University of Delaware sophomore Dana Ford (on right) had time to semi-undress while senior teammate Kristina Brereton (on left) had just dismounted when this photo was taken. Both riders had gone two-and-0 in their novice classes to qualify for a "question-off." UDel head coach Bryan Bradley (center) saw his team score 40 points to win on October 26th and remain in first place in the Region 5 team standings.

UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE PREVAILS BY SEVEN OVER WASHINGTON COLLEGE, VILLANOVA

Readington, NJ - Though they only won one of the first ten classes the University of Delaware won nine of the final 16 and won by a 40-33 count over both Villanova University and Washington College. The Fighting Hens won five blue ribbons in a row (not counting alumni classes) spanning the final two novice fences classes and three flat classes that followed.

The first blue ribbon of the day, earned several hours before all the rest, was noteworthy under the circumstances. University of Delaware sophomore Davide Alexis had grown up riding at Briarwood Farm, the location for today's show hosted by the University of Pennsylvania. Alexis was all set to make his first IHSA appearance there last October when the University of Delaware closed school for the entire weekend in preparation for Hurricane Sandy. No athletic teams were allowed to compete which ultimately cost the University of Delaware one show (which would have made for a much closer team race in 2012-13). At the same time Alexis, who had schooled prior to so many IHSA shows, would have to wait another year to make his Briarwood debut as only the Penn Quakers from his region have scheduled their shows there. Finally, nearly a year to the day later, and with his parents watching, the sophomore from Hillsborough, New Jersey won his intermediate fences class in the ring at Briarwood that is traditionally used for open and intermediate fences classes. Alexis came up just shy of two blue ribbons, earning a second in intermediate flat. With Briarwood Farm being converted into an organic farm (and thus no longer a riding facility) this was likely Alexis's only IHSA show at the legendary facility.

When Dana Ford (sophomore, from Townsend, Delaware) won the third of four sections of novice flat she started a trend for the Hens. Kristina Brereton (senior, New Castle, Delaware) won the fourth section. Following both alumni classes Ivy Kessler (sophomore, Franklin Lakes, New Jersey) won the first advanced walk-trot-canter class in ring used for nearly all flat classes at Briarwood. Ford then won her novice flat in that same ring while Jen Eccleston (senior, Claymont, Delaware) won her advanced walk-trot-canter there nearly ten minutes later. Sophie Coco and Bethany Euler (the latter a freshman from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware) each won beginner walk-trot-canter classes while Abbey Foley won the first of two walk-trot classes. Brereton won her novice flat to join Ford in what would normally be a ride-off but was instead a "question-off" with the Judge as Region 5 likes to give the horses a break after a long day.

After riding head-to-head in open fences, Hanna Myrdahl of Washington College (on right) and Bianca Lupo of Temple University (on left) won consecutive sections of open flat. The two have known each other for years (even going on skiing vacations together). The multi - sport Myrdahl only missed today's "question-off" because she had to leave early for Basketball practice.

In addition to Alexis's second, seven other UDel riders were red ribbon winners. Anna Loughran (in open fences), Sara George (same), Jen Armistead (intermediate fences), Natalie Fogarty (novice fences, second to Brereton, and later also second in novice flat), Bevin Hohwieler (advanced walk-trot-canter, second to Eccleston), Lauren Bacher (beginner walk-trot-canter) and Maggie Curran (same, second to Euler) were second place winners and no doubt helped block many points for UDel.

One of the two reserve high point teams features the regions' current leading open rider. Washington College was led on this day by Hanna Myrdahl, a freshman from Kimberton, Pennsylvania who has won each of her six open classes over the three shows she has shown in (Myrdahl missed one show due to illness). Her 42 points has her in the lead despite giving other an additional show to keep pace. The only other two blue ribbons earned by the Shoremen on October 26th were in consecutive flat classes in the afternoon. Katelyn Washart, a sophomore from Seaville, New Jersey who is in her first season on the Washington College equestrian team (she was on the Shoremen's Crew Team a year ago) won her beginner walk-trot-canter while Eden Kloetzli was a winner in the novice flat class that followed. A freshman from Centreville, Maryland, Eden is the younger sister of Washington senior/teammate Amanda Kloetzli who shows in the open divisions. The Shoremen earned only one red ribbon, won by Megan Schwartz in the beginner walk-trot-canter class which followed Eden Kloetzli's novice flat class. Washington College may have been able to catch UDel for the day had their walk-trot rider won. However the Shoremen were one of four teams without a walk-trot rider entered at today's show.

