Photo Finish: Goucher Captures ANRC Fall Title

Photo Finish: Goucher Captures ANRC Fall Title 

Oct. 21, 2007

LYNCHBURG, Va. - Goucher achieved an aggregate score of 161.85 points, enough to beat out Sweet Briar for top honors at this weekend's ANRC Fall Invitational Intercollegiate Equitation Competition.

Goucher finished 1.17 points ahead of Sweet Briar, which posted a team score of 160.68. Sweet Briar entered a second team, which placed third with 152.99 points. North Carolina-Charlotte took fourth place with 149.68 points, followed by George Mason (141.32 points) in fifth and Hood (66.99) in sixth. 

In addition to the team competition, individual riders contended in three phases: a dressage sportif, which is a program ride comprised of hunter seat equitation movements provided by the ANRC, a hunter trials equitation outside course and a hunter seat equitation course in a ring. Goucher was represented in the novice division by Nicolette Merle-Smith (Louisa, VA/Foxcroft), Claire McMahon (Kings Point, NY/Our Lady of Mercy Academy) and Sarah Pandolfini (New York, NY/Buckston).

Meryl-Smith and Kelly MacDonald from Sweet Briar produced the highest scores (25.5 points) in the outside course. Meryl-Smith also placed second (23.55) in hunter seat equitation and third (33.72) in dressage sportif, earning enough points (82.77) to be declared the overall individual champion.

McMahon placed third overall in the individual competition with a score of 78.93 points.