Hollins Nudges Out Goucher for Bid to National Show

Postel Comes Close to Qualifying for Nationals in Open Fences

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Goucher's riding program came up three points short today of being one of the two from Zone IV to be given a chance to compete at the IHSA National Horse Show in Lexington, Ky., next month.

This season's three regional champions came together today at the IHSA Zone IV Championships, knowing only two would advance to nationals. Virginia Intermont, Region III titlists, collected 47 points to distinguish itself as the zone's top intercollegiate riding program for 2009-10, and Hollins out of Region II beat out Goucher, which captured the Region I crown, by three points, 42-39, for the second bid to nationals.

Individually, Goucher's Karli Postel (Newbury Park, Calif./Oaks Christian School) nearly qualified to compete at nationals in open equitation over fences. She had to place either first or second today, but was awarded third place.

Lori Scott (Catonsville, Md./Catonsville) took sixth place in walk-trot equitation and April Kerns (Timonium, Md./Dulaney) placed seventh in advanced walk-trot-canter.

During the team competition, two Goucher riders were awarded first place: Taylor Marcus (Unionville, Pa./Unionville) in intermediate fences and Addie Jabin (Annapolis, Md./Severn School) in novice fences. Postel took second place in open fences and five riders placed third: Amory Brandt (Saratoga, Calif./Lynbrook) in open equitation on the flat, Courtney Levine (Miami, Fla./Miami Palmetto) in intermediate flat, Jabin in novice flat, Effie Bourgin (Savage, Md./Atholton) in advanced walk-trot-canter and India Kushner (Manhasset, N.Y./The Waldorf School of Garden City) in walk-trot.