|
||||||
|
DREW, USMA TIE FOR HIGH POINT WHILE CENTENARY CLINCHES 21ST CONSECUTIVE REGION TITLE Readington, NJ - It was likely the most somber day in the history of Briarwood Farm, as long-time owner Jack Benson had passed away only three days earlier after a battle with lung cancer. It was only fitting that the show did not start until after 9:00AM, as Benson himself often urged riders to get started as close to the 8:30AM planned start time as possible. There was a brief ceremony celebrating the life of Jack Benson during which two enlarged photos from roughly ten years apart were placed on easels while United States Military Academy Coach Peter Cashman said a few words about the man. A moment of silence was observed, and then the show went on as Benson would have wanted it to. Though current Region 1 Cacchione leader Lindsay Mohr was a scratch on this day, her Centenary College teammate Cori Reich won the section of open fences both were scheduled to compete in. Regina Woronowicz, a USMA junior from Bellevue, Washington won the second section of open fences while the third and final open fences winner was Haley Flagg of Drew University. A sophomore from Holmes, New York, Flagg was the first of six Drew riders to win a class and one of three Ranger open riders to earn a blue ribbon. Centenary came close to a sweep of the intermediate fences but ultimately settled for two out of three. Randi Cashman, a junior who is already going to IHSA Nationals in the individual AQHA Trophy division, won the first section while Cyclone teammate Phoebe Hersh followed with a win in the second section. A freshman from Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, Hersh was one of seven Centenary blue ribbon winners who resides outside the state of New Jersey in the off-season. Ashley Kraft. a junior from Washington, Connecticut provided Drew with the final intermediate fences blue ribbon, holding Centenary's Jessica Pabst to second.
Virtually the same series of events occured in novice fences. Sydney Eggleston, a freshman from Spokane, Washington gave the Evergreen State their second blue ribbon while providing the Cyclones with their fourth. The second section of novice fences went to Megan Pritchard, a sophomore from Roxbury, New Jersey and the first Centenary winner from within the Garden State. Ali Krecker was second for the Cyclones in the third section. Edging out Krecker was Jonas Colmer of Drew. A freshman from Belmar, New Jersey whose twin sister Sarah is also a member of the Ranger team, Colmer helped Drew stay neck-and-neck with Centenary on the point sheets through the over fences divisions. When the program was printed only 2006 Drew Graduate Kristine Kennedy was listed as an entry in alumni fences. To make the class legal two more riders would need to be entered. Sarah Lawrence College Head Coach Lori Rakoczy, who graduated from Pace in the late 1980's, filled one void. While it was not the alumni debut for Rakoczy it was for Pace Head Coach Sam Miller. A 2007 graduate of Goucher College, Miller fashioned a very good ride which even had Kennedy saying "Sams' gonna beat me!" However neither Rakoczy nor Miller were in proper show clothes (Kennedy was the only one who looked like she was headed to a horse show, even doning the Hoof and Woof britches she received at the 2008 Holiday Tournament of Champions) while Miller also circled a second time before heading for the first fence. Miller was third, Rakoczy second while Kennedy won and will likely be the only Region 1 rider to qualify for Regionals in alumni fences. Kennedy needed these seven points to bring her total to 24, as the final Region 1 show probably will not offer alumni fences. Though 28 points are normally needed to qualify, the IHSA usually drops the number down to take the top rider in the division provided he/she has scored somewhere in the 20's. With Kennedy the only rider over 20 in alumni fences, expect to see her riding in the divisions at Zones on April 10th. Following the lunch break four sections of open flat were split between Centenary and Drew. Kelly Arvidson, a junior from Monroe, New Jersey won the first section for the Cyclones. For the moment, Cashman was in the running for high point rider, by virtue of placing second behind her Centenary roommate. Sarah Barbato, a Drew freshman from Stockton, New Jersey, won section B. Barbato's teammate Katie Kramer won section C. This was a significant win as the sophomore from Los Angeles, California took over first place in the Region 1 Cacchione standings, moving a point ahead of the idle Mohr 65-64. Woronowicz was second to Kramer, putting her into a tie with Cashman for the ride-off. The final section went to Nicole Mandraccia of Centenary. A freshman from Succasuna, New Jersey, Mandraccia was one of five Cyclone winners to call the Garden State home. Though three riders were printed into the program as Alumni flat entries only two were present. Rakoczy stepped up to the plate again and was third. Manhattanville College graduate Cheryl Maloney was second, raising her total to 25 while Kennedy, who was already qualified, won to bring her total to 35. Alumni flat is suppossed to be offered when Pace hosts on March 7th so hopefully Maloney will find herself in a class of no more than four to clinch a place at Zones. Three sections of intermediate flat followed, with the Cyclones sweeping the division. Krecker, who like Hersh is from Martha's Vineyard, won section A, thus moving into a tie with Cashman and Woronowicz for high point if only temporarily. Though Reich showed in open fences, the freshman from Ivyland, Pennsylvania is an intermediate flat rider. Reich won section B to become the only rider with two firsts at today's show. It was Reich's first IHSA show with two firsts. Sami Davis, a junior from Exeter, New Hampshire won the final intermediate flat class. In spite of Centenary having won four consecutive classes, and having both the first and second place rider in two of the three intermediate classes the USMA and Drew were still essentially even with them for the day.
