A sophomore from Hubbardston, Massachusetts, Brittany Bachant (on right, with Eagles Coach Cyndy van der Meer) was the second of three Boston College riders to win a class when they hosted on March 27th. Bachant's win in novice fences qualified her for Regionals in the division.

TUFTS WINS FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE DAY, EARNS FIRST REGION TITLE IN ELEVEN YEARS

Medway, MA - Early on it looked as if Tufts big day at August Farm on March 26th might have been for naught, as Stonehill College won early and often.

Yet as the day progressed at Saddle Rowe the pointed Tufts University riders started to win. And win. And by the time the open flat came around it was apparent that the Jumbos were going to Zones with a full hunter seat team for the first time since 2000.

The final margin on March 27th was 39-32 for Tufts over the Sky Hawks. Things had changed in a hurry over 30 hours, with Tufts winning 45-33 at August Farm a day earlier. Stonehill had been ahead 297-288 through eight Zone 1, Region 4 shows up to the final weekend. For only the third time since 2001 Stonehill will not have a full hunter seat team at Zone 1 Zones.

Stonehill College received four blue and four red ribbons on March 27th, with sophomore Hanna Pattie (on left) and senior Callie Ryan (on right) earning half of the latter.

Early on it looked like Stonehill might make it ten titles in eleven years. Kayla Schneider, a Stonehill senior from Vernon, Connecticut was very smooth in the first section of open fences while Katie Christiansen of Tufts did the best with a difficult draw. Schneider won the section with Christiansen fourth. Casey Lorusso, a sophomore from Wrentham, Massachusetts was second for the Sky Hawks in the second section of open fences. Host Boston College faired well in these divisions, with Sarah Flink (senior, Charlestown, Massachusetts) winning section B while Eagle teammate Lucy Huber (senior, Concord, Massachusetts) was second to Schneider in section A.

The Sky Hawks then swept the intermediate fences. Christine Dwyer, a junior from Park City, Utah won section A while Kristen Stachnik, a freshman from Westhampton, New York won section B. Jess Beckstrom, a sophomore from Shrewsbury, Massachusetts was second to Dwyer for Wheaton College's only top-two placing for the day. Anna Gamwell of Mount Ida College was second to Stachnik. Tufts had yet to receive a ribbon above fourth place.

Boston College continued to stay hot, as sophomore Brittany Bachant won the first of four sections of novice fences. A sophomore from Hubbardston, Massachusetts, Bachant qualified for Regionals with the blue ribbon. Brianna Fitch of of Wellesley College won the first of her two red ribbons in this section. Neither Tufts nor Stonehill had a rider in the section Bachant won.

Curry College has two new IHSA coaches for the spring. They are Geraldine Burnet (on left) and Betsy Kupic (on right, who also coaches the Cranberry IEA team). Corrine Cabaniss of the Colonels (center) won the only section of beginner walk-trot-canter held on March 27th.

The second section of novice fences finally saw Tufts get off the mat. Katie Lazarski, a sophomore from Bristol, Connecticut was both a point rider and the winner of section B for the Jumbos. Margeaux DeVirgillo was second in the section for Stonehill. Alexandra Keller, a Stonehill junior from South Burlington, Vermont proceeded to win section C, besting Tufts' Demi Marks who received the red ribbon. Section D was the last before the schooling break, with Julie Miller of Brandeis University the first rider not from Stonehill, Tufts or host Boston College to win a class. Bridgewater State College freshman Danielle Mastalerz was second. Like section A there were no Stonehill or Tufts riders entered.

During the lunch/schooling break it was learned that the open flat classes scheduled to take place next were being moved to the end of the day due to a possible rider eligibility issue. Because of this the lone section of intermediate flat would be the first since the jumps were removed from the Saddle Rowe indoor. Kelly Sullivan, a Tufts freshman from New Jersey, won the class of eight and also qualified for Regionals with the win. Stonehill sophomore Hanna Pattie (from Newburyport, Massachusetts) was second. Tufts was suddenly back to where they started the day.

Three sections of novice flat followed. The Tufts/Stonehill battle was on hold for a moment (no riders in section A) as Madeline Brown won Brandeis's second blue ribbon of the day. A freshman from Fayetteville, Arkansas Brown finished one place higher than Kaley Curtis of Mount Ida College. Tufts only entry in the three novice flat sections was Risa Meyers, and the sophomore from New York City did not disappoint. Meyers won section B for the Jumbos while Kate Perez of Stonehill was second. Perez qualified for Regionals with the red ribbon. Miller of Brandeis won the third and final section. A junior from Franklin, Massachusetts, Miller was so far the only rider with two firsts. Fitch earned her second red ribbon of the day for the Blue.

One place people could go to warm up was the Saddle Rowe viewing lounge. Yasmine Devi-Chou of Wellesley College holds the only blue ribbon won by "The Blue" at today's show, a first in walk-trot. Wellesley was fifth for the day with 24 points.

