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Hollins, VA - They had twelve rides. They received twelve ribbons. Only one rider placed below fourth. Nine riders placed second or higher. Their leading open rider had two firsts and was high point rider for the day. They scored a season-high 41 points. And after all this perfection, Hollins University had won their own show by a slim 41-40 margin over Bridgewater College. Hollins moved into a tie with Bridgewater overall, both with 110 points through three region 2 shows. Four eagle riders placed first, helping to keep Bridgewater in the lead most of the day. Blue ribbons for Hollins (the school with no nickname) were awarded to Jessica Parker (open flat and fences, the only rider with two firsts), Anne-Elizabeth Thornlow (intermediate flat, tied for reserve high point rider), Jennifer Adams (novice flat) and Elise Branch (pictured), who won her advanced walk-trot-canter class to end the day and push Hollins over Bridgewater. The four eagle blue ribbons were awarded to Cary Chenoweth (open fences), Erin Hurst (intermediate fences), Alexis Starer (novice fences) and Stephanie Gagliardi (walk-trot). Through the fences divisions, Bridgewater was perfect, though momentum may have swung back to Hollins following the intermediate flat, when Bridgewater gained their lone goose egg on the point card. So strong were Hollins and Bridgewater on this day that only six riders from the other seven schools combined won a class. Erin Casey of the University of Virginia (novice flat), Caitlin Lane of Washington & Lee (open flat), Rachael Quigley (intermediate fences) and Amy Avitable (intermediate flat) of Randolph-Macon Womans' College, and Bethany Standley (advanced walk-trot-canter) and Jen Bunty (novice fences) of Lynchburg College were the others to leave with blue ribbons. Bunty also left with the reserve high point rider ribbon, though there was no ride-off with Thornlow and both received the same 12 points for the day. Entering the day, Randolph-Macon Womans' College had the lead, with James Madison second. Every one of J.T. Tallons' Randolph-Macon riders placed fifth or higher, though ultimatly the school often abbreviated as RMWC picked up only 30 points. Still, RMWC will enter the James Madison/Bridgewater show only two points out of first place. James Madison had a one point lead on Bridgewater and a two point lead on Hollins. Now the dukes will be chasing both, ending the day 12 behind their soon-to-be co-host and Hollins. Part of the dukes' problem was the inability to win a class. Four times James Madison riders were second (including Jamie Auletto, the defending high point open rider in region 2, who was second twice) and their overall score of 27 points was very respectable. Auletto nearly came up with the quote of the day. "We had a great time walking the course," she said, in actuality refering to walking the course with "Remy," an aussie shepherd who belongs to James Madison head coach Sara Irvine. Remy and the James Madison team walked the course together prior to the first class. Coach Irvine herself came up with the best line of the day, though it pertained not to James Madison, but instead to the other team she coaches, Bridgewater. Following Chenoweths' first in open fences, Irvine responded in jest to someone who had made a reference to the size of the two-year-old Bridgewater team: "We're small but we're mean!" Irvine, who coached at Southern Seminary between 1985-96 has proven to be the best coach in the country at building a team from scratch. In Fall of 1999, James Madison's team was formed, and instantly reached the top four in arguably one of the three strongest regions in the nation. In Fall 2000, Irvine launched the Bridgewater team, which has finished as high as sixth for the year prior to this season. With both teams under her tutelage, Irvine has a shot to either tie Fairfield University head coach Lisa Bailey for fastest climb from nonexistence to taking a hunter seat team to zones should her James Madison team win the region, or she can beat Baileys' record if Bridgewater wins the region in only the eagles' third season of existence. For the record, Bailey has coached Fairfield University in Connecticut since Fall of 1992 (the team made its' first IHSA appearance in Spring of '93) and guided the stags to zones (and nationals) during the 1995-96 season (Editors' note: During the 1999-2000 season, the Pacific Northwest, known as zone 8, Region 3, was officially recognized. All region winners in this region and the region spun from it a mere two seasons later do not count for this statistic, as all but the University of Oregon were only eligible for the post-season for the first time following the 1999-2000 campaign). Hollins raises others in region 2 up to their level: Hollins University, currently coached by the triumvirate of Nancy Peterson, Liz Courter and Sandy Gerald, has won their region every season since 1997-98. Hollins was the IHSA hunter seat national champion team following the 1992-93 and 1997-98 seasons. In most IHSA regions, a team as good as Hollins would win their respective region year after year, and without the final point total often being all that close. Examples of regions where the top team often pulls away with perhaps three or more shows remaining would be zone 1, region 3 (Mount Holyoke), zone 2, region 1 (Centenary), zone 2, region 3 (Skidmore) and what is now known as zone 9, region 1 (Purdue). In each of these other regions, the top team is so good rarely can anyone else invest the time and money to recruit, train and produce a program which stays ahead of the perennial region-winner. In zone 4, region 2 the teams which chase Hollins have found allies within the schools and have put together programs which are perhaps finally as good as todays' hosts. Hollins is improved over a year ago, yet Irvines' two teams and Tallons' RMWC squad have been up to the challenge. Nowhere else in the IHSA has a race between so many good teams stayed this close through three shows. True, Hollins has been in a close race with at least one team headed into the final show two of the past three seasons, but one gets the feeling it may take another three shows to weed out at least one of the top four teams this year. Until the champs can ever be dethroned, one would have to favor Hollins to pull it out again. "We are truly a team, from the horse holders to the Cacchione qualifier," said Peterson following todays' victory. Can James Madison, Bridgewater or RMWC finally break their streak? Athletic directors in other regions should at least try to follow the examples set by these four programs if you want to be perceived as the best of the best, or at least remain competitive with the leader. Show Incidentals: Sunny skies, temperatures in the upper '60's. Show held indoors. Start time: 10:07AM. Finish: 1:54PM. Coaches and Captains Meeting held prior to start of show. Point Cards posted in this Region? Yes. Alumni Classes held in this region? No. Judge: Mrs. Teddi Ismond Harpman, Manakin-Sabot, VA. Stewards: Hedrick-Williams/Washington & Lee, Ferroni/University of Virginia and Adcock-Wenning/Randolph Macon Womans' College. Team Totals: Hollins University (High Point Team) 41; Bridgewater College (Reserve) 40; Randolph Macon Womans' College 30; Lynchburg College 28; James Madison University 27; University of Virginia 25; Washington & Lee University 24; Radford University 9 and Longwood College 3. High Point Rider - Jessica Parker, Hollins University
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