Goucher Completes Wire-to-Wire Run to Region Title

OATLAND, Md. — Despite being held to a season-low score of 34 points, Goucher was still the high point college and Joey Fink (Baltimore, Md./The Park School) shared high point rider honors at today's IHSA Zone IV Region I show, the final one of the 2014-15 season.

The 34 points the Gophers earned at today's show, which was hosted by Maryland, raised their final total to 274. Finishing in second place in the region was Mount St. Mary's with 188 points, followed by George Washington (181 points) in third, Towson (146) in fourth and George Mason (142) in fifth.

Goucher was the high point college at all seven Zove IV Region I shows this season. In fact, since placing second at a show on Feb. 16, 2013, the Gophers have now produced the highest team score at 14 consecutive regional competitions.

Fink accounted for one of only two first-place performances by Goucher riders at today's show. He claimed a blue ribbon in open equitation over fences. Ashley Bent (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville Area) and Cary Hundley (Ellicott City, Md./Marriotts Ridge) also competed in the open division and took second and third place, respectively, in the jumping phase.

In the flat phase, three Goucher riders were awarded red ribbons in the three separate divisions: Fink in the open dirvision, Laura Malone (Weston, Mass./Weston) in intermediate and Bent in novice.

Sarah Lummis (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill) took first place in walk-trot-canter and Nina Ricci (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) second place in walk-trot.

Just as Goucher went wire-to-wire to claim its fourth straight Zone IV-Region I title, Fink spent virtually the entire season in first place in the high point rider standings and will be the region's representative in the prestigious Cacchione Cup competition at the IHSA National Horse Show, which begins April 30. At today's show, he was co-high point rider along with Jessica Burke from Hood.