Skidmore freshman open rider Kendle Handtmann (left, with teammate and defending National Champion Cacchione Rider Ashley Woodhouse) won her open flat and fences classes at the Morrisville State show on November 12th.

SKIDMORE COMES FROM BEHIND TO STAY UNBEATEN

Morrisville, NY - The show started with Rebecca Poff of host Morrisville State entering the ring to travel through the open jumps at 8:49AM. It ended with the placings of class 1B at 6:13PM. At the end of the (long) day, Skidmore had come from behind to win for the second time in as many tries, scoring 44 points and a three-point win over both Colgate and Cornell.

There were 37 undergraduate classes held at today's show; Skidmore riders won ten of them. Kendle Handtmann, a freshman open rider from Santa Barbara, California won both of her classes and was the lone member of the thoroughbreds in the ride-off. Jessica Schroff (open flat), Kerin Rosen (intermediate flat), Hawthorne Hart (intermediate fences), Vicky Wright (novice flat), Jessica Feil (novice fences), Amanda Platt (same), Sarah Webb (advanced walk-trot-canter) and Julia Whittle (walk-trot) also won classes for Skidmore, giving the thoroughbreds at least one blue ribbon in every division.

The Colgate Raiders, eight behind Skidmore when the day started, were very impressive early, leading with a perfect 21 through the over fences divisions. Colgate needed to do well early and often, simply because the raiders were without a walk-trot rider on this day. Devon Storbeck, a junior from Bolton, Massachusetts, won both of her intermediate classes while Kate Kokanovich, a freshman from Rochester, New York, was a double-blue winner in the novice divisions. Lindsey Smith (open flat), Aubrey Graham (open fences), Ashley Oost - Lievense (intermediate flat) and Gillian Holdstein (novice fences) were also blue ribbon winners for the Raiders.

The Cornell Big Red stayed close, eventually catching the Raiders but not the Thoroughbreds. Trudi Gulick, a senior open rider from Santa Rosa, California, won both of her classes while Caroline Shulman (intermediate fences), Kelly Corbett (novice flat), Liz Kozakiewicz (same), Caitlin Kontak (advanced walk-trot-canter), Annette Lalic (same), Ally Chan (beginner walk-trot-canter) and Caitlin Carroll (walk-trot) brought the big red blue ribbon total up to nine.

The host school is always the busiest at an IHSA show. Morrisville State freshman open rider Sabrina Detmer (left) and Head Coach Lisa Eklund (right) posed quickly after Detmer's first in open fences. Detmer would win on the flat and join what became a five-way ride-off for high point.

The show started out with four different schools each winning an open fences class. Graham won the first section, Handtmann the second, Gulick the third and Hartwick junior Caitlin Niedzalkowski the last. Though five of her teammates would earn reserve ribbons, Niedzalkoski's first in open fences would be the only blue ribbon of the day for the hawks, who would score an impressive 30 points nevertheless.

Intermediate fences followed, with Hart, Storbeck, Shulman and Jackie Darling of Ithaca blue ribbon winners in that order. Darling would be the lone blue ribbon winner for the bombers on this day.

Six sections of novice fences were next, with four schools dividing the blue ribbons. Feil and Platt won for Skidmore while Kokanovich and Holdstein won for Colgate. Sabrina Detmer, a Morrisville State freshman from Pleasant Valley, New York, repeated her successful novice fences debut at Hartwick a week earlier with a first here. Detmer would win her novice flat much later, joining the ride-off. Amy Fearing of RPI also won a section of novice fences, earning the only blue ribbon of the day for the red (ironically, the red earned every ribbon from first through sixth except the red reserve ribbon).

Because Region 3 uses the novice horses for the alumni classes, the alumni usually ride when the novice divisions have been completed (this differs from many regions where alumni ride over fences, then are usually the first or second flat class after the fences are removed). Though originally the alumni were supposed to ride in one class of eight, the decision was made to split the class into two sections of four (this split also occured on the flat). 2005 Ithaca graduate Audra Ravo won the first section of alumni fences, while 1999 Stonehill graduate and 2005 IHSA Alumni National Champion over fences rider Emily Unger remained undefeated in the division since May 6th with a first in the second section.

