Ashley Force was one of only two blue ribbon winners for Kutztown on March 7th, yet the golden bears came away winners again.

KUTZTOWN PREVAILS; MORAVIAN IMPRESSES

Readington, NJ - The right people came through at the right time for Kutztown, as the golden bears won for the fourth time this season. However their 27 point total was the lowest "high" total of the season. Head Coach Bruce Lachiusa was quite surprised when the totals were revealed at the end of the day, but happy for the victory and a minor increase in the overall lead.

Meanwhile the host bison were snakebit in that seven riders in four different divisions won classes, yet the Bucknell point total was 24, only good enough for third place following Princeton in reserve with 25.

In sharp contrast, Moravian College brought only two riders to the Bucknell show, and came away with 21 points! Ashley Garrett, a sophomore novice rider from Bangor, PA won both of her classes while walk-trot rider Amy Kish won her class to complete a perfect day for the greyhounds. "See the torture sessions at home? They show!" said Moravian Head Coach Carolina Arbelaez to Kish following her placing. Garrett, who is within four points of pointing out of each novice division, was later declared high point rider for the day.

The day began with open fences, and an interesting Cacchione race to boot. Ashley Force of Kutztown, who lost her young horse unexpectedly only days earlier, was convinced to compete only hours earlier. Force won open fences, and later placed fourth in open flat. Her ten points on the day moved her to within three of Lehigh's Jill Douglass, still ahead with 62 points. On a day the mountain hawks would rather forget, Douglas was sixth over fences but a solid second on the flat. Also chasing Douglass is Kim Lorenz of Bucknell, who moved to within seven (third over fences and second on the flat) and Amanda Klopf of Princeton, who thought she was out of the race following a ribbonless trip in fences only to win her section of open flat and move to within eight of the top spot. It is worth noting that the open rider who led the Region 4 Cacchione race at midseason the past two years did not go on to ride at IHSA Nationals in the division. Last season Bucknell's Sara Figoski was overtaken by teammate Whitney Scott (both since graduated) while in 2001-02 Kelly Wells of Princeton overtook Becky Worden of Bucknell early in the Spring and got to ride at Cazenovia.

Though Wells graduated last season as well, Worden is still at Bucknell, though not officially on the team at the moment. Worden made her first appearance at an IHSA show since 2002, as the gatekeeper and announcer at today's show. She must do everything well, as Worden chased down riders and got them to the gate as fast as anyone this season. Will she ride in the IHSA again? Who knows, but the junior from Laguna Niguel, CA has another year in Lewisburg.

Blue ribbon count: Bucknell had twice as many blue ribbons as anyone today. Lauren Kennihan (intermediate flat), Amy Sutter (novice flat), Emily Hancheck (advanced walk-trot-canter), Deborah Osborn, Kathleen Laux and Elizabeth Jones (all novice fences) and Mallory Shear-Heyman (intermediate flat) all won for the bison. Shear-Heyman had not ridden in an IHSA show since Spring of 2002. Kennihan, who was a walk-trot-canter rider as a freshman, won an intermediate class for the first time.

Bittersweet victory: Open rider Danielle Strangos of Rutgers had her best day of the season, winning both of her classes. However upon winning the flat class, Strangos left to compete in a non-IHSA show. It is not known what Strangos did there, but since Garrett tied her and no others also received two firsts there was no ride-off. Garrett got to keep the high point rider ribbon, while the Rutgers team took Strangos's reserve ribbon.

Also winning a class on this day were Kris Ravenhorst (intermediate fences) and Audrey Banks (open flat) of Princeton, the latter making her IHSA debut; Meghan Johnson (intermediate flat) and Brittany Zaleski (novice flat) of Bloomsburg; Katie Mirevaldis (novice flat) and Marianna Macri (advanced walk-trot-canter) of Lafayette; Jen Ritter (advanced walk-trot-canter) of East Stroudsburg and Laura Hartman of Kutztown, whose blue ribbon in walk-trot was the other golden bear first place ribbon.

What is "Maiden Cross Rails?:" IHSA rules allow for a beginner fences class, which does not count toward a rider's point total. Only riders who have pointed out of advanced walk-trot-canter are eligible to compete in such a class. Known as Maiden Fences or Maiden Crossrails, the class (which is offerred in very few IHSA regions) is usually made up of novice riders who are not ready for novice fences but could handle some crossrails as practice for the future. Michelle Fox of Princeton won today's Crossrail class, which was a field of three.

Sisto becomes second alumni to qualify: Rutgers graduate Celeste Sisto needed five points and got five points on the flat. Her second gave her exactly 28 points in alumni flat and made her the second alumni rider in the region to qualify. Virginia Intermont graduate Ashton Phillips won both alumni classes, and now has 29 more points in fences than his nearest rival Sisto, who picked up four today and now has 18. With three shows remaining, Phillips could wind up with 68 of a possible 70 points in alumni fences if he wins out.

Short & Sweet: Without the 45 minute schooling break, today's show took only 4 hours and 34 minutes to complete, making it the fastest hunter seat show since the region was formed in mid-2001. With spring breaks at various schools taking place either this week or next, could the Cedar Crest show scheduled for the 13th be even faster?

--Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Mostly sunny skies, temperatures up to the mid 50's. Start time: 8:50AM. Finish: 2:09PM - includes 45 schooling break and Coaches & Captains meeting. Point cards posted in this region? No. Alumni classes held in this Region? Yes. Judge: Wendy Chapot. Stewards: Lachiusa/Kutztown University, Arbelaez/Moravian College and Gradel/Cedar Crest College and DeSales University.

Team Totals: Kutztown University (High Point Team) 27; Princeton University (Reserve) 25; Bucknell University 24; Rutgers University 23; Moravian College 21; Bloomsburg University 14; Lafayette College 14; Lehigh University 14; Cedar Crest College 11; University of Scranton 11; East Stroudsburg University 8 and DeSales University 2.

High Point Rider - Ashley Garrett, Moravian College
Reserve High Point Rider - Danielle Strangos, Rutgers University