In order to use certain horses at certain times of the day during shows held at Briarwood Farm, sections of novice flat alternate with sections of walk-trot-canter. Towards the end of the show a walk-trot class or two might be held between a novice class and a walk-trot-canter class. The State University of New York at New Paltz won their first blue ribbon of the day as Kristin Amundsen won the first of four sections of novice flat. A sophomore from Cortland Manor, New York, Amundsen was accidentally listed in the program as a Stevens rider. A section of beginner walk-trot-canter followed. The Evergreen state picked up a third blue ribbon as USMA junior Aryn Davis won. From the town of Klickitat, Washington, Davis put the Black Knights ahead for the moment. Centenary then proceeded to win three classes in a row. Sarah Hickey, a freshman from Long Valley, New Jersey won the second section of novice flat. Lauren Bender, a junior from Fresno, California won the first section of advanced walk-trot-canter while Candice Schober, a sophomore from Beaumont, Texas won the third section of novice flat. While Centenary won 13 of the first 21 undergraduate classes of the day, the final eight classes would produce only one more blue for the Cyclones. The second and final section of beginner walk-trot-canter (listed in the program simply as 'walk-trot-canter') was won by a rider from today's host school. Liz Chew, a sophomore from Lafayette, New Jersey was tops in a field of five for William Paterson University. The Pioneerss would finish the day with 27 points, trailing only the Cyclones, Rangers and Black Knights. The first section of walk-trot followed. While Centenary had a rider named Christine Jordan a few seasons back, now the USMA has a rider by that same name. A freshman from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Jordan won her walk-trot to put USMA further ahead (but by chance the Black Knights' point card was completed while Drew and Centenary still had two point riders in the upcoming classes). The final section of novice flat produced the only blue ribbon winner of the day for Marist College. From Ridgefield, Connecticut, Red Foxes junior Christina Handshy was the winner in 3D. Stevens Institute of Technology earned their lone blue ribbon of the day a short time later. Julia Cedderoth, a sophomore from Westfield, New Jersey won the second of four sections of walk-trot for the Ducks. Centenary claimed their final blue ribbon of the day via Nicole Cardinale. A freshman from Toms River, New Jersey, Cardinale won the second of three sections of advanced walk-trot-canter. Centenary, without a rider in the final three classes, finished the day with 35 points, one less than USMA who was in first for the moment. Stacey Ceron, a sophomore from Queens, New York won the third walk-trot class for Drew. It was either this walk-trot class or Amanda Meys second in advanced walk-trot-canter moments later which allowed Drew to tie USMA for high point team at 36 each. Cleo Stern provided New Paltz with their second blue ribbon of the day by finishing one place higher than Meys. Caroline Sanchez, a freshman from Carteret, New Jersey, won the final class of the day. Sanchez was first in section 1D for William Paterson. Because Region 1 does not hold ride-offs, the names of the three riders who were tied with a first and a second were written on pieces of paper and put into a plastic cup. A name was pulled out and it turned out to be Woronowicz. This process was repeated for high point team ribbon, with Drew prevailing. Though they finished a point behind both Drew and USMA, Centenary College clinched their 21st consecutive region title. With SUNY - New Paltz scoring only 20 points the gap between the two schools was now 63 points. Even if Centenary did not show up at the Pace show New Paltz could not catch them with a perfect score. William Paterson finished the day only seven points behind New Paltz overall, while Drew is now only seven behind William Paterson. Ultimately what made Centenary region champs again was consistancy. The Cyclones low score of the season to date is 29 points on October 18th. By contrast New Paltz scored 11 on opening day, Drew earned 14 that same day while William Paterson scored their low of 19 at the fall USMA show. This has been the pattern for nine years