Equestrian opens season with record setting weekend

Posted: Oct 27, 2008

Oct. 27, 2008

DARTMOUTH, Mass. - The Endicott College equestrian team had its best weekend ever as it was able to finish in sixth place at Saturday's Boston University show and then followed that up by winning High Point School at the UMass-Dartmouth show on Sunday. The Gulls were led by two freshman riders as Meghan Hart (Weston, Vt.) and Lauren Horth (Dalton, Mass.) as Hart earned High Point Rider on Saturday and Horth won Reserve High Point Rider on Sunday.

At the Boston University Show on Saturday, the high point was Hart's High Point Rider honor as well as two additional riders brought home blue ribbons. Hart started her IHSA career in impressive fashion as she won both her open classes, a first for Endicott. Katherine Noyes (Morristown, N.J.) won a ribbon in the Open Flat Division with a third place showing while Leigh Fitzgerald (Bolton, Mass.) had a solid ride for the team finishing first in the Novice Flat Division. Sophomore Kim Davis (West Hartford, Conn.) displayed the results of her off-season efforts as she finished first in the Walk-Trot division.

Elizabeth Browning (Worcester, Mass.) pointed out from Advanced Walk-Trot-Canter at the Boston University and will now ride in the Novice Division.

The UMass-Dartmouth show allowed Endicott to exhibit the strength of its freshman class. Lauren Horth earned a blue ribbon over fences and third on the flat that left her in a tie with Meridith Milliner. Each rider was asked a series of questions by judge Greg LaPlace and Horth's long experience with horses proved useful as it proved to be the difference in breaking the tie. Freshman Anna McKendry (Allentown, Pa.) and Julia O'Connell (Red Hook, N.Y.) both rode to good ribbons in their first IHSA show.

One rider at each level is chosen to represent their school for points. Whichever placing that rider earns gives points to their team. Endicott had great consistency by their point riders, finishing first at the UMass-Dartmouth show and winning the High Point team rosette.

Endicott was able to beat out major colleges and universities en route to their successful weekend. Wellesley College, Boston University, Curry College, Wheaton College, Boston College, Tufts University, Stonehill College, Brandeis University, UMass Dartmouth, UMass Lowell, MIT and Bridgewater State College were participants in both shows over the weekend.

Endicott will host the next IHSA show to be held on Saturday, November 2nd at Springtime Farm in Boxford, Mass.

Boston University placings:

Open Division
Lauren Horth: fences 4th
Meghan Hart: fences 1st; , flat 1st
Katherine Noyes: flat 3rd
Gabrielle King: flat 4th

Intermediate Division
Kate Selig: Fences 6th , Flat 5th
Mia Finkelstein: Fences 6th
Erica Hill: Flat 5th

Novice Division
Alisha Phipps: fences 4th , flat 3rd
Tricia Morrison: fences 4th
Leigh Fitzgerald - flat 1st

Advanced Walk-Trot-Canter
Elizabeth Browning: 6th
Christine Hevey: 5th

Walk-Trot
Kim Davis: 1st

UMass-Dartmouth placings:

Open Division
Katherine Noyes - fences 5th, flat 5th
Lauren Horth - fences 1st, flat 3rd
Meghan Hart - flat 5th
Gabrielle King - flat 4th

Intermediate Division
Erica Hill - fences -4th
Mia Finkelstein - flat 3rd
Kate Selig - flat 3rd

Novice Division
Alisha Phipps- fences 3rd, flat 4th
Leigh Fitzgerald - Flat 5th

Advanced Walk-Trot-Canter
Allegra Wilson - 4th