Strong Showing Allows Goucher to Stretch Lead to Nine Points

Three Blue Ribbons for Carmichael, Fink in Novice Division

TOANO, Va. — With its lead in the 2012-13 IHSA Zone IV Region I standings down to a single point, Goucher served notice at today's riding show at Willow Pond Farm that it intends to remain in first place.

Goucher's riders scored 41 points at the show, which was hosted by William & Mary. The next highest score among the 15 riding programs which competed was 38 by Christopher Newport, which trailed the Gophers by six points heading into today's event. Mary Washington, which had closed to within one point of the Gophers, managed only 24 points and dropped to third place overall.

The 2012-13 IHSA Zone IV Region I standings after three shows: 1. Goucher - 157 points, 2. Christopher Newport - 148 points, 3. Mary Washington - 139 points.

Karli Postel (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Oaks Christian School), the region's high-point rider and Cacchione Cup qualifier in 2011-12, was one of Goucher's top individual performers at the show as she was awarded first place in open equitation over fences and open equitation on the flat. She now trails Molly Banfield by one point, 45-44, in this season's high-point rider standings.

In the intermediate division, Hayley Cohen (Davidsonville, Md./Indian Creek) took second place in the flat phase.

Goucher came away with three blue ribbons in the novice division: Anna Carmichael (Colorado Springs, Colo./William J. Palmer) placed first in both novice fences and novice flat; Joey Fink (Baltimore, Md./The Park School) was also awarded first place in novice flat.

Maring Eberlein (Fairhope, Alaska/Fairhope) earned a red ribbon in beginning walk-trot-canter equitation.