now, with Centenary rarely going into the final Region 1 regular season show still looking to mathematically eliminate the field. Not since the legendary 2000-01 USMA/Centenary race where nine points separated the two schools going into the final show has there been high drama to settle first place in the Region 1 hunter seat team standings so late in the season. More Jack Benson: Region 1 will replace their award given to the top open rider with a new trophy in honor of Jack Benson...A Facebook page entitled "RIP (Ride in Peace) Jack Benson" was set up prior to today's show. By March 11th this particular group had over 1,000 members. Visitors to this page can view hundreds of photos and testimonials from nearly as many about the man. Some very funny Benson stories (some rated at least PG) can be found under the "Discussions" heading...A memorial service for Benson took place at the Stanton (New Jersey) Reformed Church on March 1st. Though a separate Facebook page entitled "Memorial service for Jack Benson" listed 182 confirmed guests the Church was filled to overflowing by most accounts. Benson, who founded the first Briarwood Farm in Oldwick, New Jersey in 1974, was a legendary figure in East Coast horse circles, training many riders (and eventually some of their children) over a 40 year span.
More 2/28/10 William Paterson show stuff: Elizabeth Falcone of Bard College was second to Krecker in intermediate flat for the Raptor's best ribbon of the day. Though they entered the day averaging 22 points per show Bard scored only eight points. Otto Berkes nearly won a fourth blue ribbon for the state of Washington but lost out by going off course. "A very nice ride except the off-course part" said Raptors coach Andrea Nussinow...Julia Bowler in advanced walk-trot-canter and Jackie Smith in open flat earned Pace University's top ribbons of the day with seconds. Miller's Setters finished the day with nine points...Aya Matsumoto of Sarah Lawrence College was second to Eggleston in novice fences. Rakoczy's Gryphons finished 12 points...Not only did USMA and Drew win for the first time in 2009-10 both earned their year-to-date high scores with 36. How about some 3/7/10 Pace show stuff?!: With nothing to prove Centenary College won for the sixth time in nine tries, scoring a season-high 47 points to close out the regular season on March 7th. SUNY - New Paltz and Pace tied for reserve high point team with 36 each. The Setters, who scored in the teens five times, easily exceeded their previous best of 24...Mohr had a good day for the Cyclones, earning 12 points to secure the Region 1 Cacchione entry at Nationals. Arvidson also jumped ahead of Kramer for second in the open rider standings...Peter Cashman is the 2009-10 recipient of the IHSA's Lifetime Achievement Award. While in past seasons there would be one single presentation of this award at IHSA Nationals, a new format went into place this season where two ceremonies will be held. One will take place during the regular season "So that everyone within the region is present," said IHSA Founder and Executive Director Bob Cacchione. Otherwise only riders and coaches who attend or compete in the National show would see the individual from their region receive his or her recognition. First awarded in 1993, Cashman received the award during the Pace show and will receive it again at IHSA Nationals in Lexington, Kentucky May 6th through 9th. ---Steve Maxwell Show Incidentals: Overcast skies, with temperatures reaching the upper '40's. Entire show held indoors. Start time: 9:07AM. Finish: 4:51PM - Includes 34 minute lunch break/Coaches and Captains meeting. Point cards posted in this region? Yes. Alumni classes held in this Region? Yes. Judge: Kathy Pinera. Stewards: P. Cashman/United States Military Academy, Nussinow/Bard College, Knapp/Marist College and Rakoczy/Sarah Lawrence College. Team Totals: Drew University (TIE - High Point Team) 36; United States Military Academy (TIE - High Point Team) 36; Centenary College 35; William Paterson University 27; Stevens Institute of Technology 24; Marist College 21; State University of New York at New Paltz 20; Sarah Lawrence College 12; Pace University 9 and Bard College 8. High Point Rider - Cori Reich, Centenary College
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
HOME
| CONTACT US |
||||||
