From left to right are Head Coach Emily Costello, Stephanie Crecelius, Corinne Smith, Kate Heisler and alumni rider Joanna Russell of Truman State University. Though Crecelius and Smith won classes over the second weekend in November, the Bulldogs gave back some of their lead in the Zone 7, Region 5 hunter seat team standings (Photo courtesy Aliy Abbenhaus/Truman State Equestrian Team).

NORTHERN ILLINOIS GAINS, TRUMAN STATE STILL LEADS AFTER HUSKIES HOST TWO

Maple Park, IL - The Northern Illinois University Huskies held two hunter seat shows at two separate locations from November 12th through the 13th (Yes, the first show was on a Friday). A field of eight schools came to compete, most having traveled long distances to the Chicago area. Southeast Missouri State University, currently in their first season of IHSA competition, traveled just over 400 miles to the show with only seven riders. Missouri State University brought seven riders as well, taking a 550 mile journey. Truman State University brought the most riders long distance, hauling 20 riders plus a coach over 350 miles. The three day weekend and long drive would prove to be rewarding for all schools in attendance.

Day one was held at Fox Creek Stables in Wauconda, Illinois. This stable has hosted many IHSA shows before, most recently for Northwestern University of Zone 7, Region 4 on October 16th. Thanks to beautiful weather, the show was held outside, much to the delight of the competitors. The Fox Creek show kicked off at 10AM with open fences. A field of eight competed, and the first and second place ribbon-winners were riders who pointed up to open earlier this season. Corinne Smith of Truman State University finished first while Deidre Cwian of the host school came in second. Both riders qualified for 2010 IHSA Nationals appearances, with Smith competing in Team Intermediate Flat and Individual Novice Flat while Cwian was ninth nationally in Individual Intermediate Fences. Due to pointing up mid-season, neither Smith nor Cwain is in the thick of the Region 5 Cacchione Cup race. Prior to Friday's contest Rori Fiebert of Washington University led Brigid Lamparski of Illinois State University by 11 points. This margin would close slightly over the weekend. Lamparski finished third in Friday’s Open fences class while Fiebert was fifth.

Intermediate Fences followed, and from this class two ladies passed the 35 point mark to qualify for Regionals. Truman’s Stephanie Crecelius (2010 Nationals team intermediate fences rider) won the first section, and Washington University’s Courtney Millian was second in the other. Both would compete in open fences the next day. After the completion of fences competition Illinois State was in the lead with 14 points, Truman in a close second with 13, Washington University with 11 and Northern Illinois trailing with 7 points. After a break to drag the ring, complete the horse draw and school the flat horses, the Open flat classes were held. 12 open flat riders were divided into two sections in hopes to help qualify more riders for Regionals. In the first section Lamparski finished third and Fiebrt fourth, both being beaten out by Jessica Reber of Washington University for first and Laura Stremke of Northern Illinois for second. Most riders in section B of open flat were still riding in intermediate fences. Stacy Lignoski of Northern Illinois won the second section of open flat while Truman State’s Kate Heisler was second.

Eleven flat classes followed, one of them being the highly competitive intermediate flat class. This was the largest class of the day, with ten riders from six different schools. This time Millian won the division, not only adding seven points to Washington's total but also placing her in the ride-off. Second place went to Veronica Painter of Illinois State University and third to Cwain. The day ended with a three way ride-off for High Point Rider between Millian, Stacy Lignoski of Northern Illinois and Hilary Muto, a novice level rider from Illinois State. The test was completed just before sunset, and Lignoski was named the High Point Rider and Millian Reserve. Following the ride-off the point cards were totaled. Northern Illinois came out on top for the second time this season with a score of 38 points (their high score so far in 2010-11). Summer Spires (in walk-trot), Greg Havlik (in beginner walk-trot-canter), Kelly Johnson (in novice flat) and Lignoski (in open flat) were each a point rider and a blue-ribbon winner for the Huskies. Reserve high point team honors went to Truman State. Thanks to wins for their walk-trot-canter rider and Smith the Bulldogs were close to the hosts with 34. Illinois State came in third with 30 points while Washington was fourth with 28.

Seen here at the January 2010 Winter Tournament of Champions, Kelly Johnson of Northern Illinois University won her novice flat class on November 12th to help the host Huskies win for the second time this season. Northern Illinois gained ground on Truman State at both shows and trail the Bulldogs by 13 through six hunter seat shows.

Day two of competition was held at Dassenbrook Stables in Maple Park, Illinois. The weather was much cooler and gloomier than the previous day, resulting in the show being held indoors. The schedule was much the same as at Fox Creek, with open fences starting the day. Crecilous and Millian made their open over fences debuts, but after nine rides (including a re-ride) Stremke was declared the winner while Smith was second and Cwain (who drew her own horse, Ami, by the luck of the draw) third. Feibert was reserve or seventh in the class, thus not adding any points. Intermediate over fences followed, and Veronica Painter from Illinois State was the winner. Painter would go on to finish second in Intermediate flat and tie with Novice flat and fences rider Emily Piontec of Washington for High Point Rider. Following all of the fences classes, host Northern Illinois was in the lead with 15 points, Illinois State in second with 14 (thanks in part to a novice fences win by Hannah Kautz) and Truman trailing by ten points with only five. The Bulldogs had dug themselves into a hole that, at least for the day, they would not climb out of.

Following a break to school horses and clear and drag the ring, flat classes got underway. Crecelius of Truman won first section of open flat and Fiebert came in second. Reber won the second section, just as she had the day before, while Washington teammate Kate Rothman came in second. Once again there were two sections of open flat. Though the intention was to help qualify more open riders for Regionals, many of the riders further down in the standings made headway rather than the leaders. Currently the only Region 5 open flat rider qualified is defending Cacchione entry Feibert with 33 points. Despite their best efforts, the inconsistency of all others in the class leaves them all with 20 points or less through six shows, and little time left to qualify. Crecelius has 20 open flat points but pointed out of intermediate flat at the season opener hosted by Southern Illinois. Therefore Crecelius will be held back from double-qualifying (pointing up twice in the same discipline in one season) by Truman Head Coach Emily Costello (Editor's note: There have been cases in the history of the IHSA where a rider has deliberately been encouraged to point up twice in the same season. The reason behind this is determined by how many riders the individual would face in the post-season. If there would be six or seven riders in intermediate flat at Regionals but only one in open flat then riding at the higher level may not be an issue at REGIONALS. However at ZONES the field may be much more crowded at the higher level. The vast majority of the time a rider is held out of competition to make sure they compete in the Regional show at the level their coach feels gives them the best chance to potentially advance to IHSA Nationals).

The rest of the day’s flat classes followed quickly, and by the end of competition Illinois State University had earned the title of High Point with 31 points, despite not having a full point card. Wins in novice flat and intermediate fences by Lindsey Fairbanks and Veronica Painter, respectively, and second place finishes by Randie-Lynn Bullock in advanced walk-trot-canter and Muto in Novice Fences led the Redbirds to victory despite not having a walk-trot rider. Northern Illinois came in second with 28 while Truman and Washington tied for third place with 24 each. At the end of the day a ride off was held between Painter and Washington University’s Emily Piontec, with Painter earning the high point ribbon to match the team blue ribbon won ironically by the Redbirds.

Despite less than their ideal results at these shows, defending region champion Truman remains in the lead with 179 points. Northern Illinois is a close second with 166 points, earning 66 points in two days to move from third to second overall. Washington University and Illinois State, neither school with a full card at the moment, are currently tied for third place with 155 points. Despite going a full weekend without winning a class for the first time this season, Feibert continues to lead the Region 5 hunter seat open rider standings with 52 points, followed by Lamparski with 44 points and Stremke with 37.

As of now, no Region 5 Spring Hunter Seat Shows are scheduled.

No Jet Lag!: 2010 Washington University graduate Ari Mishkin competed in both alumni flat and fences for the first time. Mishkin flew in all the way from New Your City to make her IHSA alumni debut! A past regional, zone and National qualifier, Mishkin won three of the four alumni classes held this weekend.

I promise not to Lope!: Lauren Eagles, last year’s Zone 9, Region 2 individual AQHA Trophy representative at IHSA Nationals, competed in advanced walk-trot-canter. The Missouri State junior finished eighth in the AQHA at 2010 Nationals in Lexington, Kentucky and third in both of her walk-trot-canter classes this weekend. Eagles currently stands in fourth in a tight race to represent Region 5 at 2011 IHSA Nationals in the individual AQHA Trophy division.

--Kate Heisler