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LYONS EDGE MINUTEMEN, LEAD BY 22 THROUGH FOUR SHOWS South Hadley, MA - University of Massachusetts at Amherst Head Coach Jerry Schurink put it best. During a streak early in the day, when four minutemen riders won consecutive classes, Schurink said to his winners "Show me the money." The reason for this was that each rider who won a class at today's show received not only a blue ribbon, but a picture frame with what appeared to be money inside of it. UMass swept the intermediate fences and won the first two of three novice jumping classes. The minutemen ended the day with ten blue ribbons, and ten picture frames filled with several pictures of George Washington indeed. It was a good day for UMass, scoring a season-high 40 points. The minutemen seem stronger than at any time since their mid-'90's heyday, when they won three consecutive Region 3 titles. If there was some sort of IHSA National Rankings, like what the BCS does for Football or the RPI does for Basketball, this University of Massachusetts at Amherst team would be inside the top ten. They are that good. However they are in the same region as Mount Holyoke College, host of today's show. The lyons were second at 2005 IHSA Nationals and returned most of the riders from that team in 2005-06. After UMass won a low-scoring 34-32 affair on opening day, the lyons have rolled into the 40's each subsequent show, scoring 47 (at UMass), 45 and 43 today. If trends mean anything however, it should be noted that UMass has gained momentum each week, scoring 34, 35, 36 and now 40. For most of today's show, UMass was earning the most blue ribbons. However when the lyons took three of four walk-trot-canter sections at the end, Mount Holyoke could claim twelve blue ribbons. And though the money inside the twelve picture frames was only funny money, the lyons 22-point lead is no laughing matter.
For the lyons have won the region nine straight seasons, with the lead usually built to over 20 points by Thanksgiving. The key many of these seasons for Mount Holyoke was superior riding at the open level, and the current group of lyons certainly have a formidable pair showing in the divisions. Though Nathalie Cooper (the 'H' is silent) still leads the region 3 Cacchione race after a first and a second today, lyon teammate Kyla Makhloghi, who was second at 2005 Nationals in the Cacchione Cup, won twice today and now trails by only six. Both competed in the first class of the day, with Makhloghi first and Cooper second over the fences. Cooper (with 50) and Makhloghi (with 44 due to a sub-par first show) are 1-2 in the region 3 open rider standings through four shows. Other Mount Holyoke riders to win classes on this day were Dani Corkill (intermediate flat), Alixandra Coursen (same), Laura Tarko (novice flat), Lorin Weaver (same), Marie Hilliard (novice fences), Heather Johnstone (advanced walk-trot-canter), Ali Wilson (same), Eva Agha (beginner walk-trot-canter) and Kelly Reardon (walk-trot). Mount Holyoke had almost 48 rides in the 24 undergraduate-level classes, with at least one rider placing sixth or above in all 24 of them. They are that good. For the longest time it seemed that UMass would win. Blue ribbons went to Mara Keith Hunter (open flat), Annie Ollila intermediate fences), Erin Horrigan (same), Ashley McClune (novice flat), Emily Tyrell (same), Sheena McNally (novice fences), Karen Dancause (advanced walk-trot-canter), Megan Dionne (walk-trot) and Erica Webb, who won both her intermediate flat and novice fences classes. Save for open fences, UMass had a blue ribbon in every division.
Eight other schools took part in today's show, but so great was the strength of Mount Holyoke and UMass that only two blue ribbons were awarded to riders from other schools. In both cases, the ribbons went to Smith College open riders. Emily Hertz won the second class of the day (open fences) while teammate Michaela LeBlanc took the first of four sections of open flat. Five other Smith riders were second in their classes (Martha Maloney-Huss in advanced walk-trot-canter, Kristyn Hall, Samantha Leland and Katherine Obara in novice flat and Hertz in open flat). The 2005 Region 3 Reserve High Point Team were securely in third place today, their 26 points eleven more than Amherst and fourteen fewer than UMass. So great was the strength of the top three schools that only two other schools produced red-ribbon winners. Fourth place Amherst College could claim senior Sarah Sander as a red-ribbon winner (second in walk-trot) while Clark University's Alison Emery was reserve in the lone section of beginner walk-trot-canter. Clark Head Coach Greg LaPlace, who would judge his first IHSA show the next day for Boston University in Region 4, says Clark competes for the enjoyment of it. The cougars ended up with four points at today's show. Other teams competing on this day were Westfield State, scoring eleven points, including third-place ribbons for Katye Tuttle in walk-trot and Eryn Carter in advanced walk-trot-canter; Williams College, with ten points, including a third for Giorgio Mosoni in open fences; Becker College, with nine points, including thirds for Diane Ashton (intermediate flat), Laurie Gendron (novice fences) and Alie Robbie (intermediate fences); Holy Cross, with eight points, including third place ribbons in both novice divisions for Margaret Lahey; and Springfield College, with a team of only two riders on this day, scoring two points.
