As the fall season winds down and the mid-year break approaches, the Skidmore College riding team is in full command of Region 3, having won all five shows to date.  The Thoroughbreds have dominated the competition, building a 56-point lead in the 10-team region.

The final three regular-season competitions will take place next semester, beginning Feb. 18 with the Skidmore show.

Showing flashes of the skills and competitiveness that helped the team earn a national championship in 2010, this year's team opened Oct. 22 at home, and finished first. The winner's podium became a familiar place for Skidmore, which was victorious in the next four contests of the semester.

Skidmore overcame a "home court" advantage to win a pair road shows Nov. 12-13 at SUNY Morrisville.  On Nov. 12, the Thoroughbreds were High Point Team with 45 points, three ahead of Colgate and 10 in front of the host school.  Skidmore won the second day with 47 points, seven ahead of Morrisville and 15 more than Hartwick and Cobleskill.
 
Skidmore co-captains Chelsea Jones and Kelly Campbell were respectively High Point and Reserve High Point riders in the Nov. 13 show.  The pair continues their bid to qualify for the 2012 Nationals in Raleigh, N.C., by remaining neck-and-neck for qualifying for the prestigious Cacchione Cup Division. The division features the nation's top riders.

Other class winners at Morrisville were: Nicole Cahill-Yi, Kelly Campbell, Alex Dorgan, Madeline Frank, Catherine Luckhardt, Julia Mazzarella, Amy Munro, Jennifer Parke, Molly Parker, Emory Wonham, Wendy Slye, Whitney Steele, Natalie Williams, Sandrine Couldwell, Elinor Hayden, Chelsea Jones, and Kayla Kleinman.

Skidmore posted a perfect score of 49 in the final show of the fall season Nov. 19 at the Van Lennep Riding Center. Morrisville was second with 33 and Cobleskill third with 28.

Contributing to the victory as pointed riders were Kelly Campbell, Parker, Cahill-Yi, Williams, Lauren Bosche, Lucy Campbell, and Dorgan. Additional blue ribbons were Michelle Bakker, Couldwell, Jones, Luckhardt, Parker, Emily Phalen, and Michelle Retkwa.

“The consistency and success of the entire team throughout this fall has confirmed my expectation that we will return to the IHSA nationals again this spring with riders who are strong, confident and competitive in each of the eight divisions," said Coach Cindy Ford.
 
"Next semester will be full of hard work and tough decisions," Ford added.  "Who will be on the national team? Just as much focus will be put on those riders who will qualify as individuals for the Zone 1/Region 3 finals and hopefully get to move onto Zones and Nationals. Lots of hours in the saddle are in store for an enthusiastic and optimistic group of athletes who have set a goal to be No. 1 in the nation once again.”

Skidmore starts the winter/spring season at home Feb. 18, followed by Hartwick March 3 and Morrisville March 10.  Zone II, Region 3 finals will be March 31 at Skidmore.  Save the date for the IHSA Zone II finals to be hosted April 7 by Skidmore.  The national championships will be May 3-6 in Raleigh, N.C.