Sophomore Kristin Buckley collected blue ribbons in both shows over the weekend. (PHOTO BY Tom Eng Photography) |
Skyhawks close out fall regional schedule with pair of reserve champion performances
EASTON, Mass. (November 11, 2014) – The Stonehill College equestrian team sits in second place in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Zone 1, Region 4 standings after posting a pair of reserve champion performances in its last two regional shows of the fall season last weekend.
Stonehill has compiled 213 points through six Region 4 shows during the fall season to sit in second place, nine points behind regional leaders Tufts University with 222 points. Boston University is in third place with 196 points. The Skyhawks posted a pair of reserve champion performances in their final two shows of the fall season hosted by Northeastern University on Saturday and Boston College on Sunday.
Northeastern University Show
Stonehill finished tied for second with Tufts on Saturday with 36 points in the event hosted by River Wind Farm in Pembroke, Massachusetts. Boston University won the event with 37 points, while Mount Ida College placed third with 34.
Freshman Elizabeth Bennett (Slingerlands, New York/Academy of the Holy Names) earned a blue ribbon for her fourth straight show in novice equitation on the flat, while also placing third in her novice equitation over fences class. She led four blue ribbon performances for Stonehill on the day. Sophomore Taylor Uccello (Westford, Massachusetts/Westford Academy) placed first for her novice flat class, while sophomore Nina Fultz (Littleton, Massachusetts/Littleton) placed first in walk-trot-canter and sophomore Kristin Buckley (Leominster, Massachusetts/St. Bernard's) took a top ribbon in walk-trot.
Senior Justine Mitchell (Sunderland, Massachusetts/Frontier Regional) earned a second place finish in her walk-trot-canter class, while junior Fiona Carroll (Alexandria, Virginia/Bishop Ireton) earned a red ribbon for novice fences.
Senior Danielle Franchi placed first in open fences on Sunday. (PHOTO BY Tom Eng Photography) |
Senior Danielle Franchi (Islip, New York/Islip) placed third for open flat to go with a sixth place showing in open fences. Senior Cassandra Otis (Downingtown, Pennsylvania/Bishop Shanahan) placed third for open fences, while classmate Kayleigh McDonnell (Rutland, Vermont/Rutland) took third for intermediate fences. Freshman Caitlin Maloney (Chepachet, Rhode Island/LaSalle Academy) rounded out the third place finishers for the Skyhawks in intermediate fences, while placing fourth for intermediate flat.
Boston College Show
Stonehill earned reserve champion status the next day at the Boston College Show, hosted by Hillside Meadows Equestrian Center in Grafton, Massachusetts. Stonehill posted 38 points to follow first place Tufts' 44 points. Boston University finished third with 34 points.
Franchi led four blue-ribbon performances at the show with her first place finish for open equitation over fences, while placing fifth in her open equitation on the flat class. Buckley won a blue ribbon for the second straight day in walk-trot, while sophomore Sera Torregiano (Saratoga Springs, New York/Saratoga Springs) and Maloney both placed first in their intermediate fences classes. Maloney also earned a red ribbon with her second place finish in her intermediate flat class.
Junior Shannon Aceto (Cranston, Rhode Island/LaSalle Academy) earned reserve champion status for notice flat, while second place showings also went to Fultz in walk-trot-canter and freshman Baylee Kimbar (Worcester, Massachusetts/West Boylston) in novice flat.
Stonehill is scheduled to return to action on Saturday, January 24, for the IHSA Winter Tournament of Champions, hosted by Bridgewater (Va.) College in Weyers Cave, Virginia.
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