No alumni placings left behind: Alumni from the host school have done relatively well so far this season in Region 3, and with Mount Holyoke hosting today's show it was Tara Lowary, a member of the lyons class of '05 winning both divisions. 1997 Mount Holyoke graduate Sam Williams made her 2005-06 alumni debut with a second over fences and third on the flat. 1993 Mount Holyoke graduate Debbie Guiel was second on the flat while 2001 lyons graduate Tara Korde was sixth on the flat (Guiel and Korde did not jump). Yet another Mount Holyoke graduate, in this case 2005 graduate Heather DiGiovanni, was fourth over fences and fifth on the flat. 2004 UMass graduate Jennifer Lober, who won both classes when UMass hosted and one at Smith on opening day, was third over fences and fourth on the flat. 2005 Williams graduate Tracey VanKempen was fifth over fences and reserve on the flat. All other alumni who competed in Region 3 shows earlier this season were not present for today's competition. The Ride-off: Makhloghi and Webb were the only riders with two firsts. Webb, a senior from Fairfield, Connecticut who went to College when she was 16 and will graduate this December at 20, was reserve while Makhloghi, a senior from Putney, Vermont who will graduate in May, won the ride-off.
Brattleboro Union cranks 'em out!: Makhloghi, Hertz, Lober and Mount Holyoke freshman open rider Amanda Pettengill all attended the same high school in Brattleboro, Vermont. So if you need an open rider down the road, perhaps Brattleboro Union is the place to look! The Big E will be jumping: The Eastern States Exposition in Springfield, Massachusetts (or 'The Big E' as it is also known) will again be the site this fall for the East Coast edition of the 'Equine Affair.' Running from November 10th through the 13th, The Equine Affair is part trade show, part seminar, part demonstration. The trade show part brings in the most visitors, as vendors sell many of their goods at discounts. This time around there will be a panel discussion/demonstration on the IHSA. Scheduled for sometime in the early afternoon on November 11th, those who attend will be able to meet and talk to several individuals involved within the IHSA, including Mount Holyoke Head Coach C.J. Law and Dartmouth College Head Coach and IHSA National Steward Sally Batton. It should be a very informative experience for those who want to learn about and understand the organization. What's next?: Though Mount Holyoke is looking as good (or perhaps even better) as last season, UMass is greatly improved. Either of these teams would likely win 25 of the current 30 IHSA regions. Smith College would also win many regions if the geography were different. If UMass can somehow win a few more open classes, it would not shock this writer to see the minutemen close the gap. Bold prediction: By March 26th, either Mount Holyoke or UMass - or Both - will score 49 at one of the remaining shows. And good luck to the rest of the Zone and Nation who sees the Region 3 High Point Team in the post season. They're that good!. ---Steve Maxwell Show Incidentals: Mostly Sunny with High Temperatures in the low 50's. Entire Show held indoors. Start time: 9:54AM. Finish: 4:13PM - includes 33 minute lunch/schooling break (Coaches and Captains meeting held prior to start of show). Point Cards posted in this region? No. Alumni Classes held in this region? Yes. Judge: Ms. Shaina Humphrey. Stewards: Paro/Becker College, Ehrlich/Springfield College and Schurink/University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Team Totals: Mount Holyoke College (High Point Team) 43; University of Massachusetts at Amherst (Reserve) 40; Smith College 26; Amherst College 15; Westfield State College 11; Williams College 10; Becker College 9; College of the Holy Cross 8; Clark University 4 and Springfield College 2. High Point Rider - Kyla Makhloghi, Mount Holyoke College
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