Surprisingly Villanova University was another of the schools without a walk-trot rider and yet they too scored 33 points. The Wildcats struck paydirt early on, as Kathleen Fisher (freshman, West Chester, Pennsylvania) won the open fences class which started the show. Rachel Budenholzer won her intermediate flat (pinning higher than Alexis) while Erin Kale (senior, Potomac, Maryland) won her novice fences. Madelyn Bernstein and Melissa Lang were second in separate sections of novice flat.

One of three Villanova riders to win a class, senior Erin Kale (pictured) was first in her novice fences. The Wildcats scored their 33 points without the benefit of a walk-trot rider, the same fate which befell Washington College.

Defending region champion Drexel University was the final team to reach 30 scoring that exact amount. The Dragons had a full card and eventually two blue ribbons. Casey Damiani (junior, Norristown, Pennsylvania) won her intermediate flat early in the day while Belinda Lester (from Jersey City, New Jersey) won her beginner walk-trot-canter late in the day and moved up to advanced walk-trot-canter in the process. Kelly Reilly (in intermediate fences) was the first of four Drexel riders to win a red ribbon followed by Tyler Weith (in open flat), Sophie Young (in novice flat) and Andrea Messina (same). Weith remained in second place behind Myrdahl in the Region 5 hunter seat open rider standings.

There was quite a drop-off in the points between Drexel and host University of Pennsylvania. The Quakers scored 19 points. It was not until the third-to-last class of the day that Penn won a class. Grace Conway, a senior from Yardley, Pennsylvania won the sixth and final section of novice flat (only two walk-trot classes were held afterwards). Jordan Hillier was second in both of her novice classes and pointed out of novice flat. Advanced walk-trot-canter rider Ellen Blazer was also a red ribbon winner. Penn had a walk-trot rider (in fact two of them) though they lacked an intermediate flat rider, which won't be a problem next week as Hillier will now fill that position.

Temple University scored 17 points and like several schools ahead of them did so without a walk-trotter. Kelsie Jett (junior, Holland, Pennsylvania) won her intermediate fences while Bianca Lupo (junior, Cochranville, Pennsylvania) won her open flat. Surprisingly Lupo's win in the sixth class of the day was the Owl's final first of the contest. Erin Griffith (open Flat) and Emily Marton (intermediate flat) were red ribbon winners for Temple and those seconds also came early in the day for the Owls.

Salisbury University, competing without a rider in either open division, scored 14 points. Lauren Stevens (junior, Cordova, Maryland) and Paige Koenig (sophomore, St. James, New York) each won their novice flat classes for the Gulls. Logan Grant (in novice fences) and Hala Alawi (in the fourth section of beginner walk-trot-canter) were red ribbon winners. In our program second place in the first section of walk-trot went to rider number 826. There is no 826 in the program, however two Salisbury riders are listed as wearing 836, with one of them perhaps riding earlier. If this is a typo then Maybe Demi Delricco of Salisbury wore 826 and would therefore be second in section 1A.

Belinda Lester of Drexel University (on left, with Dragons head coach Beth Orem) seems happier than most with her blue ribbon. Lester's win moved her from beginner to advanced walk-trot-canter. Drexel's 30 points was good enough for third if you consider Villanova and Washington as tied for second without a tiebreaker.

Valley Forge Military College scored 11 points with less than half the point card filled. Their first rider of the day, Tyler Langford (sophomore, Oxford, Pennsylvania) won the first section of novice fences. LaTrisha Allen rode in the second section and finished second behind Kale. VFMC had at least four walk-trot riders entered, and in the final class of the day shahan Hasnaen (freshman, from Bangla Desh) earned the blue ribbon while RyAnn Wilson won the red. It was Hasnaen's first IHSA blue ribbon. In section A we are uncertain who rider 826 was. If it was Jaeger Valk-Feeney (listed as 828) then add another red ribbon to Valley Forge's pile.

Though they apparently have another rider (maybe two) Wor - Wic Community College fielded a team of one rider at today's show. Elle Weber showed in both novice divisions, From Salisbury, Maryland (where Wor - Wic is located) Weber was fourth in both of her rides to account for all six points. Weber is a junior but says this is her final year at the school.

