Headlined by strong debuts in several class competitions, the equestrian team put forth a concerted effort at its show this past Saturday at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. Despite the team's aggressiveness, Brown was handed a tough loss, missing first place by one point. In the closely contested show, the University of Connecticut finished on top with 37 points. Brown took second with 36 points, and Trinity rounded up the top three with 35 points.
Brown took charge of the competition from the start, as it has done in every competition this season. The squad opened the contest with a strong showing in the open fences class. With her first-place performance, co-captain Jamie Peddy '06 earned seven points and was able to put Brown on the scoreboard immediately. Alexis Gilbard '06 supported Peddy's effort with a third-place finish in the same class.
Marissa Geoffroy '07 did not let the momentum slip - she captured first in intermediate fences, while Heidi Abrecht '05 took second in novice fences. It was a special day for Geoffroy, who was named high point rider of the day in only her second collegiate competition. Solid performances were turned in by co-captain Leila Ledsinger '04.5, Whitney Keefe '08 and Peddy in open flat. Ledsinger headed the effort by winning the class, while Keefe and Peddy both earned third place accolades in their respective divisions.
Geoffroy continued her impressive day with another first-place showing, this time in intermediate flat. Co-captain Galyn Burke '05 managed a third-place finish in her first showing in the novice flat class. In advanced walk-trot-canter, Katie Goetz '08 was runner-up, while Cate Alsop '05 took third.
Jenny John '06 made her debut in beginner walk-trot-canter and left no questions about her ability. Despite never having shown in this class, John secured first place. Kim Mickenberg '07 supported her teammate's performance with a strong second-place finish in the same class. John's performance brought Brown to 29 points, close behind UConn, Johnson and Wales, and Trinity.
Reminiscent of the last competition at Teikyo Post University, the team winner of the show depended on the walk-trot, the last contest of the day. Sarah Morris '08 and Rebecca Sills '05 represented Brown well, with Morris taking first place in her first collegiate competition and Sills securing third. However, despite the seven points earned by point rider Morris, the equestrian team finished the show in second place.
The competition marks the first loss for Brown after two winning shows. In the overall standings in the region, however, Brown currently holds first place and leads UConn by nine points. The equestrian team realizes that this lead can be short-lived.
"This year we are definitely feeling the pressure from other teams in the region, perhaps more than in years past," Ledsinger said. "We have been competing well but need to keep pulling in strong performances to ensure that we maintain our lead in the region."
The team heads to the University of Connecticut on Saturday.
