Brown sophomore Emma Bogdonoff (left) is from New London, Connecticut. Brown senior Irmak Tasindi (right) is from Istanbul, Turkey. Though they grew up worlds apart, both won twice at the October 21st University of Connecticut show. And one of them was the winner of an all-novice three-way ride-off.

BROWN KEEPS GAINING GROUND, WINS 45-42 OVER HOST HUSKIES

Storrs, CT - Though their Head Coach was attending the wedding of a former rider and though they only claimed one blue ribbon over the first twelve undergraduate classes Brown University would rally and remain undefeated through three Zone 1, Region 1 shows, earning 45 points to earn a narrow victory over host University of Connecticut. The Bears went on to win 10 of the 35 undergraduate classes while Emma Bogdonoff and Irmak Tasindi were winners in each of their novice classes.

The Bears also received blue ribbons via Brianne Goutal (open fences), Courtney Pope (intermediate fences), Kristen Beck (advanced walk-trot-canter), Lucia Corso (beginner walk-trot-canter), Kiauntee Murray (walk-trot) and Dakota Gruener, a freshman from Berkley, California who won her IHSA debut in novice flat. Goutal, whose journey to the top of the Maclay standings two years ago was seen on Animal Planets' "The Road to the Maclay" remained in first place in the Region 1 USEF Cacchione open rider standings. Though Goutal was only sixth on the flat to start the day, the freshman from New York City won the first of three sections of open fences, a division in which she remains undefeated in IHSA competition.

The Bears essentially coached themselves in the absence of Head Coach Michaela Scanlon, who was on Long Island for the wedding of 2002 Brown graduate and Cacchione Cup winner Amanda Forte (IHSA Founder and Executive Director Bob Cacchione was also a guest). Regardless of who explained the 'X's and 'O's the Bears earned 45 points, their high total through the first three shows.

Host UConn tied Brown for the most blue ribbons with 10 but came up three points short on the scoreboard. The Huskies started off like jackrabbits, winning three of the four open flat classes to start the day and six of the first 12 undergraduate sections. Robyn O'Toole (open flat), Tara Lynch (same), Amy Kriwitsky (same), Leanna Antenucci (novice flat), Kate Bryan (same), Kaitlyn Murray (same), Rachel Nestor (advanced walk-trot-canter) and Anne Marie Callahan (same) all won flat classes for UConn before the lunch break, while Heather Caswell (open fences) and Kristen Edwards (novice fences) won over the jumps in the afternoon. Bryan's win pointed her out of novice and into intermediate flat. UConn's 42 points is also their high total so far in 2007-08, and not a bad home debut for first year Head Coach Elizabeth Rademacher.

"Bunny" (far left) and "Riley" (far right) pose with their owner, University of Connecticut open rider Robyn O'Toole, and with first year UConn Head Coach Elizabeth Rademacher (second on right). A senior from Union, Connecticut, O'Toole won her open flat class but it is not clear if she drew either of her horses during horse draw.

There was a considerable drop-off in the points after Brown and UConn, with none of the other nine teams able to score in the 30's. Roger Williams was the best of five teams in the 20's, with 29 points. Lauren Rarich (or Rarick? We are uncertain of the correct spelling) was the first of four Hawk riders to win a class, earning a blue ribbon in intermediate flat. Olivia Cornell went head-to-head with her sister Brittany in beginner walk-trot-canter. Brittany, who is a freshman, earned one of Roger Williams' eight red ribbons while Olivia, who is a sophomore, was the blue ribbon winner. Rarich was also a red ribbon winner, second in her section of intermediate fences to teammate Jane Pleskunas. Ashley Gagnon earned the fourth and final blue ribbon of the day for Roger Williams in the second of five sections of novice fences.

Johnson & Wales scored 27 points for fourth place. It was a bittersweet day for junior Angela Okrent, who won the very first class of the day but had been ticketed for making a right at one of those 'No Turn on Red' signs on the way to the show. Aside from Okrent's blue ribbon in open flat junior Jess Penn won her open fences class while three J&W riders won second-place ribbons. The Wildcats have been one of the more consistant teams in the early going, trending upward while having scored 23, 24 and 27 at the first three shows.

Though they had scored one more point on opening day, Trinity had not placed inside the top five until today's 22-point effort. Sophomore Isabelle McTwigan earned Trinitys' only blue ribbon of the day with a first in walk-trot. McTwigan pointed out of the division with the first while three Trinity riders won second-place ribbons. One rider who placed third was freshman Claire Loudis, who claimed it was her first horse show of any kind in seven years! Trinity finished fifth for the day despite not having any rider entered in the open flat or fences divisions.

Junior Katelyn Porter (on left) was one of eight Roger Williams riders to place second. Senior Lauren Rarich (right) was one of four Roger Williams riders to win a class outright. Both earned these ribbons in the same section of intermediate flat, to the delight of Head Coach Eliza Davis (center), whose Hawks are in third place through three shows.

A pair of teams tied for sixth place with 21 points each. It was a historic day for the Rhode Island College program, as their point card was full for the first time ever. Senior Amanda Avella earned what turned out to be RIC's only red ribbon when she finished second to Okrent in the day's first class. However sophomore Brittney Karns would win her advanced walk-trot-canter class while junior Kelsey Kanoff would be a winner after the lunch break in intermediate fences.

The University of Rhode Island also scored 21 points, with Not only did URI's Kelly Ferguson point out of novice flat with a first the senior from Wakefield, Rhode Island won the final novice fences class of the day to qualify for the ride-off. Paula Foohey (in open fences) and Briana Carey (in novice fences) were red ribbon winners for the Rams.