Rounding out the scoring was Burlington County College with five points. Rachel Middleberg (in advanced walk-trot-canter), Heather Keister (in beginner walk-trot-canter) and Sharon Moore (same) each placed fourth for Burlington, which filled the lower half of their point card.

Nine alumni riders showed, and a former Kutztown University rider had one of her best days ever at Briarwood. Alexis Wirth, who graduated halfway through the 2012-13 season, won both of the alumni classes. Wirth was an exceptional over fences rider as an undergraduate (more open fences points than any Zone 3 rider during the 2011-12 season) but was rarely into the blues in open flat. Another rider known more for her prowess over fences is Delaware Valley College graduate Jamie Windle. Windle was second in alumni fences while former Penn Quaker Jess Carle (known until this season by her maiden name, Jess Schatz) was third. Former University of Delaware rider and current Villanova and Valley Forge coach Sara Palmer was second in alumni flat and fourth in alumni fences. Rounding out today's alumni ribbons were former University of Delaware Cacchione Cup participant Katie LaDow (fourth on the flat, fifth over fences), 2013 Burlington graduate Sarah Bendyna (fifth on the flat), High Point University graduate Rachel Lallier (sixth in both divisions) and Carle repeating her third in alumni flat.

If she were only signed up as an alumni she could have hopped on! 2013 University of Pennsylvania graduate Allison Lee (on left) currently lives not far from Briarwood and had been riding her own horse earlier that day when she dropped by to see many of her former teammates. Penn Alumni rider Jess Carle (who placed third twice today) was caught off-guard when we took this photo of Lee, Carle and Penn head coach Dawne Morrone (center). The host Quakers scored 19 points which was one of their better efforts over the first four shows.

The Ride-Off, I mean Question-Off: Three riders (Myrdahl, Ford and Brereton) were double-blue winners. However Myrdahl left early in the day as she is a member of the Washington College Basketball team as well as the Equestrian team. With Myrdahl having to attend a practice judge Nancy Hall had to come up with questions for each of the University of Delaware novices. In the end Brereton was declared high point rider and Ford the reserve champion.

Everyone should come down with a case!: When asked how her last name is pronounced, Kathryn Polites of Burlington County College said it is 'Poll-eye-tess.' "I call it a good name for a 'courteousness disease'" she said! So if everyone has a case of Polites they will come across as kindly.

Rest of the fall very kind to UDel: Though they were briefly in second place through two shows the University of Delaware took over first place at the October 19th Burlington County College show and have been on top overall since. Through seven fall shows the Fighting Hens have built up a 46 point lead on defending region champs Drexel, which in turn is 13 points ahead of Villanova. 12 UDel undergraduate hunter seat riders (plus LaDow in both alumni divisions) are qualified for Regionals including Brereton in both novice divisions. Myrdahl finally finished below first on a few ocassions, helping Weith stay close in the hunter seat open rider race. It is essentially a two-way race as Myrdahl is up on Weith 60-53 while Loughran of UDel is at 39 in third. Save for LaDow who is qualified twice no other alumni have reached the 28 points needed to go to Regionals in either flat or fences, with Carle the best of four riders with between 19 and 21 points in alumni fences. Three shows remain (weather permitting) for several alumni to try and join LaDow, for Weith to attempt to overtake Myrdahl and for UDel to see if they can send a full hunter seat team to Zone 3 Zones for the first time since 2008 (remember Zone 3, Region 5 was Zone 4, Region 4 last season).

--Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Sunny skies, with high temperatures in the upper '40's. Start time: 8:48AM. Finish: 2:15PM - Includes 25 minute lunch/schooling break. Coaches & Captains meeting held prior to start of show. Point cards posted in this region? No. Alumni Classes held in this this region? Yes. Judge: Nancy Hall. Stewards: Orem/Drexel University, McCoy-Palmer/Villanova University and Valley Forge Military College and Quinn/Burlington County College.

Hunter Seat Team Totals: University of Delaware (High Point Team) 40; Villanova University (TIE - Reserve) 33; Washington College (TIE - Reserver) 33; Drexel University 30; University of Pennsylvania 19; Temple University 17; Salisbury University 14; Valley Forge Military College 11; Wor - Wic Community College 6 and Burlington County College 5.

High Point Rider - Kristina Brereton, University of Delaware
Reserve High Point Rider - Dana Ford, University of Delaware