PrintSkidmore College was hoping to seal their sixth championship today, Friday, May 7, at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association National Championships in Lexington, Ky., but despite their consistency, Centenary College (N.J.) and University of Findlay (Ohio) closed the gap with strong rides from their team riders.
“[Our strategy was to have them] be mentally prepared, confident, and have them walk in there saying ‘I own this ring, I am the best and I’m going to do the best I can,’ ” said Skidmore coach Cynthia Ford. “They’re so committed, and it doesn’t wane. They get more and more enthusiastic every year that they ride.”
Skidmore rider Chelsea Jones added another second-placed ribbon to Skidmore’s collection in the intermediate equitation over fences class and pushed the team total to 25.
“It’s down to one class, and the pressure’s on,” said Ford with a smile. “We were hoping to get a few extra points today, but it didn’t happen, so we have to do it tomorrow, and we will. We will. We are very confident.”
Centenary College remained in second (20 points) with two strong performances from Ali Krecker, third in the intermediate equitation over fences class, and Beth Jonas, fifth in walk-trot. University of Findlay moved up to tie for second with a win in walk-trot from Tracie Sidwell. Stonehill College (Mass.) is fourth with 12 points, and three teams, Delaware Valley College (Penn.), University of Kentucky and Stanford University (Calif.) are tied for fifth with 11 points.
The final results of the 2010 Collegiate Cup Championship will be determined in tomorrow’s open equitation over fences class.
After the first round and flat phase of the Cacchione Cup, Centenary College’s Lindsay Mohr and Virginia Intermont College’s Ashley Miller are tied for first with 176 points. University of Wyoming’s Elizabeth Webb and Penn State University’s Elizabeth Lubrano are tired for second with 175.5 points. Fourteen riders will ride off for the title tomorrow.
Cacchione Cup Finalists
1. Ashley Miller -- Virginia Intermont College -- 176
1. Lindsey Mohr -- Centenary College -- 176
3. Elizabeth Webb -- University of Wyoming -- 175.5
3. Elizabeth Lubrano -- Penn State University -- 175.5
5. Lindsay Sceats -- Mount Holyoke College -- 175
6. Ali Cibon -- University of Kentucky -- 174
7. Kels Bonham -- Savannah College of Art & Design -- 172
8. Elizabeth Kigin -- Skidmore College -- 170.5
8. Terence Prunty -- Delaware Valley College -- 170.5
10. Erica Green -- Washington & Jefferson College -- 168.5
10. Elysse Ruschmeyer -- Fairfield University -- 168.5
12. Elizabeth Gilberti -- Brown University -- 168
13. Brittany Henson -- University of Nevada -- 167.5
14. Suzanne Snyder -- St Lawrence University -- 165.5
Douglas Returns To Show Ring With A Bang
Kelley Douglas is used to being on the outside of the ring these days since she works as an “R” jumper judge as well as on staff at many shows during the year. So for Douglas, who took a 10-year hiatus from showing before returning to IHSA last fall, winning the alumni open equitation over fences national championships was a welcoming return to the ring.