Kate Kokanovich, a Colgate freshman from Rochester, New York, was one of five riders (two from the raiders) to compete in the ride-off for high point at Morrisville.

The first flat class did not take place until shortly after 2PM, with Gulick again a winner, best in a field of six in the first of four open flat classes. Skidmore then won two in a row, as Schroff and Handtmann won their sections of open flat. Smith of Colgate won the final section but was not the raider's point rider. This marked the first division to be completed without Colgate earning seven points as a team. Defending IHSA Nationals Cacchione Cup winner Ashley Woodhouse placed third to Gulick on the flat and second to her over fences. Woodhouse ended the day with 21 points so far this season, two behind Gulick and three behind teammate Handtmann. It should be noted that thoroughbreds Head Coach Cindy Ford was still very pleased with both Woodhouse's (and Handtmann's) over fences round.

Storbeck joined Handtmann and Gulick in the ride-off, placing first in her section of intermediate flat. Raider teammate Ashley Oost - Lievense won the second section of intermediate flat, while Christy House became the only Hamilton rider of the day to win a class with a first in the third section. Kerin Rosen, whose older sister Erica competed for Cornell the past few seasons, won the fourth and final section of intermediate flat for Skidmore. Colgate held serve in this division, as either Storbeck or Oost - Lievense was pointed.

Seven sections of novice flat took place, with five schools earning blue ribbons. Kokanovich became the fourth rider in the ride-off with a first in section A. Andrea Scheer of the State University of New York at Cobleskill (who competed for Cazenovia College last season) won section B, earning the lone blue ribbon of the day for the fighting tigers. Morrisville riders proceeded to win the next two sections, as Detmer and Suzannah Cornue were best in groups of six. Detmer could now claim to have won three of her first four IHSA classes and would compete in her first IHSA ride-off. Corbett and Kozakiewicz took sections E and F respectively for Cornell, while Vicky Wright made sure Skidmore had at least one blue ribbon in each division by winning the final section of novice flat, section G. Colgate still led narrowly though Skidmore still had the edge in that their point card was full while Colgate's afternoon would be completed after the walk-trot-canter.

The alumni flat took place before the ride-off. Siena Head Coach Nora Hanlon trains half the alumni in this region, and her students dominated the divisions on this day: 1995 Clemson graduate Kathleen Webster took the first section, moving into the lead in alumni flat for the first time in three seasons riding alumni within Region 3. Ravo won the second section, which still allowed Unger, who was third, to stay in second overall in alumni flat. 2005 Siena graduate Casey Danton was second in both divisions in her alumni debut, and 1995 Pace graduate Angela Netoskie, who was Angela Stone while riding for the setters in the early-to-mid '90's, placed fourth twice.

Cornell senior Trudi Gulick (third from right) won the five-way ride-off for high point. Ironically the winner of the ride-off received a box of Votive Candles, which are prohibited in the Cornell dorms!

The ride-off involved two open riders (Gulick and Handtmann), an intermediate (Storbeck) and two novices (Kokanovich and Detmer). The testing included work without stirrups, and when it was over Gulick (a senior, yet only in her second season on the team and competing in her first ride-off) was High Point with Handtmann Reserve. Besides the high point ribbon, Gulick also received a box of Votive Candles, which was a mixed blessing. Cornell riders are not allowed to have anything in the dorms that produces 'Any kind of flame,' says Gulick. Though under normal circumstances only High Point and Reserve are announced, the Morrisville announcer proceeded to tell the spectators that Kokanovich was third, Storbeck fourth and Detmer fifth. Like Gulick, it was also the first IHSA ride-off for Kokanovich, Detmer and Handtmann, though Handtmann may have been involved in a non-IHSA ride-off six years earlier at the medal finals in Madison Square Garden.