Bridgewater State earned their only blue ribbon of the day in the first of two sections of advanced walk-trot-canter. Caitlin Newell, a freshman from Medway, Massachusetts (the same town as Saddle Rowe) won section A for the Bears. Kate Jurney of Tufts, who was printed into the program as a beginner walk-trot-rider but may have pointed into advanced during Saturday's show, was second. Mount Ida College earned their only blue ribbon of the day via Heather Bisson, the freshman winning the second section of advanced walk-trot-canter. Callie Ryan, a senior from Newtown, Connecticut delivered the red ribbon for Stonehill.

Four riders showed in the lone section of beginner walk-trot-canter. Corrine Cabaniss, a sophomore from Newbury, New Hampshire, won the class for Curry College. Incredibly Cabaniss was only the second Curry rider to win a class all season, with teammate Katelyn O'Toole's first in novice fences a day earlier marking the other ocassion. Kayla Burrows of Bridgewater State was the runner-up in beginner walk-trot-canter.

Wellesley College earned their one and only blue ribbon of the day in the class that followed. Yasmine Devi-Chou, a junior from New York City won the first of two sections of walk-trot. David Eder, a Tufts sophomore from Milwaukee, Wisconsin was second. Tufts faired even better in the final walk-trot class as Clara Bieck came through with a blue ribbon. The freshman from Fort Lauderdale, Florida finished a place ahead of Heather Poirier of Mount Ida College. Though nobody announced it at the time, the results of the walk-trot classes mathematically clinched the region title for Tufts.

The only classes that remained were the delayed open flat sections (There were no alumni classes held at today's event - Editor). Huber proceeded to win the first section, temporarily putting her in line for Reserve High Point Rider honors. Kennon Ulicny, a Tufts sophomore from Cincinnati, Ohio was second. The final class of the day turned out to be the second section of open flat, and the final regular season class for Christiansen had her in tears. Over the course of nearly four seasons the senior from Larchmont, New York had many seconds in open flat classes but not one first - until today. When Christiansen was announced as the blue ribbon winner the Tufts riders cheered even louder than when they had clinched a trip to Zones earlier. Schneider was second to create a ride-off for Reserve. Miller thus earned high point rider honors for the day.

2000 Tufts graduate Katie Schaaf (in brown jacket, holding 'Raleigh' the black labrador) did not get to ride alumni on March 27th as no alumni classes were held. Schaaf couldn't have cared less, as coaching her alma matter to their first Region Championship since her senior year was enjoyable enough. Already qualified for Regionals in both alumni divisions, Schaaf could very well be coaching her Tufts team at Zone 1 Zones in South Hadley, Massachusetts on April 9th while her team keeps an eye on her during up to two alumni rides.

The Ride-Off: Initially there was announcing error which claimed Huber was the Reserve High Point Rider. However the people in the secretaries stand were quickly alerted that Schneider also had a first and a second. Judge Nancy Murphy elected to ask questions of Huber and Schneider rather than hold a ride-off. Huber was declared the red ribbon winner after only one question. Apparently Huber's answer to "What is a Coggin's test?" was more accurate than Schneider's.

Don't forget about us: Boston University did not manage a top two placing but did have a pair of thirds over fences. Terriers Open rider Lilly Zarrella clinched a trip to 2011 IHSA Nationals as the Region 4 Cacchione Rider during the show at August Farm one day earlier.

Saddle Rowe name explained: This writer wondered if the name of the facility Boston College utilized today was in fact created to be similar to or a parody of Saville Row, the famous street of high end shops in London, England. According to Eagles Head Coach Cyndy van der Meer this is not the case. The name arose when van der Meer and several friends were all roughly six years old and noticed the way the saddles were lined up in a row beside the stalls. Coincidentally someone with the last name "Rowe" was involved with the facility.

What's Next? Snow of course!: During one of two Coaches & Captains meetings held at today's show the discussion of which day to hold Regionals at Holly Hill Farm came up. Rain was predicted for Friday (April 1st, which was one choice) and Saturday (a slightly more popular choice). Eventually it was decided to hold Regionals on Saturday and deal with the rain if it happened. It did rain on Friday in the vicinity of Holly Hill, but up to two inches of snow fell further inland where several schools are located. As of April 1st the plan was still for Regionals at Holly Hill on the 2nd, rain or shine. It looks like the skies will clear on Saturday and that the daytime high will be 52 degrees.

--Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Sunny skies but windy, with temperatures in the mid '40's. Start time: 9:39AM. Finish: 1:51PM - includes 43 minute lunch break/Coaches and Captains meeting. Point cards posted in this region?: Yes. Alumni Classes held in this region? Yes but not on this day. Judge: Nancy Murphy. Stewards: Reed/Mount Ida College; Schaaf/Tufts University and Valberg/Stonehill College.

Team Totals: Tufts University (High Point Team) 39; Stonehill College (Reserve) 32; Boston College 29; Mount Ida College 28; Wellesley College 24; Wheaton College 22; Brandeis University 16; Boston University 13; Bridgewater State College 13 and Curry College 12.

High Point Rider - Julie Miller, Brandeis University
Reserve High Point Rider - Lucy Huber, Boston College