Katie Parnell of Sweet Briar won both of her intermediate classes at the February 20th Mary Washington show. Parnell would finish as Reserve High Point Rider while the vixens would win for the second weekend in a row.

WEBER, SWEET BRIAR CONTINUE HOT STREAKS

Fredericksburg, VA - In total contrast to the February 2004 Mary Washington show, when the hosts dominated and took the lead over Goucher for good, today's competition went to Sweet Briar, scoring a season-high 44 points, giving the vixens two victories in the space of eight days and a fighting chance to catch each of the past two Region Champions still ahead of them.

Of equal importance, Goucher College, the 2003 Zone 4, Region 1 Region Champion, scored an impressive 37 points for Reserve, enlarging their lead over Mary Washington from two to eight points. With one show remaining on March 26th, the gophers lead with 276 while the eagles have 268 and the vixens 263.

For much of the day Sweet Briar had a chance to score a perfect 49. Jodie Weber, a junior from Mount Laurel, New Jersey won both of her open classes while former Hollins rider Katie Parnell, who had been Reserve High Point Rider in her debut for Sweet Briar at last year's Mary Washington Show, won both intermediate divisions. Jo Gormley of the vixens was also a winner in intermediate flat while Theresa Jorgensen won her section of novice fences.

However when the show reached the walk-trot-canter divisions, Goucher rose to the occassion. The gophers had riders in five of six sections, and all five won blue ribbons. Jessica Jenkins and Jean Berger won the first two advanced walk-trot-canter classes while Patty Weber took home the blue ribbon in beginner walk-trot-canter. Walk-trot was a clean sweep, as Jenna Hobbs and Becky May both came out on top. Goucher ended the day with more blue ribbons than anyone else, as Sam Miller (open flat), Maisy Grassie (same), Emilie Sandler (open fences), Emily Berkowitz (novice flat) and Lauren Salvitti (same) had won firsts earlier. Though she added only six points to raise her total to 71 points for the season, Goucher open rider Lydia Davies continues to lead the Region 1 open rider standings, though things are getting closer than Davies, who was the Region 1 high point open rider last season, would probably like.

All the way from Arizona, Kristen Dillingham of American University won her novice fences class. American was one of four schools to score exactly 18 points for the day.

Diane Zrimsek of St. Mary's College picked up seven points, and now trails Davies by a 71-66 margin. Weber has 62, while Brittany Yates of Richmond is still mathematically alive for high point open rider with 60. Yates also picked up seven open-level points at today's show. The open rider who finishes the season with the most combined flat and fences points automatically goes to Nationals to compete in the Cacchione Cup Competition.

The University of Maryland was fourth overall with 30 points, this in spite of no equiterp riders earning a blue ribbon. April Hall-Hough (intermediate flat) and Sara Riall (walk-trot) did win Reserve red ribbons. Several other Maryland riders were third in their classes, including Hall-Hough in intermediate fences.

After the equiterps there was a considerable drop-off in team points. St. Mary's and Richmond tied with 19, while 18 was the number to play in the lottery, as American, Christopher Newport, William & Mary and Mount St. Mary's all scored that amount. Lacey Howard won her novice flat class for CNU while Kristen Dillingham was a blue ribbon winner over novice fences for American. Michelle Milly of Mount St. Mary's was the only rider at today's show below the novice level not to attend Goucher and win a blue ribbon while St. Mary's freshman Jennalee Coster was a late add to the show but won her section of novice fences nonetheless.

Two more ribbons to give out: Weber won High Point Rider honors for the second weekend in a row, while Parnell has yet to leave Hazelwild Farm following an IHSA show without a Reserve High Point Rider Ribbon.

According to Goucher Assistant Coach Rae Holbrook (right), sophomore Jessica Jenkins (left) has won all but one of her advanced walk-trot-canter classes this season. Goucher won five of the six classes below the novice level on February 20th.

Showing up all the time benefits Prettyman, Falkowski-Schmitter: Trisha Prettyman entered today's show as the only hunter seat alumni rider qualified for Regionals and left Hazelwild Farm at the end of the day still able to make that claim. Prettyman was already in over alumni fences, and won yet another section of that division this afternoon. Prettyman earned her second ride at Regionals by placing third in alumni flat. Prettyman now has 28 flat points and 39 over fences. Nine other riders have ridden in Region 1 hunter seat Alumni Classes this season, but only Mary Washington graduate and current St. Mary's Head Coach Jackie Falkowski-Schmitter has joined Prettyman at the registration table each weekend. Falkowski-Schmitter, who was the individual alumni on the flat National Champion at 2001 IHSA Nationals, had an off-day, placing fourth on the flat and fifth over fences. Good news is that Falkowski-Schmitter now needs only one point to qualify on the flat. Other alumni to earn ribbons today are 2000 James Madison graduate Mandy Robertson, first in alumni flat and second to Prettyman in alumni fences; Niki Carter of Clemson, second in alumni flat and third over fences and Jennie Towner of Goucher, fourth over fences and fifth on the flat. Like Falkowski-Schmitter, Towner did not have her best day, but is still alive to qualify on the flat. Towner has 23 while Carter has 22. Carter must win the alumni flat on March 26th while Towner must place second or higher to qualify in the division. Prettyman will be the only rider going to Regionals in the fences division, as Falkowski-Schmitter and Carter are tied for second over jumps with 18 points (28 are needed to qualify).

What's next?: The College of William & Mary will host the final regular season show of 2004-05 on March 26th at Cedar Valley Farm. The tribe have hosted the final show for several seasons now and each time the Region 1 team race has been close enough to give the show additional meaning. Though most know that Mary Washington finished last season as high point team and that Goucher had the honor two seasons ago, few know that Sweet Briar apparently once captured a Region Championship. The year was 1976, the bicentennial was months away, Gerald Ford was neck-and-neck in the Republican Primaries with Ronald Reagan, Happy Days was the number one show on television, disco was gaining momentum in clubs and on the radio, and the IHSA added a fourth region containing all the schools in the state of Virginia and George Washington from the District. The schools that made up what was called Region IV during the 1975-76 season were Mary Washington College, Sweet Briar College, George Washington, Hollins College, James Madison College (not yet co-ed, still all male), University of Virginia, Virginia Intermont College, Mary Baldwin College, Sullins College and Southern Seminary Junior College. Sweet Briar came out on top but in those days there was no post-season team competition. A formula existed which determined which of the four Region Champions would be crowned National Champion (St. Lawrence won this tiebreaker). If Sweet Briar can somehow make up the 13 point deficit and win the Region, the vixens will take a team to Zones for the first time ever. It is a tall order, but since the first of the year, they're hot!

---Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Sunny skies, with temperatures in the mid '40's. Entire show held indoors. Start time: 11:34AM. Finish: 5:15PM. Coaches and Captains Meeting held prior to start of show. Point Cards posted in this Region? Yes. Alumni Classes held in this region? Yes. Judge: Dede Bach-Shumate. Stewards: Cline/Berry College, Groomes/Mount St. Mary's University and Greenwood/College of William and Mary.

Team Totals: Sweet Briar College (High Point Team) 44; Goucher College (Reserve) 37; University of Mary Washington 31; University of Maryland 30; St. Mary's College 19; University of Richmond 19; American University 18; College of William & Mary 18; Christopher Newport University 18; Mount St. Mary's University 18; George Mason University 13; Hood College 7; George Washington University 5; Catholic University 3 and United States Naval Academy 1.

High Point Rider - Jodie Weber, Sweet Briar College
Reserve High Point Rider - Katie Parnell, Sweet Briar College