Gophers Rule Zone IV Region I for Third Straight Year

SPARKS, Md. — Goucher clinched the 2013-14 IHSA Zone IV Region I title by scoring 35 points at today's riding show conducted at Featherdown Farm, enough to give head coach Jen Bunty's squad an insurmountable lead in the region standings.

After six shows this season (with one remaining), the Gophers have 252 points, giving them a 95-point advantage over George Washington, which is in second place with 157 points. Third place belongs to Maryland (141 points).

The region title is the Goucher riding program's third straight and seventh in the past 12 years.

Three Goucher riders claimed blue ribbons for first-place performances at today's show. Hayley Cohen (Davidsonville, Md./Indian Creek) earned one of them in intermediate equitation on the flat, one went to Kaduk Sherpa (East Aurora, N.Y./The Park School) in novice equitation over fences and the third to Sarah Lummis (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill) for advanced walk-trot-canter equitation.

Joey Fink (Baltimore, Md./The Park School), who represented Goucher in the open division today, was awarded second place in the flat phase and third place in the jumping phase, but earned enough points in each one to qualify to compete for regional honors later this month.

Moriah Patashnik (Seattle, Wash./The Northwest School) took second place in novice flat, as did Joel Brandis (Portland, Ore./Grant) in walk-trot. Fanny Eaton (New York, N.Y./Convent of the Sacred Heart) placed third in beginning walk-trot-canter.