After finishing third a week ago at the Hartwick show, the equestrian team once again found itself behind Skidmore and Colgate this past weekend at the Morrisville show. Skidmore won the show with 43 points while Colgate grabbed second with 37 points. Cornell tied cross-town rival Ithaca with 34 points.
The Red received several top-notch performances in the Open Fences, with the senior tri-captains leading the way. Kate Cornell rode to a second-place finish in her class, while Julie Canter and Jeannette Pettit each took third in their respective classes. Meanwhile, freshman Angela Barclay placed sixth.
In the Intermediate Fences, sophomore Kate Reynolds qualified for Regionals after riding to a third-place finish. Sophomore Erica Rosen took home fifth, while freshman Megan Gates won in her class.
Sophomore Gillian Pech was the second member of the Cornell team to qualify for Regionals, after finishing second in her class in Novice Fences. Freshman Mary Slocum took second and rookie Cheryl Horton took fourth in their respective classes.
Canter claimed another third place finish, this time in the Open Flats. Pettit and Cornell took second and fifth in their class, while freshman Asta Torkokvei, in her first collegiate start, took sixth.
Junior Alaina Hoffman and Gates starred for the Red in the Intermediate Flats, with each claiming second-place finishes. Reynolds placed sixth in the event.
Senior Kim Huppe was the final member of the Red to qualify for Regionals, placing third in the Walk-Trot.
“I thought we had a good solid performance,” coach Chris Mitchell said.
Despite some fine performances by his team, Mitchell was critical of the judging at the show.
“I do feel that the judging this past weekend was very inconsistent, and I could not understand her placings,” he said. “I didn’t follow her.
“When you come out of the ring with a good ride or what we thought was a good ride, like this past weekend, and we’re getting fifths and sixths, it’s just not the way it should be. That’s not what your ride determined it was. That’s what the judge thought it was. She was wrong. But unfortunately, that happens,” Mitchell continued.
However, Mitchell pointed out that regardless of judging, his young team still needs to learn how to win.
“They’ve had a good day where everyone else has had a good day, and they’ve come out on top,” Mitchell said of the victorious Skidmore team. “We’re not there yet. We need that breakout show. We’ll have it, and it’ll be this year.
“This team, it’s fierce,” he continued. “This is going to be a fight. They’re going to fight it.”
Archived article by Alex Ip