Sherpa, Lummis Lead Gophers at Holiday TOC Show

COOLVILLE, Ohio — The IHSA's highly-competitive Tournament of Champions' series resumed competition at the Stonegate Farm this weekend, with blue ribbons from Kaduk Sherpa (East Aurora, N.Y./The Park School) and Sarah Lummis (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill) highlighting Goucher's performance at the show.

Sherpa topped the field in novice equitation over fences, while Lummis bested her competition in advanced walk-trot canter. The duo's first place showings accounted for 14 out of the team's 22 points as the Gophers ended up in seventh place out of 20 overall.

This weekend's winner, Savannah Art & Design, totaled 36 points, leaving Goucher in strong contention for the overall series title. First place is awarded to the team with the highest top two scores in the series, and with two tournaments remaining the Gophers' 41-point winning total from the Preseason Classic remains the highest-overall score thus far.

SCAD, which has accumulated 72 points in the first two events, is the current series leader.

Three riders earned the remaining eight points for Goucher at this weekend's IHSA Holiday Tournament of Champions. Clea Lerner (Los Angeles, Calif./Renaissance Arts Academy) registered a third-place finish in novice equitation on the flat, Alison Radgowski (Northport, N.Y./Northport) placed fourth in intermediate fences and Joel Brandis (Portland, Ore./Grant) took sixth place in walk trot.

Only four points separated the top five teams, with Sacred Heart (35), Mount Holyoke (34), Delaware Valley (32) and Randolph (32) following SCAD in the standings.

The series resumes with the Winter Classic Tournament of Champions, which will be held at the Bridgewater (Va.) Equestrian Center on Saturday, January 24.