Though they did not score in the 20's, Post University had a good day with regards to individual rides. Sophomore Rachel Warbuton won Post's first blue ribbon in the second of three sections of intermediate flat. Kristy Buchter, who is also a sophomore, won her first-ever IHSA blue ribbon in the first of three sections of beginner walk-trot-canter while freshman Leah Kraznor's blue ribbon in the first section of walk-trot was her first blue ribbon of any kind! Two others managed second-place ribbons as Post scored 19 without riders in the open divisions.

Like Post, both Connecticut College and Wesleyan University had only six of the eight divisions filled on their point cards. Both schools finished with 13 points. Conn College earned their 13 points without the benefit of a single ribbon above the red level. Senior Kathryn Gutleber was second in novice fences while Jessica Gordon was second in beginner walk-trot-canter. Caitlin Winiarski led the way for Wesleyan, as the sophomore from San Pedro, California won her intermediate flat class while placing second in novice fences. Another highlight was when Gabrielle Jehle finished second in novice flat. It was the first-ever IHSA ride Jehle, a freshman from Wading River, New York.

Rhode Island College junior Kelsey Kanoff holds up her blue ribbon and horse trophy won in intermediate fences. Rhode Island College never had a rider at every level on their point card in the program's four-year history prior to today's show.

Rounding out the scoring was Central Connecticut State with 11 points. The Blue Devils were able to fill seven divisions with only six riders. Katie Kubica earned CCSU's best ribbon early on, with a second in the third of four sections of open flat.

Until today's show there had not been an alumni fences class at either of the first two Region 1 shows. Today a large contingent of UConn alums made the alumni fences possible. 2004 Huskie graduate Shay Meissinger won the alumni fences, with 2006 alum Nicole Hunsicker second. Julie Harney, who was Julie Gordon as an undergraduate, placed third while 2007 graduate Karen Stryker was fourth. It is interesting to note that although by rule IHSA alumni are supposed to jump at the novice level this class used the exact same course (and height) as the intermediate fences. The four UConn graduates were joined by 2007 Johnson & Wales graduate Crystal Mattia on the flat. This time Harney, who graduated in 2003, was the winner with Stryker second, Meissinger third, Hunsicker fourth and Mattia fifth. It is not clear who the announcer was who read the alumni placings over the loudspeakers as Stryker was the official announcer at today's show.

The Ride-off: Through the intermediate fences it looked like a first and a second might be good enough to make the ride-off. However Bogdonoff won the first section of novice fences to become a double-blue winner. Then Tasindi did the same two classes later, and Ferguson two classes after that. When it was over at nearly 6PM Bogdonoff, a sophomore from New London, Connecticut had won while Tasindi, a senior from Istanbul, Turkey was reserve.

Seen here with her parents, Darcy Vancans was one of three Johnson & Wales riders to win a red ribbon at today's show. Vancans was second in her section of novice flat while the Wildcats placed fourth overall with 27 points.

Better late than never: This story did not go on-line until several weeks after the UConn show was history. In that time the points were altered slightly from what has been described in this article. Rhode Island College saw their total fall from 21 to 16; The University of Rhode Island lost one point to finish with 20, and Wesleyan University moved up, earning 16 instead of 13.

Brown University stayed undefeated through the October 27th Connecticut College show but had to share first place that day with Post. Both schools tied with 35 points, with Post securing their first share of a High Point Team award in program history.

Two weeks later Central Connecticut State hosted, with Wesleyan earning high point team honors with 33 points. UConn was second with 32 while Brown fell from the ranks of the unbeaten, in third tied with Post at 29 points each. Though we are still checking the record books it is possible Wesleyan had never been High Point Team until that day. Though CCSU was the host the show took place at Windcrest Farm which is where Wesleyan trains.

Overall Brown was leading UConn by a 189-162 margin following the CCSU show, with Roger Williams third with 144. The Bears no longer claim the Cacchione leader, as Goutal did not compete at the October 27th or November 10th shows. In that span Brown teammate Whitney Keefe moved ahead with 37 points, this with only one blue ribbon earned over five shows (first in open fences at Conn College). Ahead of Keefe is Penn with 40 points while Lynch is in the driver's seat with 50. The senior from Suffield, Connecticut helped her cause with 12 points at the CCSU show.

One more update: Though we do not yet have complete points from the November 17th Wesleyan show we can tell you UConn finally won a show, a 40-33 winner over Brown. This would give the Bears a 20-point lead going into the winter break.

---Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Mostly cloudy skies, with temperatures in the low '50's. Entire show held indoors. Start time: 9:13AM. Finish: 5:56PM - includes 94 minute schooling/lunch break. Coaches and Captains meeting held prior to start of show. Point cards posted in this region? Yes, but with no rider names (class names listed only). Alumni Classes held in this region? Yes. Judge: Ann Jamieson. Stewards: Fogg/Johnson & Wales University, Maloof/University of Rhode Island and Davis/Roger Williams University.

Team Totals: Brown University (High Point Team) 45; University of Connecticut (Reserve) 42; Roger Williams University 29; Johnson & Wales University 27; Trinity College (CT) 22; Rhode Island College 21 (later changed to 16); University of Rhode Island 21 (later changed to 20); Post University 17; Wesleyan University 13 (later changed to 16); Connecticut College 13 and Central Connecticut State University 11.

High Point Rider - Emma Bogdonoff, Brown University
Reserve High Point Rider - Irmak Tasindi, Brown University