Though Gulick and her teammates may not be able to 'light up' inside the Cornell dorms, her victory in the ride-off ignited the big red to great success in the final eight classes, half of which went to Cornell. Caitlin Kontak and Annette Lalic each won a section of advanced walk-trot-canter while Ally Chan won the only section of beginner walk-trot-canter held on this day. Host Morrisville, which had been second at the opener hosted by Hartwick two weeks earlier, won two sections of advanced walk-trot-canter. Helene Watrous and Heather Bilecki both earned firsts for the mustangs, with Bilecki pointing into novice in the process. The second section of advanced walk-trot-canter went to Skidmore sophomore Sarah Webb, who was the fourth pointed thoroughbred of the day to come through with a blue.

The walk-trot was made up of only two sections, with four riders in the first section and five in the second. Caitlin Carroll of Cornell had the unusual distinction of competing in her first IHSA show and being the point rider at the same time! The freshman responded very well, winning the class to move the big red into a tie with Colgate at 41 points. The final class of the day went to Julia Whittle of Skidmore, who moved Skidmore clearly into the lead for the day with 44 points.

Skidmore sophomore Sarah Webb (left, with Head Coach Cindy Ford) was one of five thoroughbred riders to be pointed and earn a blue ribbon at Morrisville on November 12th.

Whittle joined Rosen, Platt, Wright and Webb as pointed riders who won classes for Skidmore at today's show. Though Skidmore remained undefeated, Cornell finished only three back for the second show in a row. Colgate, which had scored 33 at Hartwick two weeks earlier, now trails Skidmore by eleven. Morrisville State followed their 39 score at Hartwick with 36 today, and now trail by ten. Coach Ford, who has taken a Skidmore team to Zones twelve of the past thirteen seasons, went on the record before the show stating how impressed she was at Morrisville's opening day performance.

Seven "Whoop"s could mean a perfect score: When Gulick cleared her final open fence earlier in the day, Cornell Coach Chris Mitchell let out a "Whoop" sound. He even remarked that up to that point he didn't have anything to Whoop about!

Dressing the part: Heather Hamilton of Ithaca made her IHSA debut in the walk-trot class which ended the show. Hamilton did not start riding until only a short time ago, so getting her show clothes together was a task in itself. She borrowed a shirt and belt from teammate Megan Quinlan (second in open flat). Hamilton's boots were part of an Ariat sale ($149). Hamilton said the trait for finding a bargain is hereditary. "My Grandmother is great with clearance," she said. Her jacket was purchased at a tack shop in Greene, New York, and the complete outfit looked close to custom. Hamilton only received a fifth, but with more practice the thrifty purchases will pay off.

Sorry for the delay: By the time you read this another Region 3 show will have taken place. Skidmore hosted on November 19th but we do not yet have the results. We could use the usual standbys such as "Our suit did not come back from the cleaners" or "An old friend came in from out to town" but no excuses, only an apology. Regardless of our lack of timeliness, Skidmore, Cornell, Morrisville and Colgate all look very consistant so far this season, and at least three of these teams will likely stay alive in the team race through the December 4th show at Cornell.

---Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Windy with mixed sun and clouds early. Then sunny with temperatures in the mid '50's. Entire show held indoors. Start time: 8:49AM. Finish: 6:10PM - includes 36 minute lunch break/Coaches & Captains meeting and several schooling breaks totaling an additional 50 minutes. Point cards posted in this region? Yes. Alumni Classes held in this region? Yes. Judge: Kerry Kocher, State College, PA. Stewards: Sawyer/Ithaca College. Pernat/State University of New York at Cobleskill and Ford/Skidmore College.

Team Totals: Skidmore College (High Point Team) 44; Colgate University (TIE-Reserve) 41; Cornell University (TIE-Reserve) 41; Morrisville State College 36; Hartwick College 30; State University of New York at Cobleskill 25; Hamilton College 23; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 21; Ithaca College 19; Binghamton University 18; Siena College 9 and Elmira College 8.

High Point Rider - Trudi Gulick, Cornell University
Reserve High Point Rider - Kendle Handtmann, Skidmore College