Sweet Briar’s IHSA team posted strong individual performances at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association’s Tournament of Champions Winter Invitational Horse Show on Saturday, Jan. 26. In the end, however, the field proved too good and the riders returned home without a team ribbon.
The Tournament of Champions series is set up to approximate mock nationals competitions. Schools from all over the country are invited to the shows, which are held a few times a year.
Chatham Hall hosted Saturday’s show, where 24 teams, led by powerhouse Virginia Intermont College, provided a day of excellent competition. Virginia Intermont finished on top, with 33 points. St. Lawrence University had 33, but lost the tie-breaker, while Mt. Holyoke College posted 31 and Cornell University 30 points. The final team to earn a ribbon, in the eighth spot, had 18 points.
Sweet Briar’s team ended the day with 11 points. SBC assistant IHSA team coach Emily Casali said she and the riders went in with realistic expectations and were pleased with everyone's individual efforts.
“The show was very competitive but the girls really rode for a ribbon in every class and put their best foot forward,” Casali said. “The mantra for the day was ‘ride to win,’ and they did just that.”
Open rider Alison Sims ’09 set the tone with a second place in one of the Open Flat sections and followed that ride with a run in Open Fences. Morganne Young ’11 split her day between Intermediate Flat and Novice Fences and finished fourth in her Novice Fences class.
Heather McPheeters ’10 also rode for a fourth-place ribbon in her Intermediate Fences class. Erin Aufox ’11 and Caitlyn Lindsey ’11 were both reserve (seventh place) in their sections of Novice Flat and Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter. They were just out of the ribbons but still recognized by the judge. Melissa Ramos ’10 rode well in her Walk/Trot class.
The Tournament of Champions series includes a Medal Class for riders of Open level to show individually. In addition to current team members, IHSA alumni are eligible to compete, and some alumni coaches also made appearances. Three sections of riders work on the flat first and the top 16 riders from all three sections are called back to show for the judge over fences.
Sims, a member of SBC’s 2005-06 and 2006-07 IHSA squads, represented Sweet Briar in the Medal Class. After making it through the first call back, she placed ninth overall out of 31 riders.
