ribbon pile.

"Sit Tight, Ride Right" says the Squash Bridgewater College Assistant Coach Ashley Mayes is holding. Jaime Robinson of the Eagles (on right) must have done just that, as the senior from Ashland, Virginia won both of her novice classes to qualify for the ride-off.

Though Lynchburg nearly tied for first (the point sheets initially indicated a tie before a mistake was caught) the Hornets didn't mind runner-up status too much. Kelly Gerland, a junior from Malvern, Pennsylvania won both her open fences and intermediate flat classes to qualify for the ride-off. Kristine Guthrie, a sophomore from Glenmoore, Pennsylvania just missed equaling Gerland's feat. Guthrie won her intermediate fences while placing second in novice flat. Lynchburg won three classes in a row at one point, as Haley Bagwell, a freshman from Shreveport, Louisiana won the section of intermediate fences after Gerland was an open fences winner and before Guthrie prevailed in intermediate fences. One of the Hornet's school colors is red, which is appropriate in that seven of their riders earned red ribbons. Drew Nichols (beginner walk-trot-canter), Kelli Greenslade (advanced walk-trot-canter), Emilee Herbert (novice flat), Shelby Wambold (novice fences), Taylor Fellows (intermediate flat) and Captain Jordan Rooney (open flat) joined Guthrie as second place winners. However one who spent time with the Lynchburg riders throughout the day might feel like this team believed they are the best, and thanks to finishing seven points ahead of Hollins at the Randolph College show two weeks earlier the Hornets were assured of first place overall for at least 48 hours before Hollins hosted on a Sunday.

Host Bridgewater College scored 38 points and earned the most blue ribbons with five. Jaime Robinson, a senior from Ashland, Virginia won both her novice flat and fences to create a ride-off with Gerland. Savannah English, a junior from Prince Frederick, Maryland won the advanced walk-trot-canter class which started the proceedings at 1:10PM (the order of the divisions was somewhat unusual, with advanced walk-trot-canter followed by beginner walk-trot-canter, walk-trot, novice flat, intermediate flat, open flat, open fences, intermediate fences and finally novice fences). Sarah Black, a junior from Richmond, Virginia was a winner in intermediate flat while Shelby Goodman, a junior from Smithfield, Virginia won the first section of open fences. Chelsea Hames (in intermediate fences), Katie Leonard (in novice flat), Lindsey Ferguson (same), Lindsay Goode (in novice fences) and Allyson Gallamore (in walk-trot) earned red ribbons for the Eagles, who finished the day trailing Lynchburg by a mere 66-63 score overall.

Two-thirds of the Sweet Briar College riders present at today's show are in this picture, taken after Tory Mott won her novice flat class (Mott is holding the blue ribbon). "The Briar" as some call them scored 28 points for fourth place.

Sweet Briar College riders won three of the first ten blue ribbons awarded at today's show. The Vixens finished the day with 28 points, the exact same number they earned two weeks earlier. Sissy Winstead, a freshman from Apex, North Carolina remained undefeated in IHSA competition, winning her walk-trot class just as she had done at the Randolph show. Tory Mott, a sophomore from Charlotttesville, Virginia won her novice flat two classes later while Catherine Marcks, a freshman from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania won the first of two sections of intermediate flat for the Vixens. Into the red ribbons were Jodi Fritz (in advanced walk-trot-canter) and Olivia Smith (in intermediate flat). The most consistant Region 2 team thus far (at least on paper) finished the day only ten points behind Lynchburg overall.

James Madison University, the high point team at Randolph with 29 points, earned 21 today. While the Dukes did not earn a blue ribbon at today's show, the school with the shortest drive to the BCEC did earn two red ones. Vanessa Colley, a senior from Williamsport, Pennsylvania was second to Poole in open flat while Morgan Darnell, a sophomore from Lovettsville, Virginia was second to King in novice fences. Though she only earned five points for the day, Colley finished the day tied for second in the Region 2 open rider standings with Poole and Lizzie Roberts of Sweet Briar. The Dukes essentially dedicated the day to teammate Linnea Elsammak, who broke her femur bone prior to the first show and sadly will miss considerable time this season.

James Madison University Head Coach Bobby Jones (third on right) poses with much of the Dukes team as they hold up cut-outs featuring teammate Linnea Elsammak, who broke her femur bone and thus was only with the team in spirit that day. After winning the season opener on the 15th JMU was fifth at today's show.

Two schools tied with 19 points each. Washington & Lee University, which had entered the day only three points behind James Madison, slipped back slightly. The Generals were lead by Molly Rountree, a sophomore from Andover, Massachusetts who finished second to Bagwell in intermediate fences for Washington & Lee's top ribbon. Both senior Allison Lemon and junior Tamara Morse broke double digits in the open rider standings. Each finished the day with exactly ten open points, seven off the lead. Randolph College scored 19 points, just as they had done at home in the season opener. Randolph accomplished this without a rider placing inside the top two. Nicole Price was third in advanced walk-trot-canter while Maggie Murray was third in novice flat. Lizzie Kerron was fourth in both of her open classes, giving her nine open points through two shows.

Randolph did not have a walk-trot rider at today's show. The University of Virginia could make the same claim. The Cavaliers scored 18 points, though to their credit the school from Charlottesville did score a pair of blue ribbons. Jessica Ettinger, a senior from Potomic, Maryland won her novice flat class while Meredith Renegar, a senior from Chesapeake, Virginia won the first of three sections of novice fences.

Roanoke College did not have riders in either intermediate division. However the Maroons can claim the top Region 2 open rider through two shows in Abbey McGuire. A senior from Culpepper, Virginia, McGuire was second to Goodman in open fences to raise her total from 12 to 17 points. Annie Watson, a sophomore from Charlottesville, Virginia won the lone section of beginner walk-trot-canter held at today's show. Roanoke scored 15 points and now have 34 overall, already ahead of their total of 28 earned all of last season when they made their IHSA debut.

Which school was the first to earn two blue ribbons at the October 29th Bridgewater show? If you guessed Longwood University, then you are correct! From left to right are Alyssa Berfield, Sarah Pemberton, Megan Garbett, Colleen Festa and Hillary Bourke of the Lancers. Two classes after Garbett won her advanced walk-trot-canter, teammate Kristen Wade (not pictured) was a winner in walk-trot.

Longwood University scored 13 points but early on one might have thought the Lancers were going to win outright! Megan Garbett, a senior from Richmond, Virginia won the third section of advanced walk-trot-canter while Kristen Wade, a senior from Glenarden, Maryland won the first section of walk-trot two classes later. Eventually the fact that the Lancers were without an open rider or an intermediate fences rider, but still it was a very good start to the day for Longwood.

Rounding out the scoring was Radford University with seven points. Chelsea Stewart was third in beginner walk-trot-canter to lead Radford, which showed today with half of their point card filled.

The Ride-Off: Though this writer overheard someone tell Robinson that, based on her draw, she was going to win it turned out to be a clean-sweep for Gerland. Interestingly Gerland has accrued 12 open level points (a second in open fences at Randolph) even though she has yet to show above intermediate on the flat. Should Gerland point out of intermediate flat it will be interesting to see if she can come out ahead in the very difficult Region 2 open rider race.

Kelly Gerland (center), a Lynchburg College junior from Malvern, Pennsylvania, was high point rider on October 29th. From left to right are Emilee Herbert, Jordan Rooney, Gerland, Taylor Fellows and Coach Matt Arrigon, each of whom (save for Arrigon) placed second or higher at some point. Though they were in first place without actually winning a show through the 29th, Lynchburg won at Hollins two days later to maintain the Region 2 lead through the begining of February.

If you are going to play that many sports you are bound to break something!: Winstead is a three-sport athlete at Sweet Briar. In addition to Equestrian Winstead has been a member of both the Vixen Lacrosse and Field Hockey teams. It was while playing field hockey that Winstead fractured her tibia, though it has healed in time for the IHSA season.

The more the merrier!: Zone 4, Region 2 is known for holding some of the more-limited IHSA shows in rider numbers. When the University of Virginia hosts each school can bring one rider per division. When several of the other schools host that number becomes ten to 15 rides per team. At today's show Bridgewater allowed 17 rides per school, which pleased many in attendance.

The details are sketchy: Though we do not have the exact numbers from the October 31st Hollins show (the first Region 2 show of 2010-11 held on a Saturday or Sunday), we have heard that Lynchburg College won to take a double-digit lead over Hollins and Bridgewater (we have an unconfirmed report that both schools trail the Hornets by 17 points). Lynchburg is one of five schools currently located in Zone 4, Region 2 which has never won a Region Title. Can the Hornets maintain the lead? If they can keep outscoring the host schools at each of the shows in this lofty region the odds look very good.

--Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Partly sunny skies, with temperatures climbing into the upper '50's. Entire show held indoors. Start time: 1:10PM. Finish: 6:18PM. Coaches and Captains Meeting held prior to start of show. Point Cards posted in this Region? Yes. Alumni Classes held in this region? No. Judge: Ellen Shevella, Charlottesville, VA. Stewards: Hearn/Longwood University, Arrigon/Lynchburg College and Kennedy/University of Virginia.

Team Totals: Hollins University (High Point Team) 41; Lynchburg College (Reserve) 40; Bridgewater College 38; Sweet Briar College 28; James Madison University 21; Washington & Lee University 19; Randolph College 19; University of Virginia 18; Roanoke College 15; Longwood University 13 and Radford University 7.

High Point Rider - Kelly Gerland, Lynchburg College
Reserve High Point Rider - Jaime Robinson, Bridgewater College