Sweet Briar College will host its third annual Affiliated National Riding Commission (ANRC) Collegiate Invitational Competition on Saturday, Sept. 18 at the SBC Riding Center.

Five visiting teams from colleges including Goucher, St. Andrews, Virginia Intermont, Georgia Southern, and Christopher Newport will compete along with Sweet Briar. Paul Cronin of Rectortown, Va., will serve as judge.

The event begins with demonstration rides at 9 a.m. and concludes with an awards ceremony around 3:45 p.m. (see tentative schedule below). Sweet Briar is providing 18 horses that will be divided into six teams of three. SBC will designate the level at which each horse in each team group must compete and intends to balance the groups for fair competition. Teams will draw for their group of horses as well as the order of go for each team in each phase.

Coordinator Shelby French, director of the SBC Riding Program, said the early fall event is designed as an introduction to competitive riding. This year's team riders from Sweet Briar served last year as groom coaches.

"We're trying to get riders involved that might not get involved otherwise," she said. "It's a clinic and educational opportunity as much as a competition. It brings riders who are potential team riders for next year and helps them get a feel for competition. We've found it's really productive for us to do it."

Many Sweet Briar students have maintained their skills by riding over the summer, and team riders have participated in lessons and practice sessions two days a week since classes commenced in late August. French has reasons to be optimistic about her new students.

"It's the largest group of incoming riders we've had," she said, "and the strongest. There are 16 riders who have potential to be contenders for teams. It's definitely a strong group."

For more information on the event and the SBC Riding Program, please visit riding.sbc.edu.

ANRC Collegiate Invitational Competition - Approximate Timetable

• Coach's Meeting and Draw for Horses and Order of Go - 8:30 a.m.


• Demonstration Rides - 9:00 a.m.


• Warm up Times Begin for Introductory Rides - 9:45 a.m.


• Introductory Level Program Rides - 10:00 a.m.


• Introductory Level Jumping Phase - 11:00 p.m.


• Warm up Times Begin for Novice Rides - 11:20 a.m.


• Novice Level Program Rides - 11:40 a.m.


• Novice Level Jumping Phase - 12:45 p.m.


• Lunch Break - 1:15 - Box Lunches will be provided for riders and coaches


• Warm up Times Begin for Intermediate Rides - 1:45 p.m.


• Intermediate Level Program Rides - 2:00 p.m.


• Intermediate Level Jumping Phase - 3:00 p.m.


• Awards Presentation - 3:45 p.m